Key Terms: Natural Hazards Flashcards
All 11 cards in this deck
What is a natural hazard?
A natural event or process that has the potential to cause loss of life, injury or damage to property.
What is hazard risk?
The probability or chance that a natural hazard will cause harm to people or property.
What does 'vulnerability' mean when talking about natural hazards?
How likely people are to be harmed by a natural hazard — the more exposed they are and the less able to cope, the greater their vulnerability.
What is a natural disaster?
A natural hazard that has actually happened and caused significant damage, injury or loss of life.
What are the two main types of natural hazard?
Geological (tectonic) hazards, e.g. earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and meteorological (weather) hazards, e.g. tropical storms and drought.
True or false? 'Natural hazard' and 'natural disaster' mean the same thing.
False. A natural disaster is a hazard that has actually occurred and caused significant damage or loss of life.
What is a primary effect of a hazard?
An impact caused directly by the hazard itself.
e.g. buildings collapsing during the earthquake shaking.What is a secondary effect of a hazard?
An impact that happens later, as a result of a primary effect.
e.g. disease spreading because water pipes were broken.What is an immediate response to a hazard?
Action taken in the hours and days straight after the event, such as search and rescue and emergency aid.
What is a long-term response to a hazard?
Action taken in the weeks, months and years afterwards, such as rebuilding homes and improving building regulations.
True or false? Fires started by gas pipes rupturing in an earthquake are a secondary effect.
True. They result from a primary effect (broken pipes) rather than directly from the shaking.