Introduction to Disasters

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary definition of a natural disaster?

A natural process that results in loss of life and property damage. (correct)

A planned event to celebrate significant occurrences.

An event caused by human actions leading to destruction.

A health-related crisis stemming from infectious diseases.

Which of the following is NOT classified as a geophysical natural disaster?

Earthquakes

Volcanic activity

Tsunamis

Floods (correct)

Which classification includes extreme temperatures and thunderstorms?

Climatological disasters (correct)

Hydrological disasters

Geophysical disasters

Meteorological disasters

What does an overwhelming situation necessitate in the context of a disaster?

Request for external assistance at national or international levels. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of disaster includes Hurricane and Tornado?

Meteorological disasters (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct term for a natural occurrence that causes injury or health impacts?

Natural disaster (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT considered an ecological disruption caused by a disaster?

Development of new industries (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which option correctly identifies a trigger for a propagated or progressive epidemic?

Slow spread through a population (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is subsidence primarily caused by?

Aquifer-system compaction and underground mining (B) Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon describes oscillating waves in enclosed bodies of water due to seismic activities?

Seiches (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a cause of subsidence?

Rapid urbanization (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following measures aids in tsunami monitoring?

Development of a tsunami database (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of liquefaction?

Is a process where sediments are saturated with water (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes landslides?

Mass wasting of earth materials moving under gravity (A) Signup and view all the answers

What kind of hazards can result from flooding and water-related events?

Infrastructure damage and health risks (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which is a key element of earthquake mitigation strategies?

Earthquake survival kits (D) Signup and view all the answers

What happens to water when it drains into the ground and eventually freezes?

It creates pressure that can stress its surroundings. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the description of an earthquake intensity level of II on the Modified Mercalli Scale?

Felt only by a few persons at rest. (D) Signup and view all the answers

At which intensity level on the Modified Mercalli Scale do many people start to recognize it as an earthquake?

III (D) Signup and view all the answers

What degree of damage is associated with intensity level VII on the Modified Mercalli Scale?

Slight to moderate damage in well-built structures. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which intensity level indicates that heavy furniture may be moved, and some plaster may fall?

VI (C) Signup and view all the answers

What occurs at intensity level IX on the Modified Mercalli Scale?

Buildings may shift off their foundations. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In which intensity level might one expect some walls to make cracking sounds?

IV (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the expected outcome for wooden structures at intensity level X?

Some well-built wooden structures may be destroyed. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What defines the focus of an earthquake?

The point within Earth's crust where fractures occur (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding seismic waves?

Seismic waves are vibrations that move through Earth's layers. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of a seismometer?

To respond to ground noises and shaking (C) Signup and view all the answers

How do tectonic earthquakes occur?

Due to sudden movements along faults and plate boundaries (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which description fits the term 'epicenter'?

The point directly above the focus on the Earth’s surface (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT a cause of seismic waves?

Slow erosion of rocks (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic distinguishes hybrid disasters?

They are a combination of both natural and man-made disasters. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common feature of faults in Earth's crust?

They can have tiny cracks with minimal movement. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a wildfire commonly defined as?

An unplanned and uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the ITCZ responsible for?

Developing frequent thunderstorms and heavy rain (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of storm is characterized by a closed low-level atmospheric circulation and strong winds?

Tropical cyclone (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes a thunderstorm?

An electrical storm characterized by lightning and thunder (D) Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a tornado from other storms?

Its violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common result of storm surges during typhoons?

Flooding caused by rising sea levels (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which name refers specifically to a rapidly rotating storm system?

Tropical cyclone (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of atmospheric disturbance can lead to both thunderstorms and heavy rain?

Meteorological hazards (B) Signup and view all the answers

What primarily causes tsunamis?

Displacement of the ocean floor by faults (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which landslide is described as usually starting on steep slopes and involving a surge of water-saturated material?

Mudslide (B) Signup and view all the answers

What function does a concrete retaining wall serve in landslide mitigation?

