- 1. Introduction to Natural Disasters
2. HazardA condition that threatens human life or propertyPhoto
by W. W.Little 3. DisasterAn event that results in loss ofproperty
or life that exceeds thecapacity of the community torespond. 4.
CatastropheA large-scale disaster that results in massive loss of
life and propertythat has long-term societal (economic, political)
impacts. 5. NaturalA process, condition, event, or item not
controlled or influenced byhuman activity. 6. Common Natural
DisastersEarthquakes Volcanoes Tsunamis LandslidesHurricanes
Tornadoes Blizzards Dust StormsFloods Droughts Wildfires Sink Holes
7. Linked EventsRock avalanche caused byearthquake (Yungay,
Peru).Lahar caused by volcaniceruption (Mt. St. Helens).One type of
event can trigger a different type of event. 8. Magnitude
(Energy)Richter Scale for earthquakes Volcanic Explosivity
IndexEnhanced Saffir-Simpson Scale for hurricanes Fujita Scale for
tornadoesRefers to the size of an event as measured by a defined
scale. 9. Frequency (Recurrence Interval)Refers to how often a type
and size of event is repeated. Variesgreatly by nature of event and
by local conditions; therefore,determined on a local and regional
basis using broad averages. 10. Magnitude vs. FrequencyThere is an
inversely proportional relationship between disastermagnitude
(released energy) and frequency. 11. Is the Number of
NaturalHazards/Disasters/CatastrophiesIncreasing?The many
eruptions, earthquakes and tidal waves which haveoccurred...are
signs which the Savior declared would foreshadowhis second
coming... The wise and prudent will heed the warningand prepare
themselves that they be not taken unawares.Joseph F. Smith
(Messages of the First Presidency, 4:132) 12. News Scientist, 16
January 2012Depends on Time Frame 13. Population ImpactGlobal
Population ChangeGlobal Population DistributionGlobal Flood Hazard
Map 14. Population Impact: Nevado del Ruiz 1845: Volcanic eruption
triggers a lahar killing ~1,000 people. 1845 1985: Population
increases due to fertile volcanic farm land. 1985: Volcanic
eruption triggers a lahar killing ~21,000 people. 15. Urbanization
ImpactManmade features can both exacerbate and mitigate the
impactof natural hazards. 16. MitigationEfforts to reduce
consequences of natural processes or events. 17. Prior HistoryMost
natural processes have a somewhat regular recurrenceinterval,
allowing a very general predictability based mostly ona statistical
probability of occurrence over a broad span of time. 18.
Recognition of PrecursorsConditions or occurrences that precede a
disaster, providingwarning that an event is likely. Not all events
have precursors. 19. Warning SystemsSirens for flash floods,
tornadoes,and mass wasting.Buoys for tsunamis.First-motion
dectectors for earthquakes.News media for hurricanes, blizzards,and
regional flooding. 20. Risk Analysis (Hazard) MapsBased on past
history of a locality and comparison with similarlocalities, maps
can be produced that show the potential risk forspecific types and
magnitudes of geological and hydrological events. 21. Generalized
Hazard Maps for the U.S.Earthquakes Volcanism Mass
WastingHurricanesFloods 22. Engineering AdvancesKashmir, Pakistan
2005, Mw 7.6Vina del Mar, Chili 2010, Mw 8.8 23. Retrofitting
StructuresSome historical structures are retrofitted to mitigate
earthquakedamage while maintaining original character. 24. Federal
Relief SpendingWhat is the role of the federal, state, and local
governments, ofinsurance companies, and of personal responsibility?
25. Best Advice: Be PreparedThe prudent see danger and take refuge,
but thesimple keep going and suffer for it.Proverbs 27:12Too often
we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the
ravages of war, economicdisaster, famine, and earthquake cannot
happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquaintedwith
the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who
smugly think these calamitieswill not happen, that they somehow
will be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints,
aredeceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion.Ezra
Taft Benson, Prepare for the Days of Tribulation,Ensign, Nov 1980,
32In mercy the Lord warns and forewarns. He sees the coming storm,
knows the forces operating to produceit, and calls aloud through
His prophets, advises, counsels, exhorts, even commands that we
prepare forwhat is about to befall and take shelter while yet there
is time. But we go our several ways, feasting andmaking merry,
consoling conscience with the easy fancy of time enough and in idle
hope that the tempestwill pass us by, or that, when it begins to
gather thick and black about us we can turn back and
findshelter.James E Talmage, The Parables of James E. Talmage, p.
50 26. Mitigation ImpactThough the number of people affected and
the cost of naturaldisasters has increased in recent decades, the
number ofdeaths have decreased. 27. Most Costly Events: 1980-2011
28. Most Deadly Events: 1980-2011 29. All-time Most Deadly
Events
