1.4 vulnerability to hazards Flashcards
define a natural hazard according to the UN
A hazard is a natural process that effects people
Define a disaster according to the UN
A disaster is a hazard that causes 500 deaths
Define a mega disaster according to the UN
A disaster that kills 2,000 people or makes 200,000 people homeless or reduces the GDP by 5% or makes a country dependent on aid for over a year
Define vulnerability
How susceptible a population is to impacts of a hazard
Name 5 types of vulnerability
Knowledge Economic Social Environmental Physical
What is physical vulnerability?
Living in a hazard prone area with little protection
What is economic vulnerability?
Where your assets and livelihood is at risk e.g. farmers livestock
What is social vulnerability?
A community that cannot support the most disadvantaged people within it e.g. homeless
What is knowledge vulnerability?
A lack of education, training and safety precautions (early warning systems and evacuation routes) surrounding the impacts and risks of a hazard
What is environmental vulnerability?
Increased risk due to population pressures e.g. high density populations
What is the hazard risk equation?
RISK REDUCTION = mitigation of a hazard x vulnerability reduction and a increased resilience
What is a communities threshold for resilience?
When a hazards magnitude exceeds the risk/damage threshold of a community the hazard is dangerous to the local population as they are now vulnerable or the hazards magnitude is so high 5hey cannot cope. Even the most resilient communities can become vulnerable is the magnitude is high e.g. Japan
What is the Pressure and Release Model? (PAR Model or Hazard Crunch Model)
Like a nutcracker as pressure is applied to both sides
Root Dynamic Unsafe
causes pressures conditions
DISASTER
Hazard
-if the hazard has a high magnitude the effects of the disaster will be more greatly experienced
-if the area effected is highly vulnerable from a range of social and environmental factors the disaster is more greatly experienced
— e.g. Haiti had a poor political system which is a root cause of vulnerability, this is because the government was highly corrupt and the humanitarian aid funds did not reach 5e people in their entirety meaning people and businesses could not recover as quickly meaning the disaster was greater
What are root causes?
Typically the same across a country’s
Limited access to: power, infrastructure, resources.
Governance
Ideologies: political system, economic system
What are dynamic pressures?
Have an effect on the people in the area
Lack of: training, local investment and infrastructure, media freedom, ethical standards (of the government e.g. corruption)
Macro forces: deforestation, rapid population growth, rapid urbanisation,debt
What are unsafe conditions?
Specific regional influences that vary from place to place
A fragile environment with unprotected infrastructure and physical vulnerability.
A fragile local economy with many livelihoods at risk and low levels of income.
A vulnerable society or poor public preparedness or endemic disease
What types of hazards have an effect on the PAR model?
Natural hazards (earthquakes) Biological hazards (disease) Chemical hazards (nuclear radiation) Political hazards (war)
What are the social impacts of an earthquake?
Death Homelessness Unemployment Injury Lack of accessibility (poor travel options e.g. Iceland/Nepal/Haiti)
What are the economic impacts of an earthquake?
Unemployment Dependency on aid GDP reduction Decreased investment Devastation of the primary industries -> decreased income
