Lecture 1: Introduction

Question 1

Yungay, Perú - 31st May, 1970

Answer 1

20:32:
Nazca plate subduction zone 20km off coast of Perú slips, creating 7.9 Richter scale undersea quake.

Quake triggers de-stabilisation of North wall of Huascarán.

Cornice falls 1000m – creates landslide travelling at 100mph.

20:34:
61 million m3 rock/water/mud hits Yungay.

Question 2

Yungay, Perú - 31st May, 1970

Impacts

Answer 2

17000 dead in Yungay
25,000 dead in the valley
47,500 dead in Region
500,000 homeless

Question 3

A disaster…

Answer 3

is a natural or man-made event that negatively affects life, property, livelihood or industry onen resulting in permanent changes to human societies, ecosystems and environment.

Question 4

A hazard…

Answer 4

a physical event that is a potential threat to people and the things they value

Question 5

Annual economic losses associated with disasters averaged:

Answer 5

1960’s US$ 75.5 billion
1970’s US$ 138.4 billion
1980’s US$ 213.9 billion
1990’s US$ 659.9 billion

Question 6

An event is…

Answer 6

A weather phenomena, they become hazards once they threaten to affect society and/or the environment adversely.

Question 7

A natural hazard is…

Answer 7

• of very high intensity
• but relatively low frequency
• restricted spatial extent
• They are almost always unexpected, though that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t have been expected (unpredicted rather than unpredictable)

Question 8

Risk =

Answer 8

Hazard + Vulnerability

Question 9

Disasters manifest as

Answer 9

Hazards exacerbating vulnerable conditions and exceeding individuals’ and communities’ means to survive and thrive.