Hazard risk and vulnerability

Question 1

What is risk?

Answer 1

The probability and severity of a person being harmed by the hazard.

Question 2

State 3 reasons why people live near hazards.

Answer 2

• Place attachment (topophillia)
• Hazard events are unpredictable so there is often a low likeliness of high risk events occuring.
• Geothermal/hydroelectric power reduces costs.

Question 3

Define frequency

Answer 3

How often a hazard occurs in a given period.

Question 4

Define distribution

Answer 4

Where hazards occur geographically.

Question 5

Define magnitude

Answer 5

The size of a hazard used to measure the intensity of a hazard (usually definable)

Question 6

Define power.

Answer 6

The combined strength and speed of a hazard.

Question 7

Define intensity.

Answer 7

The power of a hazard measured by the extent of damage it causes.

Question 8

How can wealth impact the way a person may view a hazard?

Answer 8

A wealthy area may view an event as high risk if they will suffer property damage and financial loss. However, wealthy communities with sufficient funds to evacuate may view the hazard as low risk as they are less vulnerable.

Question 9

What is a hazard profile?

Answer 9

A way of summarising the physical processes that all hazards share to help decision makers.

Question 10

What is a fatalistic view (hazard perception)?

Answer 10

People accept dangers as inevitable (optimistic approach) and believe that hazards are part of life/acts of god.

Question 11

What is an acceptance view (hazard perception)?

Answer 11

People accept the risk of living in a dangerous area because they think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Question 12

What is an adaptation view (hazard perception)?

Answer 12

A perspective that believes hazards are influenced by natural and human events so people can change their lifestyles to reduce the impacts.

Question 13

What are 3 factors which increase a place’s vulnerability?

Answer 13

1. Population growth (Urbanisation)
2. Ageing population
3. Ageing infrastructure

Question 14

What are 3 factors which decrease a place’s vulnerability?

Answer 14

1. Warning and emergency response systems in place
2. Insurance of infrastructure
3. Government disaster-assistance programmes

Question 15

What is a natural hazard?

Answer 15

An event which is perceived top be a threat to people, the built environment and the natural environment.

Question 16

What is risk-sharing?

Answer 16

The process of pre-arranging measures that aim to reduce the loss of life and property damage.

Question 17

What are 2 examples of risk sharing programmes?

Answer 17

• public education
• evacuation procedures

Question 18

What is salience?

Answer 18

The process of a government being willing and able to invest in resources to reduce the impact of hazards.

Question 19

GOVERNANCE SECTION FINISH DO NOT FORGET