Chapter 1

Question 1

Natural hazards

Answer 1

• Exist independently of people
• Have the potential to harm people or property
• Constitute a threat to society
• Contrasts with human caused hazards

Question 2

Natural Hazardous Event

Answer 2

• A disturbance that injures or kills plants and animals
• Have occurred since Earth formed

Question 3

Natural Disasters

Answer 3

• Occur from a natural hazardous event
• Cause human causalities, property destruction, and economic loss
• Victims require outside resources to survive and recover

Question 4

Recurrence Interval (RI)

Answer 4

• The average time between successive events of a given size
• Requires a historical record

Question 5

Annual Probability

Answer 5

• The likelihood an event will happen in a given year
• Requires an RI
• AP = 1/RI
  (larger AP value = higher chance of event happening)

Question 6

Primary Disaster

Answer 6

Casualties and
destruction from a
natural hazard event
itself
- (wind and wave damage from a
hurricane)

Question 7

Secondary Disaster

Answer 7

Hazardous events
triggered by the
primary disaster
- (collapsed dikes and flooding
post-hurricane)

Question 8

Tertiary Disaster

Answer 8

Long-term societal
disruptions due to
primary and
secondary disasters
- (Housing loss from decay and
mold after flood
recedes)

Question 9

FEMA: Prep

Answer 9

• Evacuations may occur
• Emergency personnel arrive, shelters are established

Question 10

FEMA: Response

Answer 10

Rescuing survivors and treating injuries

Question 11

FEMA: Recovery

Answer 11

Clean-up and providing essential services

Question 12

FEMA: Restoration

Answer 12

Rebuilding infrastructures and buildings

Question 13

Would a large meteorite impact on the Moon be considered to be a natural disaster?

Answer 13

It can only be called a natural disaster if the impact has caused human casualties, extensive destruction of property, and significant economic loss