Impacts of Natural Hazards

• Impacts can be social, economic or environmental and can be short and long term

  • impact is usually greater on communities at lower levels ofe conomic development because of a lack of finance to rebuild the infrastructure, lack of insurance cover, and a lack of technology and expertise to deal with the event
• Impacts of drought (1)

  • water sources dry up - force people and animals to travel long distances for water
  • introduction of water conservation measures
  • loss of crops, farm animals, plants, and wildlife
  • decrease in land prices and unemployment as production declines and farmers lose money
  • increase in food prices
• Impacts of drought (2)

  • health problems because of poor nutrition and famine and dehydration - elderly and young people are more vulnerable to heat stroke
  • plant diseases and insect infestations
  • soil erosion and desertification
  • increased risk of wildfires and poor air quality
  • conflict over water usage and food
  • rural communities may break up as farmers are forced to relocate
• Impact of tectonic hazards

  • ground shakin, lava flows, pyroclastic flows, lahars, ash
  • landslides cover buildings and roads
  • tsunamis hit coastline
  • fires from rupture of gas pipes
  • destruction of farmland and starvation as aid cannot reach victims
  • disease because victims are in temporary accommodation with no sanitation or clean water - water is contaminated by broken sewage pipes or untreated sewage
  • trauma, poor mental health
  • loss of wildlife habitats
• Impact of tropical storms

  • flooding from storm surges and heavy rainfall
  • disruption of electricity, transport and water supply
  • water-borne disease
  • economic loss as production is halted
  • damage to crops, food shortages and loss of export earnings
  • loss of wildlife habitats
• Impact of flooding

  • disposession and migration
  • contamination of water supplies leading to disease
  • loss of crops and farm animals leading to food shortages
  • deposition of silt from flood waters
  • recharge of groundwater stores
  • rivers change course