Hazards

• What is a natural hazard?

  something that’s a threat for human life or property caused by natural processes
• What is a geophysical hazard and examples of geophysical hazards?


  caused by land processes. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, tsunamis
• What are atmospheric hazards, give examples?

  caused by climatic processes. Tropical storms, droughts, wildfires, extremes of hot/cold weather
• What are hydrological hazards, give examples?

  caused by water movement. floods, avalanches
• Define disaster?


  when a hazard seriously affects humans
• Define risk?


  likelihood that humans will be seriously affected by a hazard
• Define vulnerability?


  How susceptible a population is to the damage caused by a hazard
• Why may someone perceive a hazard differently due to wealth?

  Richer people may be able to afford to move to areas that are less prone to hazards, or to build their homes to withstand hazards so may perceive the risk as smaller.
• Why may someone perceive a hazard differently due to Education?

  People with more education may have a better understanding of the risks of hazards, or they may believe that they are able to reduce the risks or mitigate the impacts.
• Why may someone perceive a hazard differently due to Past experience?


  people who live in hazard prone areas may have experienced hazards before, which may affect the perceived risk from future hazards.
• Why may someone perceive a hazard differently due to religion?

  some people view hazards as acts of god, sent to punish people.
• Why may someone perceive a hazard differently due to personality?

  some people fear hazards and others might think of them as exciting.
• How do people respond to hazards?

  • risk sharing e.g insurance
  • fatalism
  • government coordinate responses
  • mitigation and adaption
  • preventing a hazard or reducing magnitude
• What is the park model?

  show how responses progress during a disaster. It shows the effects of a hazard on quality of life as it goes through the stages.
• What are the five phases of the park model of human response?

  1. Pre-disaster
  2. disruption
  3. relief
  4. rehabilitation
  5. reconstruction
• Describe the pre-disaster phase of the park model?

  before the event the situation is normal
• Describe the disruption phase of the park model?

  during/directly after the hazard occurs, there is destruction of property and loss of life
• Describe the relief phase of the park model?

  the aftermath - rescue efforts focus on saving people and preventing further damage
• Describe the rehabilitation phase of the park model?

  immediate impacts are controlled - focus on resolving longer term problems e.g temporary shelter and aid
• Describe the reconstruction phase of the park model?

  rebuilding houses, infrastructure ect… can result in qol returning to normal if houses built to same standard, or qol increases if area improves
• Advantages of the park model:

  • good for comparing with other events to understand which factors worsen impacts
  • versatile - can be applied to a number of hazards
  • useful for pinpointing different types of response needed at points in time
  • it’s just a model - not a perfect fit
• Disadvantages of the park model:

  • temporal scale may differ - depends on nature of event and development of place
  • not good for quantitative data
  • does not take into account exogenous factors (some countries may need more outside aid than others)
  • doesnt refer to magnitude or frequency
• What is the hazard management cycle?

  It shows the four stages in managing a hazard to reduce the scale of a disaster.
• What are the four stages in the hazard management cycle?

  • mitigation
  • preparedness
  • response
  • recovery
• Why is the hazard management cycle a cycle?

  hazards cannot be prevented but the impacts can be reduced by the stages in the cycle. As more hazards occur the cycle will happen again
• Outline mitigation in the hazard management cycle?

  reducing the severity and impact of an event e.g earthquake proof buildings, flood barriers, insurance
• Outline preparedness in the hazard management cycle?

  planning how to respond e.g making sure there are warning systems in place
• Outline the response stage of the hazard management cycle?

  how people react when the hazard occurs e.g emergency services rescuing people
• Outline the recovery stage of the hazard management cycle?

  restoring the affected area to normality