Chapter 1 Flashcards
To be defined as “natural disaster” an event typically has the following attribtues
- appeal for exterior help
- people injured or killed
- media coverage
A _____ is a source of danger that exists in the natural environment that could potentially have a negative effect on human life or property.
- natural hazard
A country experiences heavy rain in the spring and the fall. The frequency of these heavy rains is:
- 2 occurrences per year
The monsoon season affects India annually in late May and early June. What is the return period of monsoonal rains in India.
- 1 year
Example of magnitude
- amount of water flowing in a river during a flood
Example of a natural hazard
- lightening bolt
The frequency of an event is 3 occurrences per year. What is the return period of this event?
- 4 months
The frequency of which type of natural disasters is increasing worldwide?
- weather-related disasters
Why are more great natural disasters predicted to occur in the near future?
- population is growing, particularly in areas vulnerable to natural disasters
Over the last decades, the number of fatalities due to natural disasters worldwide:
- has been increasing
The deadliest natural disasters occur in the regions of the world where ___:
- population density is the highest
Why has the number of human-made disasters decreased worldwide in the last decade?
- there is a greater awareness about safety at work and in transportation
One of the 40 most costly insurance disasters between 1970 and 2015, most were due to _____
- natural disasters
Of the 40 most costly insurance disasters from 1970 to 2015, most have occurred in _____
- the United States
Canadian trend over the last 100 years
- the number of geological disasters has remained stable
The deadliest natural disaster in Canadian history (from 1900-2015) has been:
- a heat wave
Which type of natural disasters has been the most expensive in terms of insurance losses in Canada between 1983 and 2014?
- weather-related disasters
A natural event that overwhelms a region that international assistance is needed with rescue, medical care, and rebuilding is called ____
- great natural disaster
Where in the world are deaths from natural disasters highest?
- Asia
Why is population growth linked to increase loss of life and property due to natural disasters?
- more people live in proximity to natural disasters and hazards
What two factors, other than population size, where shown by Van der Vink to be related to the number of natural-disaster deaths?
- level of economic development
- level of democracy
Why are poor countries particularly vulnerable to natural disasters?
- poor countries lack resources for mitigation against natural disasters?
What do you call the actions taken immediately after a natural disaster in order to get the situation under control?
- response
What is the main objective of the recovery phase after a natural disaster?
- getting the situation back to normal
Which type of action includes keeping emergency equipment in in warehouses in case of natural disaster?
- preparedness
What is hazard mitigation?
- efforts to reduce the number of deaths and damage caused by natural disasters
Which pillars of emergency management involved long-term actions?
- preparedness
- mitigation
Adaptation to changes due to climate variations ____.
- is gradual
What perception is widespread towards natural disasters with a return period of several centuries?
- people forget natural hazards and repeat the same mistakes
Which approach increases efficiency by integrating common emergency management elements across hazard types and improves the ability to address unknown hazards?
- all-hazards emergency management
After a natural disaster has occurred, in which chronological order should the following actions be taken?
First: response
Second: Recovery
Third: Mitigation
What is the organizational structure of emergency management ?
- emergency management is first the responsibility of individuals, followed by the municipalities, the provinces, and the federal government
Natural disaster
- an extreme event triggered by destructive forces occurring in nature that causes significant disruption to society
Natural hazard
- a source of danger to life, property, and the environment, from atmospheric and geological phenomena
Frequency
- the number of events in a given time interval. For waves, it is the number of cycles that pass in a second; frequency = 1/period
Return period
- the amount of time between similar events
Magnitude
- an assessment of the amount of energy released during an event
Earthquakes
- the shaking of the earth by seismic waves radiating away from disturbances, most commonly fault movements
Tsunamis
- long-period sea waves caused by oceanic disturbances, such as fault movements, volcanic eruptions, meteorite impacts, and landslides
Storms
- violent weather events featuring strong winds and heavy precipitation (rain, snow, or hail)
Floods
- overflowing of bodies of water onto normally dry land when discharge exceeds the capacity to contain the flow or when there are obstructions to flow
Droughts
- prolonged intervals of dryness causing damage to plants and animals
Wildfires
- unplanned fires occurring in a forested area or thick brush
Vulnerability
- exposure to being harmed or damaged
Risk
- the possibility of being harmed or damaged, often expressed as the product of vulnerability and hazard.
Carrying capacity
- the maximum population size that ca be supported under a given set of environmental conditions
Reponse
- actions taken in the short term to provide assistance after an emergency has occurred
Recovery
- actions taken in the long term to restore the pre-disaster conditions of a community
Preparedness
- actions taken in advance to ensure people are ready when disaster strikes
Mitigation
- actions taken to minimize the risk associated with a natural disaster
Adaptation
- making adjustments in decisions and activities because of change in climate, with the goals of moderating harm
Great natural disaster
- a natural disaster so overwhelming that outside assistance is needed to handle the response and recovery for the region
