Human-Induced and Technological Hazards

Human-Induced Hazards

• Human activities pose significant risks to life, property, and the environment.
• These hazards are a result of human actions or negligence.
• They can have devastating consequences, ranging from immediate loss of life and property to long-term environmental and health impacts.

Technological Hazards

• These hazards arise from the use and failure of technology and industrial processes.
• Examples include industrial spills, transport accidents, factory explosions, and nuclear incidents.
• These hazards can create environmental contamination, health issues, and economic disruption.

Health Impacts of Technological Hazards

• Nuclear radiation can cause sickness by damaging cells in the body.
• High levels of radiation can harm DNA and other parts of cells.
• This damage can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, or death in severe cases.

Social Impacts of Technological Hazards

• Psychological Stress and Trauma can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Environmental Impacts of Technological Hazards

• Soil and water sources can be contaminated.
• Plant cell damage can lead to stunted growth, mutations, or death.
• Animals can experience sickness, genetic mutations, reproductive issues, and food chain disruption.

Economic Impacts of Technological Hazards

• Technological hazards impact the economy through cleanup costs, healthcare expenses, agricultural losses, tourism decline, and business disruption.

Environmental Degradation

• Environmental degradation occurs due to human activities and natural processes.
• It includes depletion of natural resources, loss of biodiversity, and disruption of ecosystems.
• Examples include deforestation, pollution, climate change, and coral reef degradation.

Causes of Environmental Degradation

• Pollution: From agricultural runoff, marine debris, or chemical pollution.
• Climate Change and Ocean Acidification: Rising global temperatures and increased carbon dioxide levels weaken marine ecosystems, disrupt biodiversity, and increase the frequency and intensity of storms, contributing to coastal erosion and flooding.
• Coastal Development: Unregulated construction and infrastructure projects along coastlines disrupt natural landscapes, destroy protective ecosystems, and increase vulnerability to storms, flooding, and erosion.
• Tourism and Recreational Activities: Overuse of coastal areas for tourism leads to habitat destruction, pollution, and degradation of natural defenses, which increases susceptibility to coastal hazards.

Social Hazards

• Social hazards arise from social structures and behaviours that negatively impact individuals or communities.
• Examples include conflicts and terrorism.

Risk Assessment

• A qualitative or quantitative approach to determine the nature and extent of a disaster risk.
• It analyzes potential hazards and evaluates existing conditions of exposure and vulnerability.
• It helps inform decision-making of policymakers and identify potential damage to people, property, services, livelihoods, and the environment.

Importance of Disaster Risk Assessment

• Understanding hazards and vulnerabilities in physical, social, economic, and environmental systems is crucial for reducing disaster risk.
• This knowledge guides actions to minimize risks and build resilience.

Risk Assessment Methods

• Qualitative: Uses descriptive terms and subjective judgments to understand the specific context and characteristics of potential disasters.

  • Expert Judgment: Gathering insights from disaster management professionals.
  • Interviews: Conducting structured conversations with relevant individuals.
  • Focus Groups: Facilitating discussions with groups to explore potential risks.

• Quantitative: Uses numerical values and statistical methods to provide objective, measurable assessments.

  • Risk Rating: Determined by multiplying likelihood and severity.
  • Complete Risk Assessment Form: Develop control measures to minimize risks.

Risk Assessment in Disaster Management using Risk Matrix

• Control Development: Implementing control measures to minimize risks.

  • Emergency Response Plan: A plan for effective response to disasters.
  • Coordination Across Multiple Stakeholders: Engaging community members, leaders, and emergency responders.
  • Raise Awareness and Support Recovery Efforts: Engaging the public and providing post-disaster support.

• Evaluate then Identify Residual Risks: Risks that remain after efforts to mitigate risks.

• Risk Map: A visual representation of risks across different geographical areas.

Phases of Multi-Hazard Risk Mapping

• Developing Base Map: Creating a map with basic information about the area.
  • Name of the map, direction, administrative boundaries, main streets, rivers, mountains, basic infrastructure, cultural houses.
• **Data Collection and Consolidation:**Gathering information on the community's capacity, vulnerability, and risks.
  • This phase is time and budget-consuming and involves gathering updates on existing maps and information from the community.
• Develop and Verify Disaster Risk Map with Stakeholder Participation: Digitizing data from paper-based maps.
  • Accurately transferring information onto a digital map using software such as QGIS.
  • Including different map layers: Points, lines, polygons, and texts to represent different features.
• **Share and Update Maps Annually:**Sharing maps with local people and stakeholders.
  • Holding meetings with community members to provide feedback and update the map annually.
• Use Maps for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR): Using maps for disaster risk reduction planning.
  • Developing disaster risk reduction plans, organizing evacuation drills, and assisting with damage and needs assessments.