The Concepts of Hazards

Question 1

What is a hazard?

Answer 1

A hazard is a threat which has the potential to cause injury, loss of life or damage to property. It can be either natural or caused by humans.

Question 2

What is a natural hazard?

Answer 2

A naturally occurring physical phenomena caused either by rapid or slow events which can be geographical, hydrological, climatological, meteorological or biological.

Question 3

What is a disaster? How does the UN classify a disaster?

Answer 3

A disaster is the realisation of a hazard. UN defines this by:

• A report of ten or more people killed
• A report of 100 or more people affected
• A declaration of state emergency
• A request made by the national government for international aid.

Question 4

What does a geophysical hazard refer to?

Answer 4

A hazard caused by the earth’s processes

Question 5

What does a hydrological hazard refer to?

Answer 5

A hazard caused by the occurrence, movement, and distribution of surface and underground water.

Question 6

What does an atmospheric hazard refer to?

Answer 6

A hazard caused by processes in the atmosphere resulting in extreme weather or atmospheric conditions

Question 7

How do you measure risk?

Answer 7

Capacity to cope or adjust

Question 8

What is vulnerability?

Answer 8

A measure to the extent of which a community, structure, service or geographical area is likely to be damaged or disrupted, on account of its nature or location, by the impact of a particular disaster hazard.

Question 9

What is the capacity to cope?

Answer 9

The ability of people, organisations and systems, to manage disasters. The capacity to cope requires continuing awareness, resources and good management, both in normal times as well as during disasters.

Question 10

What is hazard perception?

Answer 10

How an individual views a hazard, if effects their reaction/actions of the individual.

Question 11

How does fatalism affect hazard perception?

Answer 11

When a person believes a hazard is a punishment sent from God.

Question 12

How does adaptation affect hazard perception?

Answer 12

When a person believes they can reduce the risk of hazards, which lowers vulnerability.

Question 13

How does fear affect hazard perception?

Answer 13

A person fears hazards, so they more from an area of high risk to an area of lower risk.

Question 14

How do people’s wealth affect their perception of hazards?

Answer 14

Some people can’t afford to move away from a high risk area or even reduce the risk so they live with it.

Question 15

How do people’s religion affect their perception of hazards?

Answer 15

Some people believe hazards are a punishment from God so they accept the hazard and live with it.

Question 16

How do people’s education affect their perception of hazards?

Answer 16

Provides knowledge on how to react in the case of a hazard and how to reduce the risk.

Question 17

How do people’s past experiences affect their perception of hazards?

Answer 17

Provides a living memory, raises awareness and educates a person on what to do in the case of a hazard.

Question 18

What are the positives of a Disaster Response Curve?

Answer 18

• Can help planners predict what resources will be required at each stage.
• Can help prepare for future hazards, for example, building back better in the future.

Question 19

What are the negatives of a Disaster Response Curve?

Answer 19

• Simplified model, doesn’t account for location or hazard specific issues.
• How do you measure the quality of life of a population? Will it be the same for everyone? Problems of inequaliy.