Disasters

Hazard: process which has potential human impact.

Risk: a function of both hazard and accumulated human assets.

Vulnerability/resiliency: is the ability to tolerate/withstand/respond to a hazard.

Disasters cont:

Natural hazards become disasters when human development interacts catastrophically with natural processes.

Disasters cont:

Disaster preparedness was examined from the standpoint of emergency response needs, as well as the need for mitigating future disasters through policy, investments, and planning.

Disasters cont:

Three case studies were discussed.

The first, from Caracas, shows how the social and political isolation of urban poor causes disproportionate exposure to natural hazards. The second, Istanbul, illustrates how surgically targeted investments in infrastructure can reduce urban disaster risk. The third, from Accra, demonstrates how problems in sanitation, flooding, and agricultural productivity are linked, and require a multidisciplinary approach.


	Hazard: process which has potential human impact.
	Risk: a function of both hazard and accumulated human assets.
	Vulnerability/resiliency: is the ability to tolerate/withstand/respond to a hazard.


	Natural hazards become disasters when human development interacts catastrophically with natural processes.


	Disaster preparedness was examined from the standpoint of emergency response needs, as well as the need for mitigating future disasters through policy, investments, and planning.


	Three case studies were discussed.
	The first, from Caracas, shows how the social and political isolation of urban poor causes disproportionate exposure to natural hazards. The second, Istanbul, illustrates how surgically targeted investments in infrastructure can reduce urban disaster risk. The third, from Accra, demonstrates how problems in sanitation, flooding, and agricultural productivity are linked, and require a multidisciplinary approach.