Tectonics Pack G

Question 1

What is a disaster?

Answer 1

Result of a hazard seriously disrupting the functioning of a vulnerable community, causing loss of life and material and economic damage

Question 2

What is the risk equation?

Answer 2

Risk = (hazard x level of vulnerability)/resilience

Question 3

What is risk?

Answer 3

The probability of a hazard occurring and causing loss of life and livelihoods

Question 4

What is vulnerability?

Answer 4

The susceptibility of a community to harm from a hazard

Question 5

What is a hazard?

Answer 5

A natural event that threatens or causes injury, death and damage

Question 6

What is resilience?

Answer 6

The ability of a community to cope and recover from hazardous events

Question 7

What is the simple model for disaster?

Answer 7

• Degg’s model
• Vulnerable population and hazard leads to disaster

Question 8

What economic factors mean poor people and countries are more vulnerable?

Answer 8

• Lack of education so a lack of knowledge of the risks and hazard perception
• Poor-quality building standards increase risk of collapse
• Limited ability to cope with the aftermath
• Lack of alternatives to reduce risk
• Lack of technology to monitor hazards and issue warnings
• Economic benefits may encourage people to stay in hazardous area
• Less likely to have insurance to cover losses

Question 9

What economic factors mean wealthy people and countries are less vulnerable?

Answer 9

• Can afford technology to monitor tectonic areas, establish warning systems and mitigate the impacts
• Greater ability to evacuate the hazard zone (e.g. by cars)

Question 10

What economic factors mean wealthy people and countries are more vulnerable?

Answer 10

• More vulnerable to economic loss due to higher value buildings, infrastructure and businesses
• Reliance on technology if hazard affects technology systems

Question 11

What political factors make a country more vulnerable?

Answer 11

• Poor quality governance
• Lack of development of enforcement of building codes
• Bureaucracy and corruption prevent aid from quickly reaching disaster areas
• Lack of hazard mitigation planning

Question 12

What is an example of poor governance?

Answer 12

• Nepal earthquake 2015
• Building standards were ignored
• 500,000 homes destroyed
• Fire engines were old models and out of service
• International aid had to be sent to NGOs not the government

Question 13

What social factors make a country and people more vulnerable?

Answer 13

• Greater number of people means greater potential for loss of life, injury or economic loss
• Young and elderly are more vulnerable due to less physical strength to survive disasters and more susceptible disease
• Women are more vulnerable due to a lack of education, fewer financial resources and role of protecting other family members
• In some societies they cannot leave the house unless her husband says so
• Poorly educated people may be unaware of potential risks (e.g. people walked towards Indian Ocean tsunami)
• Person/communities perception of hazard: acceptance that it will happen, complacency due to false alarms, fear of unknown

Question 14

What geographical factors make a country and people more vulnerable?

Answer 14

• Urban areas have a greater population density so a more vulnerable
• Rural areas are more remote and more vulnerable due to difficult rescue and aid reaching areas
• Time hazard occurs increase risk
• Risk of other hazards as well

Question 15

What is the more complex model for disaster?

Answer 15

• Pressure release model
• Root causes (e.g. limited access to resources, political systems)
• Dynamic pressures (e.g. lack of training, rapid urbanisation)
• Unsafe conditions (e.g. local economy, building codes)
• Hazard
• Leads to disaster