Introduction Flashcards
Define Natural Hazard
The process which has the potential to be a substantial threat to human life and society
- A natural hazard can trigger a natural disaster
Define Natural Disaster
- An event which ahs occurred due to a natural hazard
- involves substantial disruption to a society
- affects a discrete region over a restricted time period
what is CRED* Definition of a natural disaster
10 or more people reported killed
and/or
100 people reported affected;
and/or
A call for international assistance;
and/or
Declaration of a state of emergency.
Give 4 examples of a natural disaster
floods
storms
Earthquakes
Drought
Why is death due to disasters decreasing
improved resilience e.g. legislations, warning systems…
Why is number of disasters increasing?
- More awareness and reporting
- Increased Populations
More poverty and urbanisation - increase of sensitive structures (e.g. dams, nuclear stations)
- Environmental degradation
Climate change
Define risk
the probability that harmful effects will follow from an identified natural hazard
Define hazard level
probability of hazard occurring within a specified timescale
define exposure
number of people, value of property or agricultural land, buildings, infrastructure, etc would be affected by a hazardous event?
define vulnerability
preparedness and resilience of the disaster
How do you detect risk?
Hazard level X Exposure X Vulnerability
explain the characteristics of hazard level
- sometimes quantifiable
- if hazard level can’t be calculated, an estimate is given .g. low, high…
- for geohazards, hazard level is determined by nature - it cant be changed (magnitude of event, can’t change risk, but can change vulnerability)
Characteristics of Exposure
- usually quantifiable
- relative estimate given
- depends on location and magnitude, or intensity of the hazardous event
- sometimes reduced by relocation, or modifying environment e.g. flood defences
Characteristics of Vulnerability
- depends on factors such as age, income, govt., education, emergency planning and warning systems, infrastructure.
- Lots of different methodologies and types of data can be used to assess vulnerability
- Determined by human activity - it can be changed
what is a negative of quantifying risk in financial terms
doesn’t capture the risk to lives and wellbeing
how to calculate the average cost of a hazard per year
Odds (of the event) X cost (of the event) = Average cost of hazard per year
How much does Japan spend on Disaster Risk Reduction, in comparison to LICs?
5% of their annual budget.
LICs can’t afford this so rely on the Official Development Assistance (ODA)
What does Official development Assistance (ODA) include?
Humanitarian Aid (HA),
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
other types of funding
Example of Disaster Risk Reduction
Warning systems
safe buildings
water/food supply systems e.g. reserves
climate and disaster resilient systems
