Unit 3 Urban Territory – Natural Hazard Living in a City at Risk How do people Cope?

When is a city “subject to disaster?”  Life is full of risks!  We do our best to reduce these risks wallpapers_5294_1024x768.jpg gallery/firstframes/seatbelt.jpg

When is a city “subject to hazard”?  A city is subject to hazard when its population is threatened  Examples of events that can threaten our lives: a)An earthquake b)A war c)An epidemic/pandemic d) An explosion at a nuclear plant

These events are hazards because they can result in the following: 1.Death 2. Property damage  Neighbourhoods and infrastructure are destroyed 3. Economic losses  Jobs are affected if a wild fire destroys an industrial park (If a GM plant burns to the ground due to a wildfire…the employees are out of a job)

4. Environment is damaged (degradation)  Wild fire destroys acres of forests What is a natural hazard?  It’s the danger that certain phenomena represent for people and property  The word natural implies that nature is the cause

A natural phenomenon  A volcanic eruption is an example of a natural phenomenon  If no humans live near this region then it is not a hazard because there is no risk

 If the region is inhabited by people then possibility of a volcanic eruption becomes an issue because it constitutes a risk  The event is called a natural disaster if the volcano erupts and causes death and damage to property

Are there risk-free territories?  All territories are at risk  Some cities are more at risk than others and may be threatened by more than one natural hazard  Montreal experienced an ice storm in 1998 and faces extreme cold during the winter

Why do people continue living in big cities subject to natural disasters?  Good economy (jobs in mining, trade, agriculture etc.)  People are attached to places, friends, family (sense of belonging)  Do not have the means (money) to leave or possibility of living elsewhere  All territories involve some degree of risk

Inequality in the face of natural hazards  Wealthy nations, like the United States, inject lots of money to provide its citizens with prevention programs for all types of natural hazards  Reconstruction and economic recovery is much more faster than in poorer countries  Since poorer nations are ill-equipped to face natural disasters, the basic needs, such as finding food and shelter, are not met