Disaster Key Concepts and Risk Factors

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Questions and Answers

What best describes a disaster?

A minor inconvenience that affects daily life.

A significant shift in weather patterns.

A serious disruption of community functioning due to extensive losses. (correct)

An event that only causes temporary damage.

Which term refers to the likelihood of a hazardous event occurring?

Hazard

Vulnerability

Coping

Disaster Risk (correct)

What is the role of vulnerability in disaster management?

It reduces exposure to hazards.

It describes how hazards can impact communities.

It increases susceptibility to hazards. (correct)

It decreases the chance of a disaster occurring.

Which of the following is NOT considered a risk factor in disaster susceptibility?

Meteorological Factors Signup and view all the answers

What is a short-term effect of disasters?

Loss of Life Signup and view all the answers

Which factor includes the impact of flora and fauna on disaster vulnerability?

Biological Factors Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes long-term effects of disasters?

Physical and Mental Health Consequences Signup and view all the answers

What encompasses the ability to manage adverse disaster conditions?

Capacity Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary aim of prevention in disaster management?

To completely avoid or eliminate the hazard Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of mitigation?

Construction of flood walls Signup and view all the answers

Adaptation in disaster management primarily focuses on what?

Behavioral changes to reduce exposure and vulnerability Signup and view all the answers

Which perspective in disaster management focuses on durability and safety of infrastructure?

Physical Signup and view all the answers

What aspects are considered in the psychological perspective of disaster management?

Perception and mental health Signup and view all the answers

Which type of perspective deals with the role of income and assets in disaster vulnerability?

Economic Signup and view all the answers

In terms of political perspective, how are natural disasters typically viewed?

As less politically contentious than armed conflicts Signup and view all the answers

What is the main concern of the biological perspective in disaster management?

The role of health and the ecosystem Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Disaster Key Concepts

A disaster is a serious disruption to a community or society, involving significant human, material, or environmental losses that exceed the community's ability to cope on its own.
A hazard is a phenomenon, substance, human activity, or condition that can lead to significant negative consequences like loss of life, injury, damage to property, livelihoods and services, social and economic disruption or environmental damage.
Exposure refers to the number of people, infrastructure, housing, and assets in an area that could potentially be affected by a hazard.
Vulnerability describes the physical, social, economic, and environmental factors that increase susceptibility to hazards.
Disaster risk is the combination of the probability of an event and the negative consequences that will arise.
Coping capacity is the ability to face and manage adverse conditions such as hazards, emergencies or disasters.

Risk Factors

Physical Factors: Tangible objects or infrastructure.
Psychological Factors: State of mental capacity and health.
Socio-Cultural Factors: Religion, social status, traditions, and societal perceptions.
Economic Factors: Assets, liabilities, income, and social/economic class.
Political Factors: Government structure, diplomatic issues, and local government units.
Biological Factors: Flora and fauna (in the environment), health issues, injuries, and diseases.

Effects of Disasters

Long Term Effects: Environmental degradation, physical and mental health consequences.
Economic Effects: Loss of income/job loss, cost of recovery and rebuilding.
Physical & Emotional Effects: Injuries, loss of life, trauma, destruction of infrastructure, displacement, and breakdown of social networks.
Social Effects: Displacement, breakdown of social networks.

Reducing Disaster Risk

Prevention: Aims to avoid or eliminate hazard or exposure to its effects (e.g., immunization, restricting settlements in dangerous areas, dam construction).
Mitigation: Aims to reduce, lessen, and limit the hazard or exposure (e.g., flood walls, reforestation, retaining walls).
Adaptation: Aims to reduce exposure and vulnerability by making changes in human behavior (e.g., avoiding electrical hazards, practicing cough etiquette).

Perspectives on Disasters

Physical: Observable objects (buildings, infrastructure) including durability, fire exits, and presence/absence of important elements.
Psychological: Mental capacity and health of individuals to deal with disasters.
Economic: Income, assets, liabilities, and economic class of individuals or communities.
Political: Government structure, diplomacy, and potential for conflicts.
Biological: The role of flora, fauna, environment, diseases, and health.

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Description

Explore the essential concepts of disasters, hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and disaster risk. This quiz will test your understanding of key terms and definitions related to disaster management and the factors that influence coping capacity. Enhance your knowledge of how communities can prepare for and respond to disasters.