Concept of Hazards Flashcards
What are 3 types of hazards?
- geophysical
- atmospheric
- hydrological
What is a hazard?
a perceived event that threatens life and property. they may cause loss of life and/or damage to the built environment
What is meant by the term ‘risk’?
the likelihood of a population or person to be severly impacted byu a hazardous event
Give 3 common characteristics of hazards
- exposure to risk is involuntary
- has long-term and short-term impacts
- little/no warning before hand
- origins are clear and effects are distinctive
What is meant by the term ‘perception’?
the way in which a group/individual may view a hazardous event
Give 5 factors that impact the perception of a hazard
- socio-economic factors
- education
- employment status
- past experience
- family/marital status
Outline fatalism as a perception of hazards
hazards are natural events that cannot be controlled. Actions are concerned with safety, and losses are accepted as inevitable
Outline adaptation as a perception of hazards
attempting to live with hazards by adjusting lifestyle choices so vulnerability is lessened (eg EQ proof buildings)
Outline fear as a perception of hazards
people feel so vulnerable to and afraid of a hazardous event that they move away to areas they perceive to be unaffected
What is risk sharing?
A form of community preparedness where communities collectively share risk and invest to mitigate the impacts of future hazards
What are primary effects?
impacts that are a direct result from a hazardous event
What are secondary effects?
Effects that result from the primary impact(s) of the hazard event
Briefly explain the disaster/risk management cycle
a model that illustrates the ongoing process by which governments/businesses prepare, react and recover from a disaster
Give 2 reasons why people might continue to live somewhere where they are at risk from hazards
- Lack of alternatives
- technological capability
- financial opportunities
What are 2 ways people can be protected from hazards?
community preparedness and modifications to the built envt.
What are 2 negatives of using the risk/disaster management cycle?
- Not a universal model
- Doesn’t capture the complexity of a crisis
What are 2 positives of using the risk/disaster management cycle?
- Analysis is useful to know how to change impacts in the future
- can be used by organisations to plan for the events of a hazard and reduce vulnerability
what is meant by the term ‘vulnerability’?
The risk of exposure to hazards combined with an inability to cope with them.
What is meant by ‘resilience’?
The ability of a population or environment to resist, accomodate to and recover from hazourdous events
Which model shows the concept of natural disasters?
Degg’s Model
Outline what is shown in Degg’s Model?
a disaster occurs when a vulnerable population is exposed to a hazard, hazards which affect populations that are not vulnerable are not considered disasters
What is prediction?
using scientific research and past events to know when a hazard will take place, so warnings can be given and impacts reduced
What is mitigation?
actions that aim to lessen the severity of the hazard
