Intro to Natural Disasters

Question 1

Ancient Definition of Disaster

Answer 1

• Dis: unfavourable

- Astro: stars

Question 2

Hazard

Answer 2

Potential threat to humans and their welfare

Question 3

Risk

Answer 3

Probability of loss (deaths, injuries, damage, disruption of economic activity) as a result of a particular natural event

Question 4

Vulnerability

Answer 4

Potential loss, or degree of loss from the event (0 = no damage, 1 = total loss)

Question 5

Disaster

Answer 5

Combination of hazards and vulnerable society, affecting a community in an adverse way such that essential social structures and functions are disrupted

Question 6

Prediction and Forecasting

Answer 6

Statement that a particular natural hazard will occur with a given probability, during a certain time frame, in a specified geographic area

Question 7

Mitigation

Answer 7

Efforts to reduce or minimize effects of natural hazards on a community

Question 8

Disasters as Unpredictable

Answer 8

• Mother nature is non-deterministic
• Individual events are inherently unpredictable
• Requires a statistical approach such as probabilities

Question 9

Recurrence intervals

Answer 9

Average time interval between the occurrence of two events of given magnitude (i.e. a flood of 6 metres which happens once every 50 years, 2% probability per year of it happening)