Tectonic Hazards 1.4-1.6 Flashcards
Disaster definition
A serious disruption of the function of a community involving widespread human, materialistic, economic or environmental losses and impacts which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope with its own resources
Vulnerability
The ability to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from a natural hazard
Resilience
Aka capacity to cope
The ability of a community or society exposed to hazards to resist, absorb and recover from the effects of a hazard.
Deggs model
Risk equation
Risk = Hazard x Vulnerability / Capacity to cope
Political factors affecting risk
Corruption Evacuation contingency plans Building regulations Funding of emergency services Other infrastructure Communications with other countries
Economic and social factors affecting risk
Population density Wealth of inhabitants Deprivation Health care services Public education
Physical and environmental factors affecting risk
Location (near hazards)
Prevention measures against damage on buildings
Urbanisation
5 key factors is the complex relationship between risk, hazards and people
1 Unpredictability 2 Lack of alternatives 3 Dynamic Hazards 4 Cost-benefit of staying put 5 Russian Roulette reaction
3 reasons why disasters don’t just happen, they are caused
Prevention - the can (sometimes ) be prevented
Hazard Dependent - some floods can be caused by human activity
Preparation - disasters can be avoided with good enough contingency plans
Risk - Unpredictability
It catches people and governments out
Risk - Lack of alternatives
There is no other choice
Land is cheaper in hazardous areas
Risk - Dynamic hazards
The threat is not constant
For example, Hurricane season is only June-August
Risk - Cost-benefit of staying put
Some may decide that the benefit outweighs the risk
For example, volcanoes make soil more fertile so business more lucrative - and they are unlikely to erupt often
Risk - Russian Roulette
There is an acceptance of risk but it is seen as unlikely
There may be a warped perception of risk
Why does age have an impact on a community’s resilience?
There is physical decline with ageing
There is a lack of adequate service provision before and after emergencies - not enough workers and old people cannot access the services themselves
There are higher poverty levels among older people
Predicted problem of ageing
By 2050, 79% of the world’s population aged 60+ will live in less developed regions
3 parts to the Hazard Index
A hazard and exposure dimension
A vulnerability dimension
A capacity dimension
PAR Background
Pressure - comes from people, their vulnerability, the potential physical hazard
Release - identifying ways to reduce the pressure and therefore reduce vulnerability
Root Cause PAR
Limited access to
Power
Structures
Resources
Ideologies of
Political or economic systems
Dynamic Pressures PAR
Lack of Training Local investment Press freedom PLUS -rapid population change -rapid urbanisation -deforestation
Unsafe Conditions PAR
Physical environment
Local economy
Social relations
Public actions
Haiti 2010 Root Causes
Haiti’s debt to Germany and France - money not spent on infrastructure but repayments
Extensive corruption in govt
80% below poverty line of
Haiti 2010 Dynamic Pressures
Lack of
Urban planning, preparation, disaster management
Effective education PLUS
High pop density at 306/km2
Rapid urbanisation, slumlike housing
Deforestation due to sugar plantations
Soil degradation = inc. risk of landslides
Haiti 2010 unsafe conditions
Soft soil amplified seismic waves
Illegal housing on hillsides
Low GDP/capita of $1300 meant poor quality buildings
Poor infrastructure - limited access to services
Haiti before 2010 - % access to safe water and sanitation
39% had access to safe water
24% had access to sanitation
Haiti before 2010 population density
306/km2
Haiti before 2010 GDP per capita
$1300 (low)
Haiti before 2010 % below poverty line
80% on less than $2 a day
