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 exposure of people to a hazardous event, which poses a threat to themselves/their property
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
people see they can prepare for and survive hazardous events
Outline fear as a perception of hazards
people feel so vulnerable to an event that they move away from the area
What is meant by the term ‘integrated risk management’?
A process used that considers social, economic and political factors as well as incorporating the analysis of risks, identification of hazards, establishing priorities, developing public awareness, implementing a risk reduction plan.
What are primary effects?
impacts that are a direct result from a hazardous event (e.g ground shaking in an EQ)
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
- changing risk level over time
- unpredictable
- risk/benefit analysis,
- 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
- Focuses on how a country fares in terms of impact, rather than on
current level of development
-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 degree to which a population or environment can absorb a hazardous event and yet remain within the same state of organisation
