Geography Hazards

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Wildfires are fires that occur in uncultivated areas, such as forests and grasslands.
Wildfires can be caused by various factors, including lightning strikes, arson, and human error.
The effects of wildfires can be devastating, causing loss of life, property damage, and environmental contamination.
Wildfires can be dealt with through short-term response measures such as firefighting and evacuation centres, and long-term response measures like building regulations and expert advice on banning housing in high-risk areas.
Storm hazards occur between 5-20 degrees north and south of the equator and tend to move westward once generated.
Storm hazards can cause various effects, including floods, wind damage, and storm surges.
Storm hazards can be managed through response and management measures such as evacuation, emergency preparedness, and post-disaster recovery.
Hurricane Katrina was a Category 5 storm with wind speeds of 280kmph, gusts of up to 345kmph, and a central pressure of 902mb.
Hurricane Katrina caused massive storm surge when it hit Louisiana, with waves up to 10m high.
Hurricane Katrina had a primary impact of 1242 deaths due to the storm and a secondary impact of 1 million refugees, with 80% of the city under water due to flood defences being breached, 110,000 homes flooded, and some houses too damaged to repair.
Hurricane Katrina caused $200 billion in financial cost and insurance companies struggled.
Conditions that aid wildfires:
Type of vegetation:
The thick and very close vegetation allows the fires spread quickly and easily.
The trees and thick bushes cause more intense forest fires ; grasslands do not burn as intensely.
The vegetation with flammable oils, such as eucalyptus, also cause more intense fires.
Where do wildfires occur?
Forest fires can occur anywhere in the world.
Most common areas where they occur are found vegetated areas of Australia, Western South Africa and throughout the dry forests and grasslands of North America and Europe.
Weather Conditions needed for wildfires to occur:
Forest fires occur in a climate that has enough precipitation for the plants to grow sufficiently, but periods of considerable drought that deplete fuel. The areas with dry seasons, like California, allow intense wildfires. Wind also causes fires to spread faster.
Primary Effects of Wildfires:
Environmental: Air + Water Pollution, Habitat Loss, Toxic Gases released.
Economic: Businesses destroyed, Farmland damaged, Cost of fire-fighting.
Social: People Killed, Homes destroyed, People go missing during evac.
Political: Gov. buildings destroyed.
Secondary Effects of Wildfires:
Environmental: Removing invasive species, Stimulating seed germination, Migration patterns of animals impacted, CO2 heightens greenhouse effect.
Economic: High cost of rebuilding, insurance payouts, loss of tourist sector - planes cancelled.
Social: Homelessness, Food shortages from destroyed farmlands, Health problems such as asthma from smoke inhalation.
Political: Borrowing money for international aid, Pressure on government to do more about global warming.
Dealing with the fire hazard:
Prevention:
Human caused fires can be prevented through awareness.
Controlled burnings and fire breakers can prevent large wildfires from starting
Dealing with the fire hazard:
Preparedness:
Public awareness about why wildfires start.
Evac plans and training.
Satellite image tracking to manage the areas that are at risk.
Red-flag warning systems so people know areas that will possibly be at risk.
Dealing with the fire hazard:
Mitigation:
Search and Rescue teams + immediate emergency aid.
Removing flammable material such as dead leaves.
Spraying water and fire retardant onto areas.
Non-toxic building materials.
Dealing with the fire hazard:
Adaptation:
Move away from area at risk.
Fire breaks to stop fires spreading.
Reducing CO2 footprint to lower CO2 emissions to lower frequency.
Insurance to cover damage.