Concept of Hazards

Question 1

What are 3 types of hazards?

Answer 1

• geophysical
• atmospheric
• hydrological

Question 2

What is a hazard?

Answer 2

a perceived event that threatens life and property. they may cause loss of life and/or damage to the built environment

Question 3

What is meant by the term ‘risk’?

Answer 3

the exposure of people to a hazardous event, which poses a threat to themselves/their property

Question 4

Give 3 common characteristics of hazards

Answer 4

• exposure to risk is involuntary
• has long-term and short-term impacts
• little/no warning before hand
• origins are clear and effects are distinctive

Question 5

What is meant by the term ‘perception’?

Answer 5

the way in which a group/individual may view a hazardous event

Question 6

Give 5 factors that impact the perception of a hazard

Answer 6

• socio-economic factors
• education
• employment status
• past experience
• family/marital status

Question 7

Outline fatalism as a perception of hazards

Answer 7

hazards are natural events that cannot be controlled. Actions are concerned with safety, and losses are accepted as inevitable

Question 8

Outline adaptation as a perception of hazards

Answer 8

people see they can prepare for and survive hazardous events

Question 9

Outline fear as a perception of hazards

Answer 9

people feel so vulnerable to an event that they move away from the area

Question 10

What is meant by the term ‘integrated risk management’?

Answer 10

A process used that considers social, economic and political factors as well as incorporating the analysis of risks, identification of hazards, establishing priorities, developing public awareness, implementing a risk reduction plan.

Question 11

What are primary effects?

Answer 11

impacts that are a direct result from a hazardous event (e.g ground shaking in an EQ)

Question 12

What are secondary effects?

Answer 12

Effects that result from the primary impact(s) of the hazard event

Question 13

Briefly explain the disaster/risk management cycle

Answer 13

a model that illustrates the ongoing process by which governments/businesses prepare, react and recover from a disaster

Question 14

Give 2 reasons why people might continue to live somewhere where they are at risk from hazards

Answer 14

• Lack of alternatives
• changing risk level over time
• unpredictable
• risk/benefit analysis,
• technological capability
• financial opportunities

Question 15

What are 2 ways people can be protected from hazards?

Answer 15

community preparedness and modifications to the built envt.

Question 16

What are 2 negatives of using the risk/disaster management cycle?

Answer 16

• Not a universal model
• Doesn’t capture the complexity of a crisis

Question 17

What are 2 positives of using the risk/disaster management cycle?

Answer 17

• Analysis is useful to know how to change impacts in the future
• Focuses on how a country fares in terms of impact, rather than on
  current level of development
  -can be used by organisations to plan for the events of a hazard and reduce vulnerability

Question 18

what is meant by the term ‘vulnerability’?

Answer 18

The risk of exposure to hazards combined with an inability to cope with them.

Question 19

What is meant by ‘resilience’?

Answer 19

The degree to which a population or environment can absorb a hazardous event and yet remain within the same state of organisation