ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS, THEIR DANGERS AND
THEIR PREVENTIVE MEASURES
An environmental hazard is a substance, state of event which has the potential to threaten the
surrounding natural environment and adversely affects people's health. This term incorporates
topics like pollution and natural disasters such as storms and earthquakes.
Some of the environmental hazards are discussed as follows
1. DROUGHT
A drought is a period of below average precipitation in a region, resulting in prolonged
shortages in its water supply whether atmospheric, surface or ground water. A drought call last
for months or years. It can have a substantial impact on ecosystem and agriculture of the affected
region and harm to the local economy. Annual dry seasons in the tropics significantly increase
the chances of a drought developing and subsequent bush fires. Periods of heat can
significantly worsen drought conditions by hastening evaporation of water vapor.
Prolonged droughts have caused mass migrations and humanitarian crises must and ecosystems
have inherently low productivity.
Effects of drought
2. MIGRATION: farmers are likely to migrate during drought because they do not have
alternative food sources.
3. FAMINE: This is due to lack of water for irrigation which will lead to never or little
food
4. LOSS OF LIFE: People and animals may die due to lack of food and water which are
key role for survival of people and animals
Prevention
Agricultural people can effectively mitigate much of the impact of drought through irrigation
and crop rotation.
1|P age
, Construction of dams: which can be able to store water during rainy seasons and the water used
during dry season.
Drought monitoring: continuous observation of rainfall levels and comparisons with current
usage levels can help predict increased risks for wildfires.
Land use: carefully planned crop rotation can help to minimize erosion and allow farmers to plant
less water dependent crops.
Regulating the use of sprinklers, horses or buckets on outdoor plant, filling pools and other water-
intensive home maintenance tasks.
Rain water harvesting by collecting and storage of rain water from roofs.
2. FLOODS
A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land which is usually dry.
Flood may occur as an overflow as an overflow of water bodies such as rivers, lakes and maybe
oceans in which water overtops breaks levees, resulting in some of that water escaping its usual
boundaries. It may occur due to an accumulation of rainwater of saturated ground in an area of
flood.
Flood can also occur in rivers when the flow rate exceeds the capacity of the river channel,
particulates at bends or meanders in a water way. Floods often cause damage to homes and
businesses if they are in the natural floods plains of rivers.
Effects of floods
Can lead to loss of life damage, build sand other structures.
Lack of clean water combined with human sewage in the flood water rises the effect of waterborne
disease such as typhoid, cholera and giardia.
Economic hardship due to a temporary decline in tourism, rebuilding costs or food shortage
leading to price increase.
2|P age
THEIR PREVENTIVE MEASURES
An environmental hazard is a substance, state of event which has the potential to threaten the
surrounding natural environment and adversely affects people's health. This term incorporates
topics like pollution and natural disasters such as storms and earthquakes.
Some of the environmental hazards are discussed as follows
1. DROUGHT
A drought is a period of below average precipitation in a region, resulting in prolonged
shortages in its water supply whether atmospheric, surface or ground water. A drought call last
for months or years. It can have a substantial impact on ecosystem and agriculture of the affected
region and harm to the local economy. Annual dry seasons in the tropics significantly increase
the chances of a drought developing and subsequent bush fires. Periods of heat can
significantly worsen drought conditions by hastening evaporation of water vapor.
Prolonged droughts have caused mass migrations and humanitarian crises must and ecosystems
have inherently low productivity.
Effects of drought
2. MIGRATION: farmers are likely to migrate during drought because they do not have
alternative food sources.
3. FAMINE: This is due to lack of water for irrigation which will lead to never or little
food
4. LOSS OF LIFE: People and animals may die due to lack of food and water which are
key role for survival of people and animals
Prevention
Agricultural people can effectively mitigate much of the impact of drought through irrigation
and crop rotation.
1|P age
, Construction of dams: which can be able to store water during rainy seasons and the water used
during dry season.
Drought monitoring: continuous observation of rainfall levels and comparisons with current
usage levels can help predict increased risks for wildfires.
Land use: carefully planned crop rotation can help to minimize erosion and allow farmers to plant
less water dependent crops.
Regulating the use of sprinklers, horses or buckets on outdoor plant, filling pools and other water-
intensive home maintenance tasks.
Rain water harvesting by collecting and storage of rain water from roofs.
2. FLOODS
A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land which is usually dry.
Flood may occur as an overflow as an overflow of water bodies such as rivers, lakes and maybe
oceans in which water overtops breaks levees, resulting in some of that water escaping its usual
boundaries. It may occur due to an accumulation of rainwater of saturated ground in an area of
flood.
Flood can also occur in rivers when the flow rate exceeds the capacity of the river channel,
particulates at bends or meanders in a water way. Floods often cause damage to homes and
businesses if they are in the natural floods plains of rivers.
Effects of floods
Can lead to loss of life damage, build sand other structures.
Lack of clean water combined with human sewage in the flood water rises the effect of waterborne
disease such as typhoid, cholera and giardia.
Economic hardship due to a temporary decline in tourism, rebuilding costs or food shortage
leading to price increase.
2|P age
