Concept of a Hazard

Question 1

Hazard

Answer 1

An event perceived to threaten people and the built and natural environments

Question 2

Geophysical

Answer 2

Driven by earth’s own internal energy sources

Question 3

Geophysical Hazard Examples

Answer 3

Tectonics- volcanoes, earthquakes

Question 4

Atmospheric

Answer 4

Driven by the atmosphere / climate

Question 5

Atmospheric Hazard Examples

Answer 5

Tropical storms
Drought
Wildfire

Question 6

Hydrological

Answer 6

Driven by water bodies, mainly oceans

Question 7

Hydrological Hazard Examples

Answer 7

Floods

Avalanches

Question 8

Hazard Perception

Answer 8

The way a group or individual view the threat of a hazard, determining the course of action they take

Question 9

Name some factors that influence peoples’ perception

Answer 9

Socio-Economic status
Personality
Religion / ethnic background
Level of Education 
Past experience 
Occupation

Question 10

3 main ways to perceive a hazard

Answer 10

Fear- feel vunerable
Adaptation- prepare- prevent and protect
Fatalism- part of the area- God’s will

Question 11

4 reasons why people put themselves at risk of hazards

Answer 11

Unpredictable- can’t predict frequency, magnitude or scale
Lack of alternatives- can’t just uproot (employment, land etc)
Changing risk level- once safe places aren’t anymore (deforestation)
Cost/ benefit- fertile soils, geothermal energy, outweighs the risk

Question 12

Fatalism

Answer 12

Acceptance- little done to control it

Question 13

Prediction

Answer 13

Give warnings, so action can be taken to reduce the impact

Question 14

Adaptation

Answer 14

Change behaviour so losses are kept to a minimum

Question 15

Mitigation

Answer 15

Action taken to reduce the threat to property and life

Question 16

Management

Answer 16

Reduce the chance of damage

Question 17

Risk Sharing

Answer 17

Share risk between people, reducing individual loss

Question 18

Park Model- Pre-Disaster Phase

Answer 18

Reduce / prevent impact

Education, land zoning, warning systems, insurance

Question 19

Park Model- Relief Phase

Answer 19

Immediate, national and sometimes global response

Aid, search and rescue

Question 20

Park Model- Rehabilitation

Answer 20

Try to restore to a sense of normality

Insurance claims, shelter, food, water, temporary infrastructure

Question 21

Park Model- Reconstruction

Answer 21

Use experience of the event to improve

Rebuild homes, regrow crops, mitigate

Question 22

Park Model- What can the recovery depend on?

Answer 22

Type of hazard
Degree of preparation
Speed of relief
Nature of the recovery/ rebuild

Question 23

Hazard Management Cycle- Preparedness

Answer 23

Planning how to respond by educating and raising public awareness of the risk
Minimises impact by adjusting behaviour
Speeds up recovery process, people know what to do

Question 24

Hazard Management Cycle- Response

Answer 24

Efforts to minimise the hazards created
Speed of response depends on effectiveness of emergency plan
Save lives, coordinate medical assistance, assess damage

Question 25

Hazard Management Cycle- Recovery

Answer 25

Returning the community to normal

Restoration of services, so long term planning and reconstruction can commence

Question 26

Hazard Management Cycle- Mitigation/ Prevention

Answer 26

Minimise effects of future disasters
Direct intervention- earthquake proof buildings
Natural barriers- mangroves
Support post disaster- insurance and aid

Question 27

Hazard Management Cycle- Problem of insurance?

Answer 27

Unavailable in LIC’s and high risk HIC areas, so those who need it can’t access it

Question 28

Distribution

Answer 28

Spatial coverage of a hazard, which can be small up to global
Where a hazard can occur

Question 29

Frequency

Answer 29

Distribution of a hazard through time

Question 30

Magnitude

Answer 30

Size of the impact

Question 31

Disaster

Answer 31

Hazard seriously affects humans

Question 32

Vulnerability

Answer 32

How susceptible a population is to damage caused by a hazard