Hazards - Concept Of A Hazard Flashcards
What is a hazard?
A hazard is a potential threat to human life and property caused by an event. The event can be human caused or occur naturally.
When does a hazard become a natural disaster?
A natural disaster will only occur when a vulnerable population is exposed to a hazard.
What is a geophysical hazard?
They are caused by land process, these include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides and tsunami.
What factors affect the impact of geophysical hazards?
1) Time of day
2) Magnitude and frequency
3) Location
4) Population density
5) Level development
What is the form of a hydrological hazard?
They are caused by water movement these include flood and avalanches and tsunamis.
What is the form of an atmospheric hazard?
Hazards caused by atmospheric processes and the conditions created because of these, such as weather systems.
What does Degg’s Model represent?
Degg’s Model is a good representation of the concept that a disaster will only occur in a vulnerable population. If the population is not vulnerable, the hazard will not have a significant effect, thus the event will not be disastrous.
What are the two hazard models used?
1) The Hazard Management Cycle
2) The Park Model
What are the four stages to the hazard management cycle?
Response, Recovery, Mitigation, Prepardness
What processes occur in mitigation of the HMC (Economic and social recovery)?
1) They are actions aimed at reducing the impact.
2) Could involve direct intervention (building design)
3) Building of defensible zones
4) Level of impact will impact the quality of mitigation.
What processes occur in preparedness of the HMC (Risk assessment)?
1) Education
2) Raising public awareness
3) Adjust behaviour to minimise the impact of the hazard
4) Knowing what to do in the aftermath can speed up recovery.
What processes occur in response of the HMC (providing assistance)?
1) Assessing damage
2) Providing assistance
3) Saving people
4) Speed of response will depend on the effectiveness of emergency action plan put in place and results of damage assessment.
What processes occur in recovery of the HMC (restoration)?
1) Restoring the affected area back to normality
2) Short term will focus on restoring services so that longer term planning and reconstruction to the pre-event level can begin.
What does the Park Model show?
Park’s model shows how people’s quality of life is affected by hazards. It also outlines how people respond to hazard events
What do the five stages of the Park Model show?
Stage 1) Modifying the cause and event.
Stage 2) Hazardous event.
Stage 3) Search, rescue and care.
Stage 4) Relief and rehabilitation period may include outside help (national and international aid).
Stage 5) Nature of recovery related to: the need to reduce vulnerability, the need to restore normality as soon as possible.
What are the three phases that follow the hazard event in the Park Model?
1) Relief - the immediate response including search and rescue, provision of emergency medical assistance and aid.
2) Rehabilitation - a longer phase that includes temporary restoration of services and infrastructure e.g. temporary schools and shelters are set up.
3) Reconstruction - permanent restoration which aims to provide the same or an improved quality of life than before e.g. through the rebuilding of infrastructure using aseismic designs.
How do LIC countries respond to a hazard?
LIC countries tend to be impacted more severley and recover more slowly.
How to HIC countries respond to a hazard?
HIC countries are likely to recover more quickly and provide an improved quality of life for people through mitigation strategies such as aseismic designs and hazard warning systems.
What are different peoples perceptions of hazards?
Wealth – richer people are prepared to move or reconstruct losses.
Religion – some see these as acts of God and so are more fearful.
Education – better understanding of risks, how to minimise losses.
Past experience – more able to deal with or less capable due to trauma.
Personality – some see them as exciting as opposed to frightening
What is the fatalism response to a hazard?
Accepting that hazards cannot be avoided and choose to little about it prior to event. Most common in LICs.
What is the prediction response to a hazard?
Working out when and where the hazard is likely to occur which allows people to respond by evacuating an area or give warnings. Most common in HICs where technology and experts exist.
What is the adaptation response to a hazard?
Adjusting behaviour and making buildings resistant in areas that are hazard prone e.g. retrofitting older buildings.
What is the mitigation response to a hazard?
Any actions taken which reduce impact, loss of life/property.
What is the management response to a hazard?
Governments may coordinate responses to manage hazards potential impacts by allocating resources etc.
What is the risk-sharing response to a hazard?
Sharing to reduce costs of hazard e.g. insurance is taken out to help repair property if disaster hits however most won’t be affected and the cost accumulates. Countries also share knowledge on how to deal with impacts of hazards.
What is the form of a geophysical hazard?
Earthquakes, volcanic activity and mass movements such as landslides and mudflows.
What is the form of an atmospheric hazard?
Tropical storms and wildfires
What is the form of a hydrological hazard?
Floods
What are the potential impacts of a geophysical hazard?
Loss of life and injuries to individuals significant damage to buildings and infrastructure
What are the potential impacts of an atmospheric hazard?
Decreased air quality and respiratory illnesses
