Scholars have argued the term "natural disaster" is unsuitable and should be abandoned.[3] Instead, the simpler termdisaster could be used. At the same time, the type of hazard would be specified.[4][5][6] A disaster happens when a natural or human-madehazard impacts avulnerable community. It results from the combination of the hazard and the exposure of a vulnerable society.
Nowadays it is hard to distinguish between "natural" and "human-made" disasters.[3][7][8] The term "natural disaster" was already challenged in 1976.[6] Human choices in architecture,[9] fire risk,[10][11] and resource management[12] can cause or worsen natural disasters.Climate change also affects how often disasters due toextreme weather hazards happen. These "climate hazards" are floods, heat waves, wildfires, tropical cyclones, and the like.[13]
Anatural disaster is the highly harmful impact on a society or community following a naturalhazard event. The term "disaster" itself is defined as follows: "Disasters are serious disruptions to the functioning of a community that exceed its capacity to cope using its own resources. Disasters can be caused by natural, man-made and technologicalhazards, as well as various factors that influence the exposure andvulnerability of a community."[17]
The USFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) explains the relationship between natural disasters and natural hazards as follows: "Natural hazards and natural disasters are related but are not the same. A natural hazard is the threat of an event that will likely have a negative impact. A natural disaster is the negative impact following an actual occurrence of natural hazard in the event that it significantly harms a community.[1] An example of the distinction between a natural hazard and adisaster is that anearthquake is thehazard which caused the1906 San Francisco earthquake disaster.
The termnatural disaster has been called a misnomer already in 1976.[6] A disaster is a result of a naturalhazard impacting avulnerable community. But disasters can be avoided. Earthquakes, droughts, floods, storms, and other events lead to disasters because of human action and inaction. Poor land and policy planning and deregulation can create worse conditions. They often involve development activities that ignore or fail to reduce thedisaster risks. Nature alone is blamed for disasters even when disasters result from failures in development. Disasters also result from failure of societies to prepare. Examples for such failures include inadequate building norms, marginalization of people, inequities, overexploitation of resources, extremeurban sprawl andclimate change.[6]
Defining disasters as solely natural events has serious implications when it comes to understanding the causes of a disaster and the distribution of political and financial responsibility indisaster risk reduction,disaster management, compensation, insurance and disaster prevention.[21] Usingnatural to describe disasters misleads people to think the devastating results are inevitable, out of our control, and are simply part of a natural process. Hazards (earthquakes, hurricanes, pandemics, drought etc.) are inevitable, but the impact they have on society is not.
Thus, the termnatural disaster is unsuitable and should be abandoned in favor of the simpler termdisaster, while also specifying the category (or type) of hazard.[4]
Number of recorded natural disaster events (1900–2022)
By region and country
As of 2019, the countries with the highest share of disability-adjusted life years (DALY) lost due to natural disasters areBahamas,Haiti,Zimbabwe andArmenia (probably mainly due to theSpitak Earthquake).[22][23] The Asia-Pacific region is the world's most disaster prone region.[24] A person in Asia-Pacific is five times more likely to be hit by a natural disaster than someone living in other regions.[25]
Between 1995 and 2015, the greatest number of natural disasters occurred in America, China and India.[26] In 2012, there were 905 natural disasters worldwide, 93% of which were weather-related disasters. Overall costs were US$170 billion and insured losses $70 billion. 2012 was a moderate year. 45% were meteorological (storms), 36% were hydrological (floods), 12% were climatological (heat waves, cold waves, droughts, wildfires) and 7% were geophysical events (earthquakes and volcanic eruptions). Between 1980 and 2011 geophysical events accounted for 14% of all natural catastrophes.[27]
Natural hazards occur across different time scales as well as area scales. Tornadoes and flash floods are rapid onset events, meaning they occur with a short warning time and are short-lived. Slow onset events can also be very damaging, for exampledrought is a natural hazards that develops slowly, sometimes over years.[28]
Impacts
A natural disaster may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and economic disruption, or environmental damage.
