FDSCI 201 FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Disaster - ANSWERSA natural or "man-made" emergency whose response needs exceed the
available resources of the affected community.
Catastrophe - ANSWERSlarge scale disaster
Natural Hazard - ANSWERSA hazardous natural condition.
Ex// Earthquake, volcanic eruptions
(They aren't natural disaster until they affect people)
Exposure - ANSWERSIn dealing with hazards, then we are concerned, then, we are concerned
about the location of people, buildings, and infrastructure relative to hazards. The number of
these things in harms ways out hazard exposure.
Probability - ANSWERSThe likelihood of a specific type of event occurring in a specific place, at a
specific magnitude and during a specific time frame. Only one component of risk.
Risk - ANSWERSCalculated as the product of extent, effects, probability and importance of the
outcome. IF ant of these factors is zero, risk is zero.
Mitigation - ANSWERSActivities to reduce losses form future disasters, including prevention and
protection. There are 2 ways to deal with disasters:
1. Increase emergency response capability
2. Projects to prevent or lessen the impacts of future incidents and thus reduce the need for
larger response capability.
, Ex// Homes can be moved from areas suffering from repeated floods. Wood shingles on fire
prone areas replaced with asphalt shingles, etc.
Mitigation: Alter - ANSWERSModifying the hazard to eliminate or reduce the frequency of its
occurrence.
Ex// triggering controlled avalanches
Mitigation: Avert - ANSWERSRedirecting the impact away from a vulnerable location by using
structural devices or land treatment to shield people and development from harm.
Ex// Dam, Dike, Levees
Mitigation: Adapt - ANSWERSModifying structures and altering design standards of
construction.
Mitigation: Avoid - ANSWERSKeep people away from the hazard area or limiting development
and population at risk.
Are Earthquakes Increasing? - ANSWERSNo
Are Disasters Increasing? Why? - ANSWERSYes, global populations are increasing and people are
spreading into more areas around the world. That naturally exposes more people to risk as time
goes by.
Magnitude vs Frequency - ANSWERSLarge hazardous events are less frequent than small events.
A large volcanic eruption, for example, requires a large amount of magma, which takes a longer
time than a small eruption.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Disaster - ANSWERSA natural or "man-made" emergency whose response needs exceed the
available resources of the affected community.
Catastrophe - ANSWERSlarge scale disaster
Natural Hazard - ANSWERSA hazardous natural condition.
Ex// Earthquake, volcanic eruptions
(They aren't natural disaster until they affect people)
Exposure - ANSWERSIn dealing with hazards, then we are concerned, then, we are concerned
about the location of people, buildings, and infrastructure relative to hazards. The number of
these things in harms ways out hazard exposure.
Probability - ANSWERSThe likelihood of a specific type of event occurring in a specific place, at a
specific magnitude and during a specific time frame. Only one component of risk.
Risk - ANSWERSCalculated as the product of extent, effects, probability and importance of the
outcome. IF ant of these factors is zero, risk is zero.
Mitigation - ANSWERSActivities to reduce losses form future disasters, including prevention and
protection. There are 2 ways to deal with disasters:
1. Increase emergency response capability
2. Projects to prevent or lessen the impacts of future incidents and thus reduce the need for
larger response capability.
, Ex// Homes can be moved from areas suffering from repeated floods. Wood shingles on fire
prone areas replaced with asphalt shingles, etc.
Mitigation: Alter - ANSWERSModifying the hazard to eliminate or reduce the frequency of its
occurrence.
Ex// triggering controlled avalanches
Mitigation: Avert - ANSWERSRedirecting the impact away from a vulnerable location by using
structural devices or land treatment to shield people and development from harm.
Ex// Dam, Dike, Levees
Mitigation: Adapt - ANSWERSModifying structures and altering design standards of
construction.
Mitigation: Avoid - ANSWERSKeep people away from the hazard area or limiting development
and population at risk.
Are Earthquakes Increasing? - ANSWERSNo
Are Disasters Increasing? Why? - ANSWERSYes, global populations are increasing and people are
spreading into more areas around the world. That naturally exposes more people to risk as time
goes by.
Magnitude vs Frequency - ANSWERSLarge hazardous events are less frequent than small events.
A large volcanic eruption, for example, requires a large amount of magma, which takes a longer
time than a small eruption.
