Hazards Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is a hazard?
A potential threat to human life or property.
What are natural hazards caused by?
Natural processes.
What are the three types of natural hazards?
- Physical hazards
- Hydrological hazards
- Biological hazards
What are physical hazards?
Hazards caused by land processes, including floods, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and tsunamis.
What are hydrological hazards?
Hazards caused by water movement, including floods and avalanches.
What is a disaster?
When a hazard actually seriously affects humans.
Define risk in the context of hazards.
The likelihood that humans will be seriously affected by a hazard.
What does vulnerability refer to?
How susceptible a population is to the damage caused by a hazard.
How can hazards impact people?
They can have significant impacts while occurring and require emergency responses.
What factors affect people’s perception of hazards?
- Economic background
- Social background
- Cultural background
How does wealth influence perception of hazards?
Richer people may afford to move to safer areas or build resilient homes, perceiving risk as smaller.
In what way does religion impact views on hazards?
Some see hazards as acts of God sent to punish people.
How does education affect understanding of hazards?
More educated individuals may understand risks better and believe they can reduce impacts.
What role does past experience play in hazard perception?
People in hazard-prone areas may perceive future risks based on past experiences.
What is fatalism in the context of hazards?
The belief that hazards cannot be avoided and must be accepted.
What are some responses to hazards individuals can take?
- Preventing hazards
- Reducing magnitude
- Mitigating impacts
- Risk sharing
What is risk sharing?
Sharing the costs of reducing a hazard or the costs of not preventing it, such as through insurance.
What is mitigation?
Efforts to reduce the severity or impact of hazards.
What does preparedness involve?
Making plans about how to respond to hazards.
What are the four stages of hazard management?
- Mitigation
- Preparedness
- Response
- Recovery
What determines the effectiveness of hazard management systems?
- Hazard incidence
- Magnitude or intensity
- Distribution
How does development level influence hazard management?
Less developed countries may lack the wealth and technology to manage hazards effectively.