On death rates
Global death rate from natural disasters (1900–2022)
Globally, the total number of deaths from natural disasters has been reduced by 75% over the last 100 years, due to the increased development of countries, increased preparedness, better education, better methods, and aid from international organizations. Since the global population has grown over the same time period, the decrease in number of deaths per capita is larger, dropping to 6% of the original amount.[29]
The death rate from natural disasters is highest indeveloping countries due to the lower quality of building construction, infrastructure, and medical facilities.[29]
On the economy
Global damage cost from natural disasters (1980–2022)
Global economic losses due to extreme weather, climate and water events are increasing. Costs have increased sevenfold from the 1970s to the 2010s.[30]: 16 Direct losses from disasters have averaged above US$330 billion annually between 2015 and 2021.[31]: 21 Socio-economic factors have contributed to this trend of increasing losses, such as population growth and increased wealth.[32] This shows that increased exposure is the most important driver of economic losses. However, part of these are also due to human-inducedclimate change.[33]: 1611 [34]
On the environment
During emergencies such as natural disasters and armed conflicts more waste may be produced, while waste management is given low priority compared with other services. Existing waste management services and infrastructures can be disrupted, leaving communities with unmanaged waste and increased littering. Under these circumstances human health and the environment are often negatively impacted.[35]
Natural disasters (e.g. earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes) have the potential to generate a significant amount of waste within a short period.Waste management systems can be out of action or curtailed, often requiring considerable time and funding to restore. For example, thetsunami in Japan in 2011 produced huge amounts of debris: estimates of 5 million tonnes of waste were reported by theJapanese Ministry of the Environment. Some of this waste, mostly plastic andstyrofoam washed up on the coasts of Canada and the United States in late 2011. Along the west coast of the United States, this increased the amount of litter by a factor of 10 and may have transported alien species. Storms are also important generators of plastic litter. A study by Lo et al. (2020) reported a 100% increase in the amount ofmicroplastics on beaches surveyed following a typhoon inHong Kong in 2018.[35]
A significant amount of plastic waste can be produced during disaster relief operations. Following the2010 earthquake in Haiti, the generation of waste from relief operations was referred to as a "second disaster". The United States military reported that millions of water bottles andstyrofoam food packages were distributed although there was no operational waste management system. Over 700,000 plastic tarpaulins and 100,000 tents were required for emergency shelters. The increase in plastic waste, combined with poor disposal practices, resulted in open drainage channels being blocked, increasing the risk ofdisease.[35]
Conflicts can result in large-scale displacement of communities. People living under these conditions are often provided with minimal waste management facilities.Burn pits are widely used to dispose of mixed wastes, including plastics. Air pollution can lead to respiratory and other illnesses. For example,Sahrawi refugees have been living in five camps nearTindouf, Algeria for nearly 45 years. As waste collection services are underfunded and there is no recycling facility, plastics have flooded the camps' streets and surroundings. In contrast, the Azraq camp in Jordan for refugees from Syria has waste management services; of 20.7 tonnes of waste produced per day, 15% is recyclable.[35]
On women and vulnerable populations
Because of the social, political and cultural context of many places throughout the world, women are often disproportionately affected by disaster.[36] In the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, more women died than men, partly due to the fact that fewer women knew how to swim.[36] During and after a natural disaster, women are at increased risk of being affected bygender based violence and are increasingly vulnerable to sexual violence. Disrupted police enforcement, lax regulations, and displacement all contribute to increased risk of gender based violence and sexual assault.[36]
During and after natural disasters, routine health behaviors become interrupted. In addition, health care systems may have broken down as a result of the disaster, further reducing access to contraceptives.[36] Unprotected intercourse during this time can lead to increased rates of childbirth, unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).[36][40]
Pregnant women are one of the groups disproportionately affected by natural disasters. Inadequate nutrition, little access to clean water, lack of health-care services and psychological stress in the aftermath of the disaster can lead to a significant increase in maternal morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, shortage of healthcare resources during this time can convert even routine obstetric complications into emergencies.[41]
Once a vulnerable population has experienced a disaster, the community can take many years to repair and that repair period can lead to further vulnerability. The disastrous consequences of natural disaster also affect the mental health of affected communities, often leading to post-traumatic symptoms. These increased emotional experiences can be supported through collective processing, leading to resilience and increased community engagement.[42]
On governments and voting processes
Disasters stress government capacity, as the government tries to conduct routine as well as emergency operations.[43] Some theorists of voting behavior propose that citizens update information about government effectiveness based on their response to disasters, which affects their vote choice in the next election.[44] Indeed, some evidence, based on data from the United States, reveals that incumbent parties can lose votes if citizens perceives them as responsible for a poor disaster response[45] or gain votes based on perceptions of well-executed relief work.[46] The latter study also finds, however, that voters do not reward incumbent parties fordisaster preparedness, which may end up affecting government incentives to invest in such preparedness.[46]
Gravity is the primary driving force for a landslide to occur, but there are other factors affectingslope stability that produce specific conditions that make a slope prone to failure. In many cases, the landslide is triggered by a specific event (such as a heavyrainfall, anearthquake, a slope cut to build a road, and many others), although this is not always identifiable.
