DISASTER

READINESS AND
RISK REDUCTION
 Natural Processes that shape and change our
environment
I. Plate tectonics – leading to mountain building, volcanism, ocean formation, etc.
II. Atmospheric processes – formation of clouds, precipitation, wind, etc
III. Biological accumulation – reef building, colony formation, forestation, etc. IV.
Human activities – urbanization, extracting resources, geoengineering, etc.
• Hazard –
A dangerous phenomenon, substance, human activity or condition that may cause loss
of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and
services, social and economic disruption, or environmental damage.

• Disaster –
A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving
widespread human, material, economic, or environmental losses and impacts which
exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own
resources.
 Disasters
• are often described as a result of the combination of:0
• The exposure to a hazard
• The conditions of vulnerability that are present
• and insufficient capacity or measures to reduce or cope with the potential negative
consequences.
• Disaster impacts may include:
• Loss of life
• Injury
• Disease and other negative effects on human physical, mental and social wellbeing,
together with damage to property, destruction of assets, loss of services, social and
economic disruption and environmental degradation.
 Technological or Man-Made Hazards

• are events that are caused by humans and occur in or close to

human settlements. This can include environmental degradation,
pollution and accidents.
• Technological or man-made hazards (complex
emergencies/conflicts, famine, displaced populations, industrial
accidents and transport accidents)
 Natural Hazards
• are naturally occurring physical phenomena caused either by rapid or slow onset
events which can be:
1. Geophysical (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis and volcanic activity)
2. Hydrological (avalanches and floods), climatological (extreme temperatures,
drought and wildfires)
3. Meteorological (cyclones and storms/wave surges) or biological (disease epidemics
and insect/animal plagues).
 Biological Hazard
• Examples of biological hazards include
1. Outbreaks of epidemic diseases
2. Plant or animal contagion
3. Insect or other animal plagues and infestations.
 Geological hazard
• Geological hazards include
1. Internal earth processes, such as earthquakes, volcanic activity and
emissions
2. Related geophysical processes such as mass movements, landslides,
rockslides, surface collapses, and debris or mudflows.
 Hydrometeorological Hazard
• Hydrometeorological hazards include
1. Tropical cyclones (also known as typhoons and hurricanes)
2. Thunderstorms
3. Hailstorms
4. Tornados
5. Blizzards
6. Heavy snowfall
7. Avalanches
8. Coastal storm surges
9. Floods including flash floods
10. Drought
11. Heatwaves
12. Cold spells.
• Hydrometeorological conditions also can be a factor in other hazards such as
landslides, wildland fires, locust plagues, epidemics, and in the transport and
dispersal of toxic substances and volcanic eruption material,
 Technological Hazard
Examples of technological hazards include:
1. Industrial pollution
2. Nuclear radiation
3. Toxic wastes
4. Dam failures
5. Transport accidents
6. Factory explosions
7. Fires
8. Chemical spills.
9. Technological hazards also may arise directly as a result of the impacts of a natural
hazard event.