Hazards,

Disasters, Risks and Vulnerability

Characteristics of Hazards:
Magnitude - Size of the event (Japan Tsunami vs. England Earthquake Frequency How often do Hazards occur (how prepared are they? ) Duration How long does the hazard last Area affected How densely populated is the area, and distances Predictability Does the country have good combat systems? Effects - How does it impact the people, the environment and the economy on a long-term basis?

What is a Disaster?
- A major Hazard that causes a widespread disruption with significant demographic, economic, environmental loses where the community is unable to cope without outside help.

What is a Hazard?
- A threat (whether natural or human ) on the environment that can cause loss of life, socio- economical disruption, injury, property damage or environmental degradation.

What is Vunerability?
- The susceptibility of a community to a hazard or to the impacts of a hazard event.

What is Risk?
- the probability of a hazard that can cause harmful consequences on the factors of a hazard.

Why do people live in Dangerous areas?

Economic gain (Someone would stay at the base of a volcano because it provides fertile soil for crop growth). Coastal locations (Seen for status and because of its aesthetically environment). Opportunities (what one can do in their free time). Trade routes (The option of having food available. It provides security in a life style choice). Its a choice!

Factors of Vulnerability:
longer time for evacuation; more provisions for water and treatment. Infrastructure: Ability to withstand the risk; Speeds up aid and emergency services. Insurance cover: The ability to recover at a faster rate; allows preparation for future disasters. Planning Regulations: Allows a safer preparations on behalf of infrastructure; reduces casualty rate and damage to property Availability and Preparedness: Training teams to be prepared increases effectiveness; practicing procedures to take place makes it more easier and less stressful; reserves medical supplies Social Status: Higher income places can afford better homes and livelihood; benefits of insurance and car transport

Population Density: High risk in spread of disease;

Risk Perception Factors:

Degree of Control : How well can the population handle situations well when they cannot control
the factor Understanding of the Hazard: Understanding the hazard will lower the perception making it more cope able Loss of life: Disasters with a large fatality will make people more fearful of that event ( 2004 boxing day Tsunami ) Media Coverage: There tends to be more biasness in the news, and coverage is often exaggerated. Frequency of primary effects: Those with a more serious primary effect will affect the populous more than a secondary effect.

Responses to Hazards
Why should we prepare?
Allows those who are most vulnerable to be aided more effectively. This includes education The amounts of correct aid materials to be handed out. Modification of infrastructure

What happens during the event?

Communication between agencies should be effective and efficient Awareness of strategies and emergency procedures by service teams Clear directives about actions taken for the severity of the event More targeted and efficient.

= Planning = Planning of permission in materials used and redulations dangerous zones

Building Land Use Infrustructure = Planning of w Design control improtant utilities shere go hould

Strategies To Limit Damage

Powerline placement Defences

Emergency shelters


Short Term Response Emercency Services [ind people Issuing medical supplies Dealing with the dead Clearing Debris Reestablishing vital resources ( water, power) Mid Term Response Reestablishing other services Getting people back in their houses loss and damage analysis by insurance companies Issuing Insurance payments Clearing debris on non- essential roads co-ordination of aid deliveries Long Term Response Completion of major building programs: Upgrading infrustracture

Figure 1 Response to Disasters with time