Anavalanche is a rapid flow ofsnow down aslope, such as a hill or mountain.[54] Avalanches can be triggered spontaneously, by factors such as increased precipitation orsnowpack weakening, or by external means such as humans, other animals, andearthquakes. Primarily composed of flowing snow and air, large avalanches have the capability to capture and move ice, rocks, and trees.
Avalanches occur in two general forms, or combinations thereof:[55] slab avalanches made of tightly packed snow, triggered by a collapse of an underlying weak snow layer, and loose snow avalanches made of looser snow. After being set off, avalanches usually accelerate rapidly and grow in mass and volume as they capture more snow. If an avalanche moves fast enough, some of the snow may mix with the air, forming apowder snow avalanche.
San Francisco was devastated by anearthquake in 1906Global number of deaths from earthquake (1960–2017)
Anearthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in theEarth's crust that createsseismic waves. At the Earth's surface, earthquakes manifest themselves by vibration, shaking, and sometimes displacement of the ground. Earthquakes are caused by slippage within geologicalfaults. The underground point of origin of the earthquake is called the seismicfocus. The point directly above the focus on the surface is called theepicenter. Earthquakes by themselves rarely kill people or wildlife – it is usually the secondary events that they trigger, such as building collapse, fires,tsunamis and volcanic eruptions, that cause death. Many of these can possibly be avoided by better construction, safety systems, early warning and planning.[citation needed]
A sinkhole is a depression or hole in the ground caused by some form of collapse of the surface layer. When natural erosion, human mining or underground excavation makes the ground too weak to support the structures built on it, the ground can collapse and produce asinkhole.
Coastal erosion is a physical process by which shorelines in coastal areas around the world shift and change, primarily in response to waves and currents that can be influenced by tides and storm surge.[56] Coastal erosion can result from long-term processes (see alsobeach evolution) as well as from episodic events such astropical cyclones or other severe storm events. Coastal erosion is one of the most significant coastal hazards. It forms a threat to infrastructure, capital assets and property.
Video of lava agitating and bubbling in the volcano eruption of Litli-Hrútur, 2023
Volcanoes can cause widespread destruction and consequent disaster in several ways. One hazard is thevolcanic eruption itself, with the force of the explosion and falling rocks able to cause harm.Lava may also be released during the eruption of a volcano; as it leaves the volcano, it can destroy buildings, plants and animals due to its extreme heat. In addition,volcanic ash may form a cloud (generally after cooling) and settle thickly in nearby locations. When mixed with water, this forms a concrete-like material. In sufficient quantities, ash may cause roofs to collapse under its weight. Even small quantities will harm humans if inhaled – it has the consistency of ground glass and therefore causes laceration to the throat and lungs. Volcanic ash can also cause abrasion damage to moving machinery such as engines. The main killer of humans in the immediate surroundings of a volcanic eruption ispyroclastic flows, consisting of a cloud of hot ash which builds up in the air above the volcano and rushes down the slopes when the eruption no longer supports the lifting of the gases. It is believed thatPompeii was destroyed by a pyroclastic flow. Alahar is a volcanic mudflow or landslide. The 1953Tangiwai disaster was caused by a lahar, as was the 1985Armero tragedy in which the town of Armero was buried and an estimated 23,000 people were killed.[citation needed]
Volcanoes rated at 8 (the highest level) on thevolcanic explosivity index are known assupervolcanoes. According to theToba catastrophe theory, 75,000 to 80,000 years ago, a supervolcanic eruption at what is nowLake Toba inSumatra reduced the human population to 10,000 or even 1,000 breeding pairs, creating a bottleneck in human evolution,[57] and killed three-quarters of all plant life in the northern hemisphere. However, there is considerable debate regarding the veracity of this theory. The main danger from a supervolcano is the immense cloud of ash, which has a disastrous global effect on climate and temperature for many years.
