Why do some tectonic hazards develop into disasters?
Vulnerability: the ability to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from a natural hazard.
Resilience: the ability to protect lives, livelihoods and infrastructure from destruction, and
to restore areas after a natural hazard has occurred.
Hazard event: a natural hazard earthquake, volcanic eruption, tsunami.
Hazard-risk formula.
Risk = Hazard X Vulnerability
Capacity to cope
Human factors that affect vulnerability and resilience.
- Governance (local & national) and political conditions.
o The existence and enforcement of building codes and regulations
determines quality and safety of buildings.
o The quality of existing infrastructure. transport and power supplies this
affects a countries recovery speed.
o The existence of disaster preparedness plans.
o The efficiency of emergency services.
o The quality of communication systems affects the ability to inform people of
a hazard in advance and to coordinate rescue efforts.
o The existence of public education and practised hazard responses
earthquake drills.
o The level of corruption of government officials and businesses influence how
resources are used.
- Economic and social conditions.
o The level of personal wealth a person has in order to recover from a hazard.
o Access to education more awareness.
o Quality of housing poor quality = less able to withstand the impact of
natural hazards.
o Lack of income opportunities means that people cannot buy the resources
they need to prepare or cope with a hazard. this can affect their
healthcare and living conditions.
- Physical and environmental conditions.
o Areas with high populations tend to have low quality housing.
o Rapid urbanisation creates a need for more housing which if built quickly
tends to be of poor quality.
o The accessibility of an area affects how quickly aid can respond.