Natural Hazards Case Studies

Question 1

What hazards are present in the Philippines?

Answer 1

Volcanic eruptions, tropical storms, earthquakes and tsunamis

Question 2

What makes the location of the Philippines so vulnerable as a multi-hazardous environment?

Answer 2

Destructive plate boundary where the Eurasian and Philippine plate meet
They cant easily be evacuated because its an island
Fast growing population
30% of disasters in South East Asia 1990-2009
Average of 1008 die every year
12 billion pesos of agricultural damage per year

Question 3

What is a NDCC Philippines?

Answer 3

National Disaster Coordinating Council
Inter-agency council for disaster prepardeness and mitigation
18 departments protecting 27 provinces
$1.9 grant from AusAID
Established hazard map and community based early warning system
More effective than general governing of whole country by one government

Question 4

In what way are the Philippines resilient to hazards?

Answer 4

• Many Filipinos noted for their sense of humour. After 350 people died in the disaster of the Mount Mayon eruption of 1897, people were telling jokes whilst collecting the dead bodies
• National hero Jose Rival commented that Filipinos are like bamboo that bends in the wind and is capable to bending back

Question 5

How have Filipinos mitigated against the effects of a multi-hazardous environment?

Answer 5

• Nipa palm and bamboo huts: easily rebuilt after disaster and less likely to cause harm if they collapse
• Traditional houses in the Batanes: lower ceilings protect against typhoons
• Incorperation of indigenous building practices: wooden beams planted deep into the ground prevent damage in volcanic or seismic events

Question 6

How is the Philippines adapted against the effects of multi-hazardous environment?

Answer 6

Houses that collapsed as a result of a 7.9 mag earthquake in 1645 were not rebuilt in stone bc it was considered too dangerous - learning from the past

Question 7

How have the Philippines managed against a multi-hazardous environment?

Answer 7

• Communities in the Philippines are largely self-reliant, dependant on their own resources rather than those of the government. Even the poor gets aid this way because everyone pools resources together.
• Less emphasis is put on technology and more on community spirit to recover quicker.

Question 8

What is Caracas exposed to in terms of hazards?

Answer 8

Earthquakes (7/8 mag)
Tropical storms
Flooding
Landslides
Mudflows
Storm surges etc ....

Question 9

What about the location of Caracas makes it more vulnerable to hazards on a local scale?

Answer 9

• Destructive subduction zone of South American and Caribbean plate
• Very steep valley landscape (up to 80% in poor areas)
• Pop density of 12,000 people/km2 average, rising by 31% every year
• 7th most urbanised city in the world

Question 10

What about the buildings makes Caracas vulnerable to hazards?

Answer 10

• Barrios = slums

- Formal city averages 6000 people/km2 whilst barrios average 25,000 people/km2

Question 11

What about the transport makes Caracas vulnerable to hazards?

Answer 11

Only one road to airport and sea port which drives directly over San Andreas Fault

Question 12

What about the water makes Caracas vulnerable to hazards?

Answer 12

Over 95% comes from 3 pipelines - all 3 cross over the San Andreas Fault

Question 13

Why cant the effects of hazards in Caracas be mitigated?

Answer 13

• Too much cultural and economic diversity
• Ignorance from public
• Highest density of people in slums = most groundshaking

Question 14

Social characteristics of Caracas

Answer 14

Rich people 
-land ownership
-far away from steep valley sides and well constructed houses
Middle class
-European immigrants linked to petrol industry
-residential suburbs and CBD
Lower class
-labourers, servants, unemployed
-occupies hillsides in Barrios

Population is divided by wealth so its community reflects risks associated

Question 15

Political characteristics of Caracas

Answer 15

• Democratic stable government but crime levels are high
• Lack of funding mean they risk zone
• ‘no build zones’ enforced but doesn’t work because of illegally constructed slums
• Political enforcement of specific street and building orientations to protect against slides and bigger 2+ story buildings instead of single ones is needed
• Venezuelan foundation for seismological research funded by government

Question 16

Economic characteristics of Caracas

Answer 16

Venezuelan economy 50% oil 50% services
Not much done to mitigate hazards
NDCC has been formed