Holds back soil and prevents erosion (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of glaciers that contributes to avalanches?

Rapid flow of snow and air down slopes (B) Signup and view all the answers

What size can tsunami waves reach when they approach shallow waters?

Up to 30 meters (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is volcanic ash primarily made up of?

Fine-grained solid material ejected during eruptions (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered a type of hydrological hazard?

Avalanche (B) Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon occurs when part of a bedding plane of rock fails, leading to a sudden collapse?

Rockslide (D) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Disaster Introduction

Disaster etymology originates from Latin words "dis" (bad) and "astro/aster" (star)
Historical disasters, like floods or fires, were often attributed to misalignments of planets or celestial events.
A disaster is any event causing significant damage, ecological disruption, loss of life or health degradation, requiring a major response from outside the affected community.
A disaster overwhelms local capacity, necessitating a national or international external response and leading to significant damage, destruction and suffering.
A serious disruption of a community's functioning, involving substantial human,material, economic or environmental losses exceeding a community's ability to cope using its own resources.
Synonym list for disaster includes: catastrophe, calamity, cataclysm, tragedy, act of god, holocaust, "sakuna" (Filipino), "disgrasya/katalagman/kalamidad" (Hiligaynon).

Types of Disasters

Natural Disasters: Events or processes that arise from natural forces and may cause loss of life, injury, property damage, disruption of livelihoods and services. Examples include earthquakes, landslides, debris flow, tsunamis, volcanic activity, avalanches, floods, sinkholes, extreme temperatures, thunderstorms, drought, wildfires, winter/ice storms, cyclones, hurricanes, tornadoes, disease outbreaks, and other common or progressive epidemics.
Man-Made Disasters: Disasters caused by human actions or negligence, like industrial accidents, accidents involving transportation, intentional acts, technological failures, large-scale infrastructure collapse, and epidemics.
Hybrid Disasters: Combination of natural and man-made factors contributing to a disaster.

Earthquake Anatomy/Hazards

Fault Lines: Gaps in Earth's crust where tectonic plates have moved apart or past each other.
Focus: The point within the earth where the earthquake originates.
Epicenter: The point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus.
Seismic Waves: Vibrations of energy that travel through layers of the earth, resulting from earthquakes and volcanic eruptions (also man-made explosions).
Seismometers: Instruments that measure and record ground motions from seismic waves.
Magnitude: Proportional to the energy released by an earthquake. Refers to the energy released from the earthquake's origin.
Intensity: Measures the strength of an earthquake based on its effects on people, objects, environment, and structures. A measure of how that earthquake is felt at a specific location.

Other Hazards

Landslides: Movements of rock and soil down slopes.
Floods: Overflow of water from a river, lake or other body of water. Includes floods resulting from storm surges or other climactic events.
Avalanches: Snowslides occurring down slopes.
Volcanic Eruptions: Release of lava, gas, and ash from volcanoes.
Tsunamis: Giant waves in the ocean, often triggered by earthquakes.
Sinkholes: Areas of ground that collapse.
Liquefaction: Water-saturated sediment loses strength owing to earthquakes, producing an unstable landscape.
Heatwaves: Periods of extremely high temperatures.
Droughts: Periods of little or no precipitation over an extended period.
Wildfires: Uncontrolled fires in vegetation.
Winter Storms: Combinations of snow, ice, freezing rain, strong winds, impacting heavily populated areas leading to large-scale disruption due to extreme weather.
Coastal Storms: Extreme increase in water levels above typical tidal levels causing coastal flooding due to the abnormal rise brought on by storms or storm-driven waves.
Climate Change: Long-term changes in temperatures and weather patterns, primarily driven by human activities. Impacts include increased heatwaves, more and more intense hurricanes, floods, droughts, and many other types of natural disasters.

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Description

Explore the concept of disasters, their etymology, and the historical context in which they arise. Understand the significant impact disasters have on communities and the necessity for external support. This quiz will also delve into different types of disasters, both natural and man-made.