Recap

Recap what the following terms mean Natural Hazard Disaster Risk Vulnerability Hydro- meteorological hazard Geophysical Hazard Chronic Hazard

LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR THIS LESSON

BY THE END OF THIS LESSON...

18/03/2014

Some students will: Know how to use the disaster risk equation in relation to a named country case study Most students will: Understand how vulnerability of people is a result of a number of factors All students will: Know how to use the disaster risk equation

Key words Disaster Risk Disaster risk equation Vulnerability factor

Kiribati
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Where is it? What hazards affect it? What is its GNP? Main exports? Population characteristics? Recent hazards?

1. Its a island atoll in the Pacific, near Indonesia 2. Typhoons, tsunami, sea level rise (global warming) 3. $2000 per capita 4. Coconuts (copra), fish, seaweed 5. Life expectancy 61, Inf Mort 46 6. Tsunami alert 2007 Jan and April

Recap
Look at the following list of hazardous events and decide if it is a 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

The Risk Equation

Hazards x Vulnerability Capacity

Risk =

The risk of disaster grows as global hazards and peoples vulnerability increases, while their capacity to cope decreases

MEDCs LEDCs Increasing vulnerability in some respects

The Disaster Risk Equation

Important to know that vulnerability is not the same as poverty!

E.g Earthquake
It is possible for middle class to be more affected by the collapse of their unsafe homes than the poor in a shanty town whose flimsy homes collapse and cause little damage

Vulnerability Factors
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

Other things to consider between LEDCs and MEDCs

Importance of Vulnerability
People are vulnerable for a variety of reasons

1. LACK OF CHOICE: because they have to. Land may be cheaper, or unwanted by others

 i.e. Rapid urbanisation has forced the poor into high risk areas of cities

2. WEALTH: cannot afford to build well, even if building regulations are enforced.

3. CHANGING RISK Rising sea levels mean that safe areas are now prone to flooding & storm surges. Deforestation of watersheds reduces interception & increases the risk of flooding.
4. COST v BENEFITS eg benefits of fertile soils on volcanoes v risk of eruption

To end Which part of the disaster risk equation is missing?

Risk =

Hazards x Capacity
Hazards x Vulnerability

Risk =
Risk =

x Capacity