A tsunami (plural: tsunamis or tsunami; from Japanese: 津波, lit. "harbour wave"; English pronunciation: /tsuːˈnɑːmi/), also known as a seismic sea wave or tidal wave, is a series of waves in a water body caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an ocean or a large lake. Tsunamis can be caused by undersea earthquakes such as the2004 Boxing Day tsunami, or by landslides such as theone in 1958 at Lituya Bay, Alaska, or by volcanic eruptions such as theancient eruption of Santorini. On March 11, 2011, atsunami occurred near Fukushima, Japan and spread through the Pacific Ocean.
Disasters caused by extreme weather hazards
Some of the 18 natural hazards included in the National Risk Index of FEMA[1] now have a higher probability of occurring, and at higher intensity, due to theeffects of climate change. This applies to heat waves, droughts, wildfire and coastal flooding.[58]: 9
A heat wave is a period of unusually and excessively hot weather. Heat waves used to be rare, requiring specific combinations ofweather events to take place, such astemperature inversions,katabatic winds, or other phenomena. Since the turn of this century, under the continuing pressure of global warming, many areas have experienced peaks of temperatures, along with more frequent, more intense, more prolonged warming events than ever met on record. This is notably the case in many ocean regions such as the Mediterranean Sea.[59] On land heat waves coupled with severe winds are now causing hundreds of major wildfires every year, burning thousands of square kilometers of forests, and threatening the very heart of cities as observed in the January 2025 megafires that destroyed several sectors of Los Angeles.
Adrought is a period of drier-than-normal conditions.[60]: 1157 A drought can last for days, months or years. Drought often has large impacts on theecosystems andagriculture of affected regions, and causes harm to the localeconomy.[61][62] Annual dry seasons in thetropics significantly increase the chances of a drought developing, with subsequent increasedwildfire risks.[63]Heat waves can significantly worsen drought conditions by increasingevapotranspiration.[64] This dries out forests and other vegetation, and increases the amount of fuel for wildfires.[63][65]
Well-known historicaldroughts include the 1997–2009Millennium Drought in Australia which led to a water supply crisis across much of the country. As a result, many desalination plants were built for the first time (see list). In 2011, the State ofTexas lived under a drought emergency declaration for the entire calendar year and suffered severe economic losses.[66] The drought caused theBastrop fires.
Afirestorm is aconflagration which attains such intensity that it creates and sustains its own wind system. It is most commonly a natural phenomenon, created during some of the largest bushfires andwildfires. Although the term has been used to describe certain large fires,[68] the phenomenon's determining characteristic is a fire with its ownstorm-force winds from every point of thecompass towards the storm's center, where the air is heated and then ascends.[69][70]
Wildfires are large fires which often start inwildland areas. Common causes includelightning anddrought but wildfires may also be started by human negligence orarson. They can spread to populated areas and thus be a threat to humans and property, as well aswildlife. One example for a notablewildfire is the 1871Peshtigo Fire in the United States, which killed at least 1700 people.[71][72] Another one is the 2009 Victorian bushfires in Australia (collectively known as "Black Saturday bushfires").[73][74][75] In that year, a summer heat wave in Victoria, Australia, created conditions which fueled the massivebushfires in 2009.Melbourne experienced three days in a row of temperatures exceeding 40 °C (104 °F), with some regional areas sweltering through much higher temperatures.
Aflood is an overflow of water that 'submerges' land.[76] The EUFloods Directive defines a flood as a temporary covering of land that is usually dry with water.[77] In the sense of 'flowing water', the word may also be applied to the inflow of thetides. Flooding may result from the volume of a body of water, such as ariver orlake, becoming higher than usual, causing some of the water to escape its usual boundaries.[78] While the size of a lake or other body of water will vary with seasonal changes in precipitation and snow melt, a flood is not considered significant unless the water covers land used by humans, such as a village, city or other inhabited area, roads or expanses of farmland.
Severe storms, dust clouds and volcanic eruptions can generatelightning. Apart from the damage typically associated with storms, such as winds, hail and flooding, the lightning itself can damage buildings, ignite fires and kill by direct contact. Most deaths from lightning occur in the poorer countries of the Americas and Asia, where lightning is common andadobemud brick housing provides little protection.[79]
Typhoon,cyclone,cyclonic storm andhurricane are different names for the same phenomenon: atropical storm that forms over an ocean. It is caused by evaporatedwater that comes off of theocean and becomes astorm. It is characterized by strong winds, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. The determining factor on which term is used is based on where the storm originates. In the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, the term "hurricane" is used; in the Northwest Pacific, it is referred to as a "typhoon"; a "cyclone" occurs in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean.
