Natural Hazards

Threats to large cities Naturally occurring dangers Man-made dangers

 Some cities developed near dangerous sites (example: dormant volcanoes).  Living next to water puts us in danger of flooding.

 Some people settle near the sea, in regions that are prone to hurricanes or tsunamis. Dangerous: Hurricane Jeanne hit Florida in 2004, Boats at the Davis Island Yacht Club, in Tampa shows its power.

 Some cities are built at the base of volcanoes and live under constant threat of volcanic eruptions. Smoke rises from the 1,117-metre Mount Sakurajima near Kagoshima city on Kyushu island, southern Japan. The volcanic eruption sent an ash plume 5,000 metres...

 This type of danger is linked to human activity. Examples: a) We build factories that use chemicals that may harm the environment. b) We build nuclear power plants in order to produce electricity.

Natural phenomenon  It is basically a naturally occurring event is observable. For example, watching a volcanic eruption.

A natural hazard  It is a natural phenomenon that can potentially threaten human life or cause serious material damage.

A natural disaster  A natural and brutal phenomenon that causes extensive property damage and death.

 If the region is uninhabited, there is no risk to human life.  If the region is inhabited by people then it becomes an issue. It is considered both a risk and a hazard.

The city of Pompeii was an ancient Roman town-city near modern Naples in the Italian region of Campania, in the territory of the comune of Pompei. Pompeii, along with Herculaneum and many villas in the surrounding area, was mostly destroyed and buried under 4 to 6 m (13 to 20 ft) of ash and pumice in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

When is a city “subject to disaster?”  Life is full of risks!  We do our best to reduce these risks.

When is a city “subject to hazard”?  A phenomenon is considered hazardous when lives are at risk.  Examples of events that can threaten our lives: a) An earthquake b) An epidemic c) An explosion at a nuclear plant

Characteristics of a hazardous event:  Death  Property damage to homes, neighborhoods etc.  Economic losses because jobs are affected when companies are destroyed.  Environmental damage caused by the natural disaster (i.e. wild fires destroy acres of forests) -sOm8 pwt-G4

Are there risk-free territories?  No!  Some cities are more at risk than others and may be threatened by more than one natural hazard.

 Beijing, CHINA – Earthquake, extreme cold

 Good economy (well-paying jobs)  We are attached to places, friends, family.  We do not have the means (money) to move to another region.  All territories involve some degree of risk.

 Industrialized (wealthy) countries are well-equipped to deal with natural disasters.  These countries also have the money, equipment and the necessary resources to rebuild.  Its citizens also receive food, shelter and medical care from government organizations  This is not the case for developing (poor) countries.