disasters

Deadliest disaster ever- 1931 August

Deadliest flood in history in china. Millions of people were displaced, crops were destroyed + widespread disease and famine followed. 1-4 Million died

Characteristics of disasters

Rapid-onset, significant direct losses, exposure is largely involuntarily, needs emergency response

most common type of disasters

Floods and windstorms

Deadliest type of disasters

earthquake + droughts

Examples of geological disasters

earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, tsunamis

Examples of meteorological disasters

hurricanes, tornados, floods, droughts, heatwaves / blizzards

Countries in the deadliest list

Bangladesh, China, Sri Lanka, India, Ukraine,

Countries on the costliest list

USA, Japan, Europe, Honduras

why do less developed countries suffer more from disasters

Live in high risk areas, weak housing, limited money + emergency services and poverty increases vulnerability

Physical exposure

how close people and structures are to a hazard

Ex:

Bangladesh: ppl / homes close to path of floods, high population density, poverty, limited resources,

Social vulnerability

How easily countries can be harmed by hazards

Ex:

Central America / Hurricane Mitch: poor region of world, 3 million homeless, 50 yrs of progress gone, 11,000 killed

Why disasters are on the rise

Population growth

Benefits of living in a hazardous area

Fertile land, cheap land / housing, natural resources

Steps in hazard management

Mitigation: using risk assessment to reduce impacts of disaster

Prevention: using RA to develop + maintain regulations

Forecasting: statement of long term probability (weeks/days)

Prediction: statement of short term probability (weeks/days)

Warning: (days/hours/mins)

Response/recovery

Steps in conducting risk assessment

Objective

-based on stats

-repeatable results

-involves decisions

Why is risk perception a problem

people could underestimate danger + don’t prepare