Disaster risk equation WORLD AT RISK What you

Disaster risk equation WORLD AT RISK

What you should achieve this lesson • Know how to use the disaster risk equation • Understand how vulnerability of people is a result of a number of factors • Identify recent trends in natural hazard data

recap • With a partner test each other on what the following terms mean: • Natural Hazard • Disaster • Risk • Vulnerability • Hydro- meteorological hazard • Geophysical Hazard • Chronic Hazard

Natural event or natural hazard 1 - A cyclone affecting Hong Kong 2 - A hurricane passing over a remote unpopulated island 3 - A flood in a rural area which floods the roads, but does not affect any houses 4 - A volcano erupting on a remote unpopulated island 5 - An avalanche in a ski resort 6 - An avalanche high on mountainous slopes remote from any settlement

Which would you pick? • What type of hazard would you prefer to face and why?

Disaster risk equation • Risk is the exposure of people to a hazardous event which may present a potential threat to people or their possessions, including buildings and structures. • What factors can influence the level of risk?

Disaster risk equation • RISK = HAZARD x VULNERABILITY CAPACITY • The risk of disaster grows as global hazards and people’s vulnerability increases, while their capacity to cope decreases MEDCs LEDCs Increasing vulnerability in some respects

vulnerability • Not all of the planet’s population is at the same risk, but millions of people are considered to be vulnerable • Vulnerability is NOT the same as poverty • E. g. an earthquake • The middle class may be more affected by a earthquake as their property could cause more damage when it collapses than a property within a shanty town

vulnerability • Either bullet point or produce spider diagrams to explain how the following factors can effect vulnerability • • • Wealth of people Technical ability of a country Education Age Rural Urban

Why live in a hazardous area? Choice Only option Why live in a hazardous area Inertia Unaware of risk

Is the world more hazardous?

Is the world more hazardous? • It’s clear that the frequency of natural disaster has increased but what factors could influence this? • Technology • International monitoring agencies e. g. CRED or SCSN • http: //www. scsn. org/comm entary/? cat=2 • Media

Is the world more hazardous?

Is the world more hazardous?

Is the world more hazardous? Is this what you expected?

Is the world more hazardous? • There is a decreasing number of deaths due to hazards – why? • Better understanding of natural disasters • Better preparedness • Better technology This is not the case everywhere

Is the world more hazardous?

Current trends in Natural hazards • Using the textbooks I would like you to annotate each of the graphs provided, giving a description and explanation of the current trends. • Magnitude • Frequency • Number of deaths • Economic costs • Number involved