What is the primary goal of evaluating cascading effects in risk assessment?

Evaluating cascading effects in risk assessment focuses on understanding and analyzing secondary impacts that arise from an initial hazard. When a primary event occurs, it can trigger a series of interconnected events or secondary hazards that exacerbate the situation, leading to more extensive damages and complications. Recognizing and assessing these secondary impacts are crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies and response plans.

Understanding the cascading effects allows emergency managers to anticipate how an initial event might lead to additional challenges, thereby facilitating comprehensive planning. For instance, a hurricane can not only cause flooding but also lead to power outages, interruptions in transportation, and public health concerns. By evaluating these potential secondary impacts, emergency managers can better prepare for the wide-ranging consequences of a disaster, ensuring a more coordinated and effective response.

The other choices touch on relevant aspects of emergency management but do not specifically address the reason for evaluating cascading effects. Reducing recovery costs is a potential outcome of effective analysis, analyzing potential risks is a broader concept that may not specifically address the nature of cascading effects, and improving response times is more about operational efficiency than the foundational understanding of interconnected risks. Thus, option C precisely captures the essence of evaluating cascading effects in risk assessment.