natural hazards ⚡️

• the primary effects of natural disasters are the immediate impacts caused by the hazard itself
• examples of primary effects:

  • buildings + roads destroyed by earthquakes
  • people injured or killed eg. in collapsing buildings
  • crops + water supplies damaged or contaminated
  • electricity cables / gas pipes / communication networks damaged, therefore cutting off supplies
• secondary effects happen later as a result of primary effects
• secondary effects examples:

  • initial hazard triggers other hazards eg. earthquakes can trigger tsunamis
  • aid + emergency vehicles can’t pass blocked roads or bridges - can cause further fatalities
  • shortage of clean water + lack of sanitation making it easy for disease to spread
  • food shortages occurring if crops are damaged, livestock killed or supply lines blocked
  • country’s economy weakened - damage to businesses leading to unemployment + reconstruction process is expensive
• immediate responses: before, during or immediately after the natural disaster occurs
• immediate responses examples:

  • evacuating people
  • treating injured people
  • rescuing trapped people
  • recovering dead bodies to prevent spread of disease
  • providing temporary electricity + gas
  • providing food, drink + shelter
  • foreign governments / charities may send aid, supplies or financial donations
• long term responses: when problems are dealt with later after the disaster
• long term responses examples:

  • repair homes
  • rehouse people
  • repair / rebuild buildings + infrastructure
  • reconnect broken electricity, water, gas and communication connections
  • improve forecasting, monitoring + evacuation plans
  • improve building regulations so that in the future, it will be easier for buildings to withstand hazards
  • boost economic recovery eg. promote tourism