Map Your Hazards! Combining Natural Hazards with Societal Issues

Introduction to Natural Hazards

What is a Natural Hazard?

• A naturally occurring event that could harm us directly or indirectly.

What are some examples of natural hazards?

What Causes Natural Hazards?

• Nature

What are some examples of natural processes that cause natural hazards?

What Causes Natural Hazards?Natural Process• Movement and melting of

tectonic plates• Movement of water

through atmosphere, land and oceans

• Movement of rocks and soil through weathering and erosion

Natural Hazard• Flooding• Sinkholes• Droughts• Earthquakes• Volcanoes• Tsunamis• Landslides

Match natural processes with natural hazards they cause (multiple answers possible)

When Do Natural Hazards Become Natural Disasters?

• When a naturally occurring event significantly harms us directly or indirectly

Joplin tornado, EF-5, May 2011

When Do Natural Hazards Become Natural Disasters?

• A massive avalanche in the Alaskan interior– 0 deaths– $0 in property damage

Natural disaster or

not?

Southeastern Alaskan landslide, 2010

When Do Natural Hazards Become Natural Disasters?

• Khait or Hoit landslide occurred on July 10, 1949, in Tajikistan (formerly part of the Soviet Union)

• The landslide was triggered by an earthquake • 33 villages were buried, killing 28,000 people

Natural disaster or

not?

Village of Khait and Khait landslide, 1949

Can We Affect Natural Hazards?

• How are we connected to the frequency and occurrence of hazards?

• How are we connected to the magnitude of natural disasters?

• How do we positively and negatively affect our environment?

What Can We Do about Natural Hazards?

• Natural Hazard Mitigation is action taken to reduce or eliminate negative impacts of a natural hazard– Pre-event (anticipatory)– Post-event (reactive)

What are some examples of pre-event and post-event mitigation?

Volunteers assist Hurricane Katrina victims at the Houston Astrodome.

What is Natural Hazard Mitigation?

Pre-event (anticipatory)• Land-use planning• Insurance• Evacuation• Disaster preparedness• Artificial control of natural

processes• Etc.

Post-event (reactive)• Homeless shelters• Emergency food, water and

medical services• Search and rescue efforts• Firefighting• Clean-up• Etc.

What would you include in a natural hazard mitigation plan?