Natural Hazard-What?
A natural hazard is a natural event that is a potential threat to human life or property
Classification of Natural Hazards-Geophysical
A geophysical hazard is a hazard that is driven by the Earth’s own internal energy sources like Plate Tectonics
Classification of Natural Hazards-Atmospheric
Atmospheric hazards are driven by processes that are weather or climate related
Classification of Natural Hazards-Hydrological
A hydrological hazard is a hazard driven by water bodies, normally the ocean
Common Characteristics of Natural Hazards
Impacts-Primary
Primary impacts are impacts that have an immediate effect on the area
Impacts-Secondary
Secondary impacts are the result of the primary impacts eg: Homelessness caused by destruction of buliding
The Dregg Disaster Model
According to this model, a disaster is when a hazard affects a vulnerable population
Factors that create a vulnerable population
Vulnerability-What
How susceptible a population is to the damage caused by a hazard
Perceptions of Hazards-Wealth
Richer people can move away from hazard affected areas, or build home to withstand hazards-Smaller risk for rich, High risk for Poor
Perception of Hazards-Religion
Some people adopt a fatalistic view towards hazards-Less risk for them
Perception of Hazards-Education
Those who are educated about the hazards have a better understanding of them, they can try to reduce the damage caused-Less risk for them
Perception of Hazards-Past Experience
Those who lived in hazard prone areas are more experienced-Less risk for them
Perception of Hazards-Personality
Some people do not fear them, they find them exciting-Less risk for them
Risk Perception-What
The subjective judgement that people make about the characteristics and severity of a risk
Risk-What?
The probability of a hazard event causing harmful consequences
Fatalism-What?
People accept that hazards are a natural occurrence. Loses are inevitable and people remain where they are. “God’s Will”
Adaption-What?
People see that they can prepare for the event so they will survive
Fear-What?
People feel so vulnerable to an event that they move away to areas with no hazards
Factors that increase risk perceptions
Factors that decrease Risk Perception
Responses to a hazard
The Hazard Management Cycle
Once a hazard happens, the authorities respond to it. Then, the area is reconstructed. Mitigation, which reduces the severity of the hazard is next, which increases the areas preparedness for a disaster. Then, a disaster strikes and the cycle begins again