Natural Hazards and Disasters Overview

Limited disaster education and preparedness.

It was low.

Low communal disaster preparedness.

<p>Many people were uninformed of the high seismic risk.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Areas where communal disaster preparedness was low.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A natural hazard is a potential threat from a natural process, while a natural disaster occurs when a hazard interacts with society, causing harm or loss. A hazard becomes a disaster when it impacts human populations and infrastructure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Risk level is determined by assessing the probability of a natural hazard occurring and the potential impact—human, material, economic—on a society or community.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Natural hazards arise from natural processes (e.g., hurricanes, earthquakes), while anthropogenic hazards are generated by human actions (e.g., industrial pollution, deforestation).</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Geography is uniquely suited to address these challenges due to its integrated scientific approach that considers both natural processes and their interaction with human societies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A natural hazard might occur in a sparsely populated or uninhabited area without causing significant human, material, or economic loss. For example, a magnitude 6 earthquake in the middle of the Sahara Desert.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The impact of a natural hazard depends on factors such as population density, building codes, preparedness measures, and the vulnerability of the community. Areas with higher population density and inadequate infrastructure are often more susceptible to disastrous impacts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Risk is the probability of loss. Vulnerability refers to the factors that make an area or population more susceptible to harm from a hazard. Higher vulnerability increases the overall risk.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The three key factors are: hazard, vulnerability, and exposure. Hazard is the event itself, vulnerability is the susceptibility to harm, and exposure is the degree to which people and assets are located in harm's way.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Geographers use spatial analysis to map hazard zones, assess population density in those zones, analyze infrastructure vulnerability, and model potential impacts. This information helps in planning mitigation strategies and emergency response.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>This concept highlights that risk emerges from the interaction of natural hazards with human systems. Human activities can increase vulnerability to natural hazards and exacerbate their impacts. So understanding this relationship is key in reducing risk.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The shallow focal depth meant that the energy released by the earthquake had less distance to travel before reaching the surface, resulting in stronger ground shaking and more damage in densely populated areas.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Haiti earthquake occurred at a transform plate boundary, where two plates slide past each other horizontally. This movement can cause stress to build up, eventually leading to a sudden release of energy in the form of an earthquake.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Rapid population growth can outpace the development of essential infrastructures, services, and housing. This leads to a larger population living in inadequate conditions, increasing their vulnerability during a disaster.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>High rates of migration into urban areas like Port-au-Prince led to overcrowding and poorly constructed housing, increasing the vulnerability of the population to the earthquake's effects.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A low GDP/HDI ranking often indicates limited resources, infrastructure, and institutional capacity. This can hinder a country's ability to effectively respond to an earthquake and recover quickly, necessitating greater international assistance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The tectonic plates had been locked together for approximately 250 years, which allowed stress to accumulate gradually over a long period until the stress exceeded the fault's strength, resulting in a sudden release in the 2010 earthquake.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Construction standards and building codes ensure structures are earthquake-resistant, reducing collapse and casualties. In densely populated areas, their importance is amplified due to the concentration of people and buildings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Improve building codes and enforce them to ensure earthquake-resistant construction, implement land-use planning to reduce overcrowding in high-risk areas, and develop public education programs to raise awareness about earthquake preparedness.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Weak governance often leads to a poor disaster response, inadequate resource allocation, and a lack of effective coordination. These factors hinder rescue efforts, delay aid distribution, and prolong recovery.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Reliance on international aid after an earthquake can reveal underlying issues like inadequate disaster preparedness, weak governance, and limited domestic resources, exposing the country's systemic vulnerabilities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>History of hazards, geophysical setting, and population patterns.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A history of hazards, such as previous earthquakes, puts a location at higher risk due to the potential of similar events happening again because of its location on a fault line.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Poorly constructed buildings and inadequate infrastructure can collapse easily during an earthquake, leading to more casualties and hindering rescue efforts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Political instability and economic hardship can reduce a government's ability to prepare for and respond to disasters, leading to inadequate resource allocation and disaster management.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Densely populated areas amplify earthquake impacts because more individuals are concentrated in a hazardous zone. Population density increases casualties and strains response capabilities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Social and cultural capacity involves the ability of communities to organize, cooperate, and utilize local knowledge for disaster preparedness and response, including traditional coping mechanisms and community support networks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Geophysical settings such as proximity to fault lines, soil composition, and slope stability directly influence the intensity of ground shaking and the likelihood of landslides during an earthquake, increasing overall risk.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Given factors like infrastructural weaknesses, political and economic instability, and a history of hazards, it can be inferred that Haiti had limited disaster preparedness in 2010, making it highly vulnerable to the impacts of an earthquake.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Naturally occurring events that can harm people or property.

Events that arise from natural hazards and directly affect society.

The likelihood of harm or loss occurring from natural hazards.

A serious disruption of community or society due to a natural event.

The magnitude of effects from a natural disaster can vary from disastrous to catastrophic.

The study of natural hazards in their spatial context.

Aspects that determine the probability of loss from disasters.

Severe negative effects caused by natural hazards.

Key elements that influence why disasters vary in effects.

Haiti has experienced significant earthquakes, including notable events in 1770 and 1946.

A 7.5 magnitude earthquake near Port-au-Prince caused around 300 deaths.

An 8.1 magnitude earthquake affected the Dominican Republic and Haiti, resulting in ~2000 deaths.

Multiple factors contribute to Haiti's vulnerability to earthquakes, including hazards history and geophysical processes.

The patterns and trends in population that impact how a city responds to disasters, such as earthquakes.

The quality and resilience of buildings and infrastructure in withstanding earthquakes affects disaster outcomes.

Political instability and economic conditions greatly influence disaster preparedness and response in Haiti.

The ability of local communities to respond and recover from disasters, influenced by social structures and cultural practices.

A transform fault in Haiti where two tectonic plates slide past each other.

Pressure built up in tectonic plates due to friction over time.

A significant seismic event caused by the sudden release of stress along the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault.

The population of Haiti's capital, which exceeded 2 million before the earthquake.

The influx of people moving to urban areas, especially Port-au-Prince, increasing overcrowding.

The earthquake in Haiti caused extensive damage due to poor infrastructure and population density.

Increase in the number of people living in an area, often outpacing infrastructure development.

Regulations designed to make structures resistant to earthquakes.

Haiti was one of the poorest nations, ranking low in GDP and Human Development Index (HDI).

Recovery from the earthquake required significant support from NGOs and relief organizations.

The degree to which communities in Haiti were ready for the earthquake disaster.

Understanding the potential for earthquakes and their effects in a region.

The lack of formal knowledge and training on disaster preparedness in Haiti.

The ongoing susceptibility of a community to disasters due to socio-economic conditions.

Past occurrences of earthquakes in a region that indicate future risks.