Disaster Management · TEE · papers

Q1A · Differentiate between Disaster and Hazard citing any two relevant examples.

2022-12-01 · Semester V/VII final

Actual older TEE paper · 100 marks · Q1 compulsory; any four of Q2–Q7

Q1A. Differentiate between Disaster and Hazard citing any two relevant examples. [4 marks]

Answer

Definition. A hazard is a potentially harmful process, phenomenon or human activity. A disaster is a serious disruption of a community caused when hazardous events interact with exposure, vulnerability and limited capacity.

One example, from cause to consequence

Heavy rain is a hazard. People living beside an overflowing drain are exposed. Weak houses and blocked drainage increase vulnerability. Rescue boats, warnings and safe shelters increase capacity. If flooding seriously disrupts lives, services and livelihoods, the event becomes a disaster.

Swipe across the diagram to read its labels ↔
Why the same hazard causes different losses
Diagram: Why the same hazard causes different losses. Labels: Why the same hazard causes different losses | Why the same hazard causes different losses | Hazard | The potentially harmful | event | Exposure | People and assets in its path | Vulnerability | Conditions that increase | harm | Potential disaster losses | Serious disruption if impacts | overwhelm coping ability | Capacity | Warnings, skills, services | and resources | More capacity can | reduce harm.
A hazard becomes a disaster through its interaction with exposed, vulnerable people and assets. Capacity changes the outcome.
TermMeaningFlood example
HazardWhat can cause harm?Heavy rainfall / high river flow
ExposureWho or what is in the affected place?Homes beside the river
VulnerabilityWhy can those exposed suffer damage?Weak houses; limited mobility; poor drainage
CapacityWhat strengths help manage the threat?Warnings, shelters, trained rescue teams
Disaster riskPotential losses before the event occursPossible deaths, damage and disruption
DisasterSerious disruption when the event occursHomes inundated and essential services overwhelmed

A second example: fault rupture and resulting shaking are hazards; severe building damage, injuries and service disruption affecting a community constitute an earthquake disaster.