Managing Flashcards
What does hazard management involve?
Hazard mitigation
Hazard adaptation
What is hazard mitigation?
Strategies meant to avoid, delay or prevent hazard events
What are examples of hazard mitigation?
Land-use zoning
Diverting lava flows
GIS mapping
Hazard-resistant design and engineering
What is land-use zoning?
Process by which local government planners regulate how land in the community may be used (e.g. as residential, industrial or recreational)
What does land-use zoning do?
In area at risk from volcanic eruptions and tsunami it’s an effective way to protect both people and property.
How does land-use zoning work?
Those areas at risk, are divided into zones based on the likely type and level of damage from an hazard event.
They use hazard maps to make decisions about the appropriate use of land in what zone, as well as for preparatory task such as determining safe evacuation routes.
What tends to happen in areas at high risk from volcanic eruptions and tsunami? (Land-use zoning).
Any settlements tend to be limited, if they’re allowed at all.
Certain types of structures and facilities will be prohibited - such as those that pose a risk if damaged (e.g. nuclear power station), or those that are critical for a community to function (e.g. hospitals).
Some communities may be resettled
Development in areas which provide natural protection will be limited
What’s a example of people being resettled? (Land-use)
Along coast, deemed to be at risk of tsunami may be moved inland to higher ground.
What’s an example of development in areas which provide natural protection being limited? (Land-use)
Coastal mangrove forests, which act as buffers and reduce the impact of tsunami waves.
What’s land-use zoning like in different areas of development?
Common in wealthy countries
Less in some developing countries (e.g. Haiti).
A reason why hazard events often cause more deaths and destruction in developing countries.
What is diverting lava flows?
Attempts to divert lava flows away from people and communities
Methods have included building barrier and digging channels in safer directions.
Why has diverting lava flows been ineffective?
The path taken by lava is hard to predict - making it difficult to know where to build the walls or dig the channels
The terrain has to be suitable (e.g. with a downward slope, so the diverted lava can easily flow away.
Stopping the lava from flowing towards one community may push it towards another.
What is GIS mapping?
Geographical information system
Can be used in all stages of the disaster management cycle.
E.g. to identify where evacuation routes should be placed (the preparedness stage), or to help with rescue and recovery options (response stage).
What’s an example of GIS mapping?
2015 Nepal earthquake:
The locations and very rough population sizes of major towns and cities.
The areas affected by the earthquake.
The locations of airports and airstrips.
How does GIS mapping help?
Helps aid agencies to identify most affected areas
To find nearest aircraft or helicopters carrying emergency supplies and relief.
Evacuation routes
What is hazard resistant design and engineering defences?
Designing buildings and constructing buildings that can withstand hazard events more effectively is key to protecting lives and property.
Collapsing buildings are one of the main causes of death and damage from tectonic hazards.
What are examples of hazard resistant design and engineering defences?
New buildings and structures (such as bridges) can be designed to resit ground shaking during earthquakes.
The roofs of houses built near volcanoes can be sloped to reduce the amount of ash that builds up on the = reduce the risk of them collapsing under the weight.
Buildings at risk from tsunami can be elevated and also anchored to their foundations to stop them floating away.
Existing buildings can be modified - called retrofitting - to make them safer, e.g. by strengthening the foundations.
Protective structures, such as seawalls or retaining walls, can be built to stop or slow the impact of tsunami waves and landslides.
What do modern earthquake proof buildings tend to include?
Rubber shock absorbers between foundations and superstructure
Reinforced latticework foundations deep in bedrock
Birdcage interlocking steel frame
Reinforced lift shafts with tensioned cables
Panels of marble and glass flexibly anchored to steel superstructure
Rolling weights on roof to counteract shock waves
What is hazard adaptation?
Strategies designed to reduce the impacts of hazard events
What are examples of hazard adaptation?
High-tech monitoring Crisis mapping Modelling hazard impacts Public education Community preparedness
What is high-tech monitoring?
Allows scientists and others to learn more about these natural processes - in the hope of eventually being able to predict them more accurately further in advance.
What are examples of high-tech monitoring?
GIS
Early warning systems
Satellite-communication technology
Mobile-phone technology
What is GIS?
Helps to create hazard maps and manage hazards more effectively.
What are early warning systems?
Use scientific instruments to detect signs that a volcanic eruption or tsunami is about to occur.
The relevant authorities can them be informed and rapid alerts issued to communities at risk.
