The concept of Hazard Flashcards
The Concept of Hazard
A hazard is a threat that has the potential to cause injury, loss of life, damage to property, socio-economic disruption or environmental degradation. Hazards can be human caused or occur naturally. An event will only become a hazard when it is a threat to people.
Natural Disasters
Hazards should not be confused with natural disasters. A disaster will only occur when a vulnerable population is exposed to a hazard that will have a significant effect. It can also be defined as a major hazard event that causes widespread disruption.
The United Nations (UN) is more specific and records a hazard event as a disaster if one or more of these criteria are met:
- A report of 10 or more people killed.
- A report of 100 or more people affected.
- A declaration of a state of emergency by the relevant government.
- A request by the national government for international assistance.
Types of Hazards
Hazards can be classified according to their nature.
- Geophysical - Hazards caused by land processes, majorly tectonic plates e.g. (volcanoes)
- Atmospheric - Hazards caused by atmospheric processes and the conditions created because of these, such as weather systems (e.g. wildfires)
- Hydrological - Hazards caused by water bodies and movement (e.g. floods)
Hazards can be classed as a mixture of these geographical processes.
Hazard Perception
People tend to respond to a hazard in ways that are consistent with their perception of the risk. These perceptions are dependent on lifestyle factors which include economic and cultural elements.
Wealth - Wealthier people may perceive a hazard to be smaller as they are less vulnerable (Better quality housing, evacuation routes/transport). However, wealthier people may also view a risk as greater as there is more risk of property damage and financial loss.
Experience - Someone who has experienced more hazards may be more likely to understand the full effects of a hazard. There are studies suggesting that people who have experienced hazards are likely to have a unrealistic outlook on future hazards, like lighting never strikes twice in the same place.
Education - A person who is more educated about hazards may understand their full effects. Those who are less educated may not understand the full extent of a hazard and may not know certain procedures e.g. evacuate.
Religions and beliefs - Some may view hazards as put there by God for a reason, or being part of the natural cycle of life. So may not perceive them as negative. In contrast, those who believe strongly in environmental conservation may perceive hazards to be a huge risk to the natural environment.
Human Perception to Hazards
Fatalism - The viewpoint that hazards are uncontrollable natural events, and any losses should be accepted as there is nothing that can be done to stop them. Some communities would say that they are God’s Will.
Adaption - People see that they can prepare for them and therefore survive the event by prediction, prevention and protection.
Fear - The perception of a hazard is such that people feel so vulnerable to an event that they are no longer able to face living in the area and move away.
Human Responses to Hazards
People respond to hazards and threats that they can pose by seeking ways to reduce the risk. The nature of their response is likely to be influence by their perception of the hazard, as well as the nature of the hazard, the technology available and the infrastructure of the government.
Prediction - Using scientific research and past events in order to know when a hazard will take place, so that warnings can be delivered and impact of the hazard can be reduced.
Community preparedness / Risk Sharing - A form of community preparedness, whereby they community shares the risk posed by a natural hazard and invests collectively to mitigate its impacts of future hazards. (Education, Evacuation procedures, Awareness programmes)
Integrated risk management - The process of considering the social, economic and political factors involved in risk analysis. Deciding on the actions to be taken to minimise the damage.
Adaption - Attempting to live with hazards by adjusting lifestyle choices so that vulnerability to the hazard is lessened (earthquake proof houses)
The Park Model (Disaster response curve)
The park response model illustrates the changing quality of life through different phases of a disaster from Stage 1 (Pre-disaster) through to Stage 5 (Reconstruction).
The Hazard Management Cycle
The Hazard Management Cycle highlights the attempts of governments, businesses and other stakeholders to reduce the losses from the hazard, provide rapid assistance and effective recovery.
A cycle showing the phases of respone, recovery, mitigation and preparedness in the management of a hazard.
Responce - Efforts to minimise the hazards created by a disaster. E.g Search and rescue.
Recovery - Returning the community to normal. Providing temporary housing and medical care.
Mitigation - Minimising the effects of the disaster. E.g Education, zoning, builidng codes
Preparedness - Planning how to respond. E.g Warning systems in place, emergency training.
