QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+
● Disaster. Answer: an event involving a significant number of people
and/or significant economic damage
● Rising Number of Natural Disasters Over Past 30 Years (5
Geophysical & 5 Hydrometeorological). Answer: Geophysical:
- Earthquakes
- Tsunamis
- Volcanic Eruptions
- Asteroid/Comet Impacts
- Landslides
Hydrometeorological
- Floods
- Droughts
- Wildland Fires
- Weather Phenomena
- Landslides
,--> increases # of people impacted/killed by natural disasters
● What Defines an Official Disaster. Answer: UN: a serious disruption
of the functioning of a community or society; widespread human,
material, economic, or environmental impact.
- Exceeds the ability of a community to cope using its own resources
● Disaster Aid in Canada. Answer: - based on cost of damage
- qualify for federal disaster aid when > $500,000 worth of damage
- yearly impact of many small events exceeds losses from fewer, larger
events
● Exposure. Answer: Potential casualties, economic losses, social
disruptions
● Vulnerability. Answer: - degree that structures can resist damage
- community prep to minimize impacts
- resources available to rebuild
● Exposure/Vulnerability in Wealthy vs Poor communities. Answer:
Wealthy:
- can construct buildings able to withstand disasters
- mostly risk losing expensive buildings and objects
, - can afford emergency service/personnel
- resources to evacuate
Poor:
- cannot afford disaster-resistant buildings
- often located near hazards; cheap land
- most risk losing lives/livelihoods
- densely populated
- less able to evacuate due to transportation scarcity
● Comparing Disaster Sizes. Answer: No all-purpose scale exists
● Earthquake size classification. Answer: moment magnitude scale
● Hurricane size classification. Answer: saffir-simpson scale
● Tornado size classification. Answer: enhanced fujita scale
● Hazard Potential Maps. Answer: show areas w/ high disaster
probabilities/most prone locations for specific disasters
● Hazard Preparedness. Answer: Procedures essential for planning
elements; hazard-mitigation efforts decrease a disaster's consequences.