Hazard Management theoretical Models

Question 1

What is hazard management?

Answer 1

A process in which governments and other organisations work together to protect people from the natural hazards that threaten their communities.

Question 2

What are the aims of hazard management?

Answer 2

To avoid or reduce loss of life and property.
Provide help to those affected.
Ensure a rapid and effective recovery.

Question 3

What are the theoretical models?

Answer 3

The hazard management cycle

The park model (hazard response curve)

Question 4

What are the stages of the hazard management cycle?

Answer 4

Mitigation
Preparedness
Response
Recovery

Question 5

What is mitigation?

Answer 5

Preventing hazard events or minimising their effects

Question 6

What is the focus of mitigation?

Answer 6

Identifying potential natural hazards and taking steps to reduce their impacts.

The main aim is to reduce the loss of life and property (largely by helping communities to become less vulnerable).

Question 7

What are the actions of mitigation?

Answer 7

Zoning and land-use planning

Developing and enforcing building codes

Building protective structures (such as tsunami sea defence walls).

Question 8

When does mitigation take place?

Answer 8

Before and after hazard events.

Question 9

What is preparedness?

Answer 9

Preparing to deal with a hazard event

Question 10

What is the focus of preparedness?

Answer 10

Minimising loss of life and property, and facilitating the response and recovery phases.

Many activities are developed and implemented by emergency planners in both governments and aid organisations.

Question 11

What are the actions of preparedness?

Answer 11

Developing preparedness plans 
Developing early warning systems 
Creating evacuation routes 
Stockpiling aid equipment and supplies 
Raising public awareness (e.g. by holding earthquake drills).

Question 12

When does preparedness take place?

Answer 12

Before hazard events

Question 13

What is response?

Answer 13

Responding effectively to a hazard event

Question 14

What is the focus of response?

Answer 14

Coping with disaster.

The main aims are to save lives, protect property, make the affected areas safe, and reduce economic losses

Question 15

What are the actions of responses?

Answer 15

Search and rescue efforts

Evacuating people where needed

Restoring critical infrastructure (e.g. power and water supplies)

Ensuring that critical services continue (e.g. medical care and law enforcement)

Question 16

When does response take place?

Answer 16

During hazard events

Question 17

What does recovery mean?

Answer 17

Getting back to normal

Question 18

What is the focus of recovery?

Answer 18

Short term recovery:

• Focuses on people’s immediate needs, so it overlaps with the response phase.
• Although called short term, these activities may last for weeks.

Long term recovery:

• this involves some of the same actions, but may continue for months or even years.
• it includes taking steps to reduce future vulnerability, which overlaps with the mitigation phase and the cycle continues.

Question 19

What are the actions of recovery?

Answer 19

Short term:

• providing essential health and safety services
• restoring permanent power and water supplies
• re-establishing transportation routes
• providing food and temporary shelter
• organising financial assistance to help people rebuild their lives.

Long term:

• rebuilding homes and other structures
• repairing and rebuilding infrastructure
• re-opening businesses and schools

Question 20

When does recovery take place?

Answer 20

After hazard events

Question 21

What is the Park model/park hazard response curve?

Answer 21

Shows how a country or region might respond after a hazard event.

Question 22

What can the Park model/park hazard response curve do?

Answer 22

Directly compare how areas at different levels of development might recover from a hazard event.

Question 23

How does the Park model/park hazard response curve show the different impacts?

Answer 23

The impacts of hazard events change over time - depending of size, development and amount of aid received.

All hazards have different impacts, so their curves are different (how long they occur, will affect response).

Wealthier countries have very different curves than developing countries, because they can recover faster.

In hazard event that affect a number of different countries (Indian Ocean tsunami) each country has its own curve.