Risk is the exposure of people to a hazardous event, presenting a potential threat to themselves, their possessions and the built environment in which they live.
Possible reasons people consciously put themselves at risk from natural hazards:
Hazard events are unpredictable
Lack of alternatives
Changing the level of risk
Cost/benefit
Preception
Vulnerability to physical hazards means the potential for loss. Since losses vary geographically, over time and among different social groups, vulnerability therefore also varies over time and space.
The wealth and level of technology that a country can apply affects the degree to which the hazard event will impact upon the people that live there.
Countries with more wealth and technology can protect themselves by building sea defences, constructing earthquake-resistant buildings, and providing better equipped emergency services.
