How is risk different to vulnerability?

Question 1

What is a Hazard Profile?

Answer 1

Its helps to compare between different hazard events. It has six indicators:

. Magnitude : Size

. Speed of onset : Time between start and peak

. Duration : Length of Time

. Areal Extent — Area

.Spatial Predictability — Distribution of Hazard

. Frequency — How often

Question 2

Explain the different between Risk and Vulnerability

Answer 2

Risk — Exposure of people to a hazardous event with potential threat to themselves, possessions and buildings.

High risks means high physical exposure to natural hazards

Vulnerability — Risk of exposure to a hazardous event combined with an ability of to cope with a hazardous event

High vulnerability means low security

Question 3

Disaster Risk Equation

Answer 3

Risk = (Hazard * Vulnerability) / Capacity to Cope with Consequences

Question 4

Explain Degg Model

Answer 4

. It shows the relationship between hazard events and human vulnerability

. Refer to Hazard Notes Sheet

Question 5

Why do people put themselves at risk from natural hazards?

Answer 5

1.) Lack of Alternatives — Due to social, political, economic and cultural factors people can’t move place giving up their homes, land and employment

2.) Hazard Events are unpredictable — It’s difficult to predict the frequency, magnitude and scale of a natural event

3.) Changing the level of risk —Places that were once safe may become unsafe e.g. deforestation increases flood risk

4.) Perception — how people view a risk may depend on individual experiences or beliefs

Question 5

Why do people put themselves at risk from natural hazards?

Answer 5

1.) Lack of Alternatives — Due to social, political, economic and cultural factors people can’t move place giving up their homes, land and employment

2.) Hazard Events are unpredictable : It’s difficult to predict the frequency, magnitude and scale of a natural event

3.) Changing the level of risk: Places that were once safe may become unsafe e.g. deforestation increases flood risk

4.) Cost / Benefit — There are many hazardous areas that offer advantages that outweigh the risks. For example, California has high risk from earthquakes but people see the advantages of living (e.g. employment opportunities, weather, beaches, etc.) there as greater than the potential risk