Concept of Disaster and Disaster Risk

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What is a tsunami?

A series of waves caused by earthquakes or undersea volcanic eruptions.

Define hurricanes.

Rapidly rotating storm systems characterized by a low-pressure center, strong winds, and heavy rain.

What is a landslide?

A downslope movement of soil and rock under the influence of gravity.

Describe a blizzard.

A specific type of snowstorm consisting of large amounts of snow lasting more than three hours. Signup and view all the answers

Explain what a tornado is.

A violently rotating column of air in contact with both the Earth's surface and a cumulonimbus cloud. Signup and view all the answers

What causes volcanic eruptions?

When lava and gas are released from a volcano. Signup and view all the answers

What is a flood?

A temporary overflow of water onto land that is normally dry. Signup and view all the answers

Define drought.

A period of time when an area or region experiences below-normal precipitation. Signup and view all the answers

What is a wildfire?

An uncontrolled fire in an area of combustible vegetation. Signup and view all the answers

Explain what a sinkhole is.

A depression or hole in the ground caused by some form of collapse of the surface layer. Signup and view all the answers

Provide examples of human-caused disasters.

Industrial accidents, shootings, acts of terrorism, and incidents of mass violence. Signup and view all the answers

What is a disaster?

A disaster is a sudden, calamitous event that seriously disrupts the functioning of a community or society and causes human, material, and economic or environmental losses. Signup and view all the answers

How is disaster risk defined according to UNDRR?

Disaster risk is defined as the potential loss of life, injury, or destroyed or damaged assets which could occur to a system, society or a community in a specific period of time, determined probabilistically as a function of hazard, exposure, and capacity. Signup and view all the answers

What are the learning objectives related to disasters and disaster risk?

The learning objectives include: explaining the meaning of disaster, differentiating the risk factors underlying disasters, describing the effects of disasters, explaining how and when an event becomes a disaster, identifying areas exposed to hazards, and analyzing disasters from different perspectives. Signup and view all the answers

Can disasters have human origins?

Yes, disasters can have human origins. Signup and view all the answers

What factors contribute to disaster risk according to UNDRR?

Hazard, exposure, and capacity are the factors contributing to disaster risk. Signup and view all the answers

Why do disasters exceed the ability of communities or societies to cope?

Disasters exceed the ability of communities or societies to cope because of the human, material, and economic or environmental losses they cause. Signup and view all the answers