Case Study: Caracas (hazard management) Flashcards
What hazards does Caracas experience
- Tropical storms
- Earthquakes
- Flooding
- Land slides
Which plate boundary is Caracas located on?
The boundary between the South American and Caribbean plate
What is the population and average population density of Caracas?
7 million, 12000/km^2
What are the slums called in Caracas?
Barrios
What is the population density of the Barrios?
25000 people/km^2
Why is Caracas’ water supply at risk?
The only three pipes that carry water into the city are over a fault line
What have a lack of building codes let to in the city?
Poor quality housing that are vulnerable to earthquakes.
Where are the rich located in Caracas?
Well built houses in areas at low risk from hazards
Where are the middle class located?
The centre of the town, in slightly lower quality housing but still well built.
Where are the lower class located?
The hill side shanty towns. Very at risk from landslides.
Why is the city so at risk from land slides?
It is next to a large hill with very steep topography, and often experiences heavy rain.
Why are the poorer at higher risk from hazards?
High unemployment means they are unable to prepare for hazards
They also lack insurance
What % of GDP does oil generate in Venezuela?
50%
Why can the government not implement hazard management?
Lack of funding and lack of control over illegal buildings
What could the government in Caracas do to mitigate hazards?
Orientating buildings and streets parallel to landslide flow to reduce damage
