perception risk vulnerability

8/11/2019 Perception Risk Vulnerability

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EARTHQUAKES HURRICANE/CYCLONE

Proximity to PlateBoundaries

Proximity to active fault linelike San Andreas in USA(Frequency)

Living on soft ground thatamplifies earthquake waves

Proximity to coastlines inearthquake zones (Tsunamirisk)

Living in the tropics

Living near coastlinesin the tropics

visiting the tropicsduring hurricaneseason

Factors that might influence risk



TIME (SEASON) LOCATION

A bush fire is much morelikely to occur duringsummer due to:

-higher average temperatures

-dry conditions and dry fuel

-Electric storms more frequent(lightning)

-hot winds more frequent

A serious bushfire ismore likely to occur in

Australia than in the UKsince the summers arelonger and hotter

In December South Australia is more likely to

have a bushfirecompared to Darwin because Darwin receivessubstantial summerrainfall.

Location and Time



EARTHQUAKES HURRICANES/CYCLONES

The risk of Earthquake alongthe North Anatolian Fault in

Turkey is greater than alongthe San Andreas Fault line because earthquakes occurthere more frequently.

Time is unlikely to be soimportant in earthquake

events since time scales forearthquakes are large andsporadic and not dependenton season.

Strong seasonal

influence due toinsolation warmingoceans to 26.5◦ andrelease of latent heat

Prevailing winds anddistance of open ocean

Location and Time



Factors Influencing Vulnerability

Vulnerability

Knowledge about theEvent

Education about SafeProcedures

Upkeep to the

home

Access toTechnology

Wealth

Time of theEvent

State of Health

Clothing and

Equipment

Emergency Services

Other People

Perception ofRisk



Perception of Risk

Perception of the risk underlies a number of factorsthat result in higher vulnerability.

If people believe that “it will never happen to me”They might not:

-invest in safety equipment

-seek knowledge of the event

-bother to understand potential hazards or best

response Acquire technology such as a radio, breathingequipment or similar



Time of the Event

Day or Night? Winter or Summer? Week day or Week-end? Rush hour or midday?

This year or next year? In my lifetime or my childs?Time scales are important since we are often more

vulnerable at certain times.

In 1993 an Earthquake struck Gujarat in India at 5am –many people were buried alive by collapsed homes while they slept. Two –three hours later and manymore would have survived.



Wealth

Sadly money to a certain extent controls the vulnerability of individuals and communities.

-Can the town afford the Cyclone shelter?

-Can the family afford to put in a basement

-Can the whole street afford to put in roof sprinklers?

-Can the city afford to train enough emergencypersonnel?

-Does the country have the means to supply food and water?



Health

The most vulnerable in hazard prone environmentsare the very young, the elderly, the sick and theinvalids.

A simple injury such as a twisted ankle can affect

your vulnerability Temporary illness

Often vulnerable communities suffer from secondaryevents. For example they survived the Flood, but

became sick due to the spread of disease thatfollowed (consumption of dirty water)



Technology

Radio and TV broadcast knowledge of the hazard, where it is, where it is heading, its intensity

Sources of light –most hazards cut electricity

Power tools, useful for cutting and lifting Communication devices such as phones, internet and

GPS may assist in last minute education andavoidance or help in response



Emergency Services

Communities are less vulnerable if there are trainedpersonnel who can:

-Organize evacuation

-Treat injuries on site-Cut trapped people from wreckage

-Free people buried under rubble

-Transport key supplies such as food, water, blanketsto those effected

-Give advice, broadcast information, reduce panic



Upkeep of the home

Some homes are more vulnerable than others. Itdoes depend on the hazard of course

Earthquake –homes built illegally and not to building standards are vulnerable to collapse.

Bushfire –homes with overgrown gardens andoverhanging trees more vulnerable than clearedgardens

Cyclone –homes that are not elevated in areas proneto tidal surge or homes without windows boarded up

Tornadoes –homes without basements



Education

Source:Image: Tsunami Warning , a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike (2.0) image from livenature's photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/livenature/4323883043/

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en_GB




http://www.flickr.com/photos/livenature/4323883043/



Revision

For a selected hazard/disaster (hurricane,earthquake or drought), compare the factorsinfluencing vulnerability for an LEDC and an MEDC- as mentioned on the spider diagram on slide 6.

Explain why perception of risk of your chosen hazardis especially important and how individuals canensure they are realistic in their perception.

perception risk vulnerability

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