1b.3 DM - Impacts of Hazards Flashcards
Why would hazards have a bigger impact?
Near densely populated places If buildings are poorly constructed No warning system Poorly organised emergency services Hard to access
Why can some events overwhelm hazard managers?
Roads might be impassable Large fires restrict access Too many injuries Power outages Really high magnitude Aftershocks
Secondary hazards, e.g. tsunami / nuclear plant damage
Why do some earthquakes kill more people than others?
Population density Timing Readiness of emergency services Quality of buildings Well educated population (drilled?) How much support provided by foreign countries
Why do emergency services have an impact on earthquake hazards?
They can be well/poorly equipped
This makes it easier/harder to reach people trapped under collapsed buildings
Who do construction laws have an impact on earthquake hazards?
They can be less/more strict
This leads to buildings that are more/less likely to collapse when tremors hit
How can you make a population more vulnerable to tectonic hazards?
Population / building density on either low-lying (tsunamis) or hill-=slope locations
How can you make the economic impact of tectonic hazards higher?
Build higher value buildings
How can reduce people’s capacity to cope
Lack of medical care?
Not think about DWAGES vulnerability groups
Not protect communications
Don’t do any planning
Don’t have any legislation about building design
How can you judge if the impact of an earthquake is relatively worse/better?
Economic loss
Social loss
Environmental consequences (e.g. secondary hazards)
What could be the social impacts of earthquakes?
Kill / injure
Disrupt supply chains - food shortages
Spread of disease (poor shelter conditions)
Make it less likely that tourists will visit
What could be the environmental impacts of earthquakes
Trigger landslides
Trigger explosions from broken gas pipes
What could be the economic impacts of earthquakes?
Collapse buildings Damage roads Weaken bridges Cause glass to fall from tower blocks Close businesses / create unemployment
What’s the difference between primary and secondary impacts?
Primary effects are caused instantly by the earthquake
Secondary impact develop in the hours, day and week following the earthquake
Give examples of primary impacts of earthquakes
death/injury homelessness buildings collapse / damaged infrastructure damaged landslides Fires
Give examples of secondary impacts of earthquakes
Outbreaks of disease
Food shortages
Financial problems
