Natural Hazards Case Study

EARTH SYSTEMS:

Discuss the risk management of natural hazards using a range of examples to support your answer:

Stefanie Deasy – 17357736

I will be discussing the risk management of natural hazards using a range of case studies to support my answer. A natural disaster is a naturally occurring event that has a negative impact on humans. Risk management is the process to attempt to minimize or eliminate the impact of natural occurring events. The negative event is called a natural disaster. Natural hazards have operated throughout earth’s history. Hazardous processes are also mostly Geological Processes. Geological Processes effect the earth all the time, but are mostly noticeable when they cause damage, loss of life or property. Here are examples

Scientists can sometimes predict seismic activity days in advance and can therefore prepare and try manage the situation by sending out warnings. Scientists can predict where large earthquakes may occur, by checking the pressure on fault lines and from previous earthquakes. By having a rough idea where earthquakes may occur they can have a better idea where and where not to build infrastructure. In 2010, Haiti was hit with an unmerciful earthquake in mid-January. It hit worst some 15 miles southwest of the capital Port-au-Prince. The earthquake registered at a magnitude of 7.0, but was followed by some strong aftershocks of magnitudes 5.9 and 5.5. Haiti was not prepared, they gave warning of the earthquake moments before it happened, giving people minutes to prepare themselves and as a result thousand’s where killed. Haiti’s infrastructure was not built to withstand such events, they had little preparation for any natural hazard. Although Haiti had not been hit by an earthquake of such enormity they could not prepare for such event, but they had no warning systems or evacuation plans and their buildings crumbled. This was a wake up call, risk management on natural hazards has to be improved and discussed. (Britannica.com). Haiti had to take action. Haiti faces frequent natural disasters, that are not always in the media like the earthquake in 2010. They are faced with hurricanes and floods often. In 2010, the Red Cross launched a ‘disaster preparedness program’ in Haiti that has reached and helped thousands of people. Since 2010 the Red Cross have worked with the Haitians to identify and reduce the impact of various threats of natural hazards. The identified evacuation routes, they made frequent drainage ditches to prevent flooding, they reinforced shelters to withstand high winds and rain, stabilizing roads and reinforcing embankments to prevent erosion.