Hazard case studies

spatial pattern of hazard risk in california

there is a higher risk of hazards risk in the west coast of California because there is a linear pattern of hazards including earthquakes, landslides, and wildfires.

As you cross the central valley to the west the risk decreases with dispersed wildfires. As you go up north the hazard risk of wildfires increase

Volcsno risk is an anomaly they are distributed at regular intervals

hydro-meterorological hazards

Hydro-meteorological hazards result from atmospheric or hydrological processes; they are caused by the movement of water in some shape or form, and by weather patterns. Examples can include floods, droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes, storms, blizzards, and more.

they are higliy connected which increases their frequency

geophyscial hazard

Natural hazards where the causal factor is a geological or geomorphological process

less connection therefore not as frequent

why do people choose to live in california even though its a risky place

• richest oil wells in america

• film industry

• good weather

• high technology

• sentimental attachment

• economic growth draws internal and external migration

are there any factors which make people vulnerable to these hazards in california?

• buil on fault line

• building or moving to laces with highly flammable vegetation

• choosing to live underneath cliff for the surf life

factors to reduce hazard vulnerabiliy in calfiornia

earthquake resistant design

emergency servies and planning

common casue and community resistance

retrofitting e.g cathedral designed to withstand seismic waves

peoples reactions to the threat of hazards in california

they accept it but rather not think about it

confidence in adaption

faulty-denail as opposed to ignorance but too many interlinked risks to calculate accurately

blame people rather than nature

what was the pattern of frequency and cost in california 2008-2018

higher the frequency,the higher the cost

most frequent hazards are floods,landslides ,storms and wildifres

least frequent hazards are earthquakes and tsunamis

wildfires cost FEMA the most ($709m)

earthquakes and tsunamis hardly cost anything

San francisco bay area economy

home to california supreme court ,bank of america,filled with numerous web 2.0 startups and headquarters

• growth occuring in healthhs,social services and education and leisure

• booom growth in proffessional and businesses

• decline in manufacturing employment

• 67% labour force participation

• strong personel income growth

• employment in higher paid jobs is growing

how the nature of the hazard can influence the potential impacts on the bay area

• scale greater than 6mms

• 2 faults (San Andreas and heyward)

• frequency c.150 years on

• Heyward overdue

• The last big one 1868

• san andreas interact with slopes (landslides and can trigger wildfires

demography

• 7.65m people

• highly educated workforce

• continuing foreign immigrstion ,revitilized in-migration of workers seeking opportunities in the regions expanding economy and a baby boom population

how the characteristics of the bay area influence the potential impacts of a hazard

coastal,hilly therefore land slides and floods

soft sediment (liquefaction)

dense population therefore transport infrastructure most vulnereable

pressure on most vulnerable land and pockets of poverty-highesdt risk for minorities

rich often on surrounding slopes often well engineered

how politics and hazard perception can influence the potential impacts of the hazard

faulty-deny risk

democrats dominate

local government believes in government action

focused on public engagement to improve hazard response

however, opposed to developments that might disrupt communities

how community response and management can influence the impacts of the hazard?

FEMA/california governor office/community groups cooperate to produce-Bay area earthquake plan California

residents taught to

store supplies

families contact plan

stop covering and hold

4 task forces:

manage and repair infrastructure

healthcare planning, family unification

rehoming displaced residents

communication during and after an event