3.1.4 Factors effecting risk/vulnerability

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Risk
Risk is the probability of a hazard event causing harmful consequences: so, the possible damage that could occur as a result of a current or future event
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Vulnerability
How exposed you are to the hazard, and how likely you are to be harmed by it. This is determined by processes in the natural environment and by places, people, and power
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'Class-quake'
On many occasions, it has been demonstrated that the effects of natural hazards are felt on a class basis. For example, the 1976 Guatemala earthquake predominantly effected the poor, excluded and vulnerable people in slums
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Factors effecting vulnerability
-Economic (levels of development & technology)
-Social (population density & structure, education, perception & awareness)
-Political (governance)
-Geographical (urban/rural environment, time of day, level of isolation)
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Economic factors - Level of Development
Lower income countries are less likely to have invested in high quality housing and infrastructure. However, it is the rich who lose more, since they have more valuable property at stake. Hazards tend to hit coastlines (tsunamis/storm surges) which are po
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Economic factors - Level of Development/Technology
Lower income countries are unlikely to have appropriate resources or insurance in place. Money is what allows countries to prepare by installing measures such as aseismic design, and other forms of mitigation
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Economic factors example - Haiti vs Japan
Haiti has a GNI per capita of $1710, while Japan's is $37,630. This correlates to Haiti's considerably higher death toll
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Social factors - Population density
The 2011 Took earthquake struck a densely populated area: there was between 100 to 500 people per square km. This can increase vulnerability, as when a hazard occurs there is more likely to be a high death/injury toll
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Social factors - Population profile
Population profile is the demographic of the population (age, gender, etc.) Children and the elderly are more vulnerable due to having less physical strength. In LICs women can be more vulnerable due to being less educated and politically marginalised
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Geographical factors - Rural areas
Rural areas will have poor infrastructure, high levels of poverty and little political power: their lack of resources and expertise to mitigate can increase vulnerability. If the area is isolated, it can be difficult to escape or for help to reach them
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Geographical factors - Urban
A tectonic event only becomes a hazard when it occurs in a populated (urban) area. Built up urban areas are more likely to experience secondary hazards like building collapse, fire and soil liquefaction, thus increasing vulnerability
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Geographical factors - Time of day
Night time earthquakes can make it more difficult for people to escape and rescue others. Also, in rush hour, more people are likely to be killed while on transport systems and in the streets
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Geographical factors - Time of year
Disease and illness often breaks out in the aftermaths of a tectonic hazards. In colder times of year, more fatalities are likely as a result of cold weather conditions while people have no belongings or property (hypothermia)
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Political factors - Quality of Governance
Better quality governance can decrease vulnerability as they can introduce policies to help mitigation, and also have better leadership during the hazard. Looting often breaks out in the aftermath of an event - lack of governance means there is no authori
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

How exposed you are to the hazard, and how likely you are to be harmed by it. This is determined by processes in the natural environment and by places, people, and power

Back

Vulnerability

Card 3

Front

On many occasions, it has been demonstrated that the effects of natural hazards are felt on a class basis. For example, the 1976 Guatemala earthquake predominantly effected the poor, excluded and vulnerable people in slums

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

-Economic (levels of development & technology)
-Social (population density & structure, education, perception & awareness)
-Political (governance)
-Geographical (urban/rural environment, time of day, level of isolation)

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Lower income countries are less likely to have invested in high quality housing and infrastructure. However, it is the rich who lose more, since they have more valuable property at stake. Hazards tend to hit coastlines (tsunamis/storm surges) which are po

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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