Hazard Perception

• Hazards are a perceived natural event which has the potential to threaten both life and property.
• Disasters are hazards becoming reality in an event which causes deaths and damage to property and the environment
• Hazard perception is the way in which an individual or group views the threat of a hazard event. This will ultimately determine the course of action by individuals or the government.
• Geophysical hazards are caused by tectonic/geological processes, such as earthquakes, volcanoes or tsunamis.
• Atmospheric hazards are formed by atmospheric processes, such as storms or droughts.
• Hydrological hazards are formed by hydrological processes, such as floods.
• LICs have a lower capacity to cope, HICs have a higher capacity to cope.
• Frequency of disasters affects vulnerability.
• We can prevent hazards becoming disasters by helping communities to be prepared, reduce their risks, and become more resilient.
• Adaptations are the attempts by people to live with the hazard by reducing vulnerability.
• Fatalism is a view of a hazard event that people cannot influence or shape the outcome and therefore nothing can be done to mitigate it.
• Natural hazards have:

  • Clear origins and distinctive effects
  • Little or no warning
  • Involuntary exposure to risk
  • Damage and loss of life shortly after hazard, but impacts are long lasting
  • Scale and impact which requires emergency response
• People put themselves at risk because:

  • Hazard events are unpredictable
  • There are a lack of alternatives
  • Level of risk changes
  • The cost can be beneficial
  • Hazard perception
• Natural hazard perception is influenced by:

  • Socio-economic status
  • Level of education
  • Occupation/employment status
  • Religion and cultural background
  • Family marital status
  • Past experiences
  • Values, personality and expectations
• Management of natural hazards:

  • Community preparation
  • Frequency
  • Integrated risk management
  • Magnitude
  • Prediction
  • Primary effects
  • Secondary effects
  • Resilience
• Risk is the exposure of people to a hazardous event​