Tectonic-EQ2 Flashcards
What is a disaster?
A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.
How does a Disaster effect Vulnerability?
The more severe the hazard or event the more vulnerable the population.
When is there not a disaster linking with vulnerability?
If a hazardous event and vulnerable population do not interact then there is no disaster.
What is an example of a hazardous event not being a disaster?
A volcanic eruption on a remote unpopulated island would not be a disaster.
What does Degg’s Model show?
The Degg’s Model shows that a natural disaster only occurs if a vulnerable population is exposed to a hazardous event.
What is Hazard Vulnerability?
The capacity of a person or group to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from the impact of a natural hazard.
What are the 5 reasons people remain exposed to hazards?
1)Unpredictability
2)Lack of Alternatives
3)Changing Levels of Risk
4)Russian Roulette
5)Cost vs Benefit
Why does unpredictability leave people exposed to hazards?
-Not always predictable when or where an event will take place.
-Difficult to know the likely magnitude of the event.
-Human activity and physical changes also mean that for example, sea level is rising giving a greater chance of lowlands flooding.
-Moreover, deforestation of drainage basins increases the frequency and magnitude of flooding
Why does Lack of Alternatives leave people exposed to hazards?
Difficult to uproot and move to another location giving up homes, land and employment. Often the world’s most vulnerable are the poor who are forced to live on unsafe floodplains or steep hillsides.
Why does Changing Levels of Risk leave people exposed to hazards?
Deforestation can make an area once safe from flooding more susceptible. As can effects of global warming e.g. sea level rise.
Why does Russian Roulette leave people exposed to hazards?
Optimism, turning a ‘blind eye’, ‘acts of god’ , part of the living process. People are comforted by the statistics which show that the risk of death is lower than that from influenza or car accidents. They also believe that if a high magnitude event occurs then it may be safe for a few years afterwards, this is not always true.
Why does Cost vs Benefit leave people exposed to hazards?
Many hazardous areas offer advantages that in people’s minds outweigh the risk. Floodplains for example have very fertile soils and rich volcanic soils are also attractive.
What does the hazard risk equation help us understand?
The relationship between hazards and disasters using this equation. The risk of disaster rises if hazard magnitude rises. If vulnerability rises so does risk.
What is the Hazard Risk Equation?
RISK = Frequency or Magnitude of hazard (H) x level of vulnerability (V) / Capacity of population to cope (C)
What does Failure of Development mean?
When areas don’t build their infrastructure where they fail to prepare and therefore cope with a hazardous event. Failure to plan prepare and execute before a disaster occurs.
