Natural Hazards and effects and responses

Question 1

what is a Natural Hazard?

Answer 1

a natural process which could cause death, injury or disruption to humans, or destroy property and possessions

Question 2

what are the two main types of natural hazard?

Answer 2

geological hazards - caused by land and tectonic processes (volcanoes and earthquakes)
meteorological hazards - caused by weather and climate (tropical storms and extreme weather)

Question 3

what is a hazard risk?

Answer 3

the probability of people being affected by a hazard in a particular area

Question 4

what are the different factors that affect the hazard risk from natural hazards?

Answer 4

• vulnerability
• capacity to cope
• nature of natural hazards

Question 5

what is the vulnerability of a natural hazard?

Answer 5

the more people that are in an area exposed to natural hazards, the greater the probability they will be affected by the hazard

Question 6

what is the capacity to cope of a natural hazard?

Answer 6

the better a population can cope with an extreme event, the lower the risk of them being severely affected

Question 7

what is the nature of a natural hazard?

Answer 7

• type (the risk from some hazards is greater than others)
• frequency (natural hazards that occur more often may carry a higher risk)
• magnitude (more severe natural hazards tend to have the greatest effects)

Question 8

what are primary effects of a natural hazard?

Answer 8

natural disasters are the immediate impacts caused by the hazard itself

Question 9

what are examples of primary effects of a natural hazard?

Answer 9

• buildings and roads are destroyed by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or tropical storms
• people are injured or killed
• crops and water supplies can be damaged or contaminated

Question 10

what are secondary effects of a natural hazard?

Answer 10

they happen later on, often as a result of the primary effects

Question 11

what are examples of secondary effects of a natural hazard?

Answer 11

• a shortage of clean water and a lack of proper sanitation makes it easier for disease to spread
• food shortages can occur if crops are damaged
• aid and emergency vehicles can’t get through because of blocked roads, this can cause more deaths

Question 12

what are immediate and long-term responses of a natural hazard?

Answer 12

some effects have to be dealt with before, during or immediately after the natural disaster to stop further loss of life, injury

Question 13

what are examples of immediate responses of a natural hazard?

Answer 13

• evacuate people (before hazard if possible)
• treat the injured and rescue anyone cut off by damage to roads/bridges
• provide food, drink and shelter to people without homes

Question 14

what are examples of long-term responses of a natural hazard?

Answer 14

• repair homes or re-home people who have lost their homes
• improve building regulations so that buildings can withstand similar hazards in the future
• repair or rebuild buildings, roads, railways and bridges