Atornado is a violent and dangerous rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the Earth and acumulonimbus cloud, or, in rare cases, the base of acumulus cloud. It is also referred to as atwister or acyclone,[80] although the wordcyclone is used in meteorology in a wider sense to refer to any closedlow pressure circulation. Tornadoes come in many shapes and sizes but typically take the form of a visiblecondensation funnel, the narrow end of which touches the Earth and is often encircled by a cloud ofdebris anddust. Tornadoes can occur one at a time, or can occur in largetornado outbreaks associated withsupercells or in other large areas of thunderstorm development.
Most tornadoes have wind speeds of less than 180 km/h (110 mph), are approximately 75 m (250 ft) across, and travel a few kilometers before dissipating. Themost extreme tornadoes can attain wind speeds of more than 480 km/h (300 mph), attain a width exceeding 3 km (2 mi) across, and stay on the ground for perhaps more than 100 km (60 mi).[81][82][83]
Blizzards are severewinter storms characterized by heavy snow and strong winds. When high winds stir up snow that has already fallen, it is known as aground blizzard. Blizzards can impact local economic activities, especially in regions where snowfall is rare. TheGreat Blizzard of 1888 affected the United States, when many tons of wheat crops were destroyed. In Asia, the1972 Iran blizzard and the2008 Afghanistan blizzard, were the deadliest blizzards in history; in the former, an area the size of Wisconsin was entirely buried in snow. The1993 Superstorm originated in the Gulf of Mexico and traveled north, causing damage in 26 American states as well as in Canada and leading to more than 300 deaths.[84]
Hailstorms
A largehailstone, about 6 cm (2+1⁄2 in) in diameter
Hail is precipitation in the form of ice that does not melt before it hits the ground. Hailstorms are produced by thunderstorms. Hailstones usually measure between5 and 150 mm (1⁄4 and 6 in) in diameter. These can damage the location in which they fall. Hailstorms can be especially devastating tofarm fields, ruining crops and damaging equipment. A particularly damaging hailstorm hitMunich, Germany, on July 12, 1984, causing about $2 billion ininsurance claims.
Multi-hazard analysis
Each of the natural hazard types outlined above have very different characteristics, in terms of the spatial and temporal scales they influence, hazard frequency andreturn period, and measures of intensity and impact. These complexities result in "single-hazard" assessments being commonplace, where the hazard potential from one particular hazard type is constrained. In these examples, hazards are often treated as isolated or independent. An alternative is a "multi-hazard" approach which seeks to identify all possible natural hazards and their interactions or interrelationships.[85][86]
Many examples exist of one natural hazard triggering or increasing the probability of one or more other natural hazards. For example, anearthquake may triggerlandslides, whereas awildfire may increase the probability of landslides being generated in the future.[86] A detailed review of such interactions across 21 natural hazards identified 90 possible interactions, of varying likelihood and spatial importance.[86] There may also be interactions between these natural hazards andanthropic processes.[87] For example,groundwater abstraction may triggergroundwater-related subsidence.[88]
Effectivehazard analysis in any given area (e.g., for the purposes ofdisaster risk reduction) should ideally include an examination of all relevant hazards and their interactions. To be of most use for risk reduction, hazard analysis should be extended torisk assessment wherein the vulnerability of the built environment to each of the hazards is taken into account. This step is well developed forseismic risk, where the possible effect of future earthquakes on structures and infrastructure is assessed, as well as for risk fromextreme wind and to a lesser extentflood risk. For other types of natural hazard the calculation of risk is more challenging, principally because of the lack of functions linking the intensity of a hazard and the probability of different levels of damage (fragility curves).[89]
Disaster management is a main function ofcivil protection (or civil defense) authorities. It should address all four of thephases of disasters: mitigation and prevention, disaster response, recovery and preparedness.
Preventive or mitigation measures vary for different types of disasters. In earthquake prone areas, these preventive measures might include structural changes such as the installation of anearthquake valve to instantly shut off the natural gas supply,seismic retrofits of property, and the securing of items inside a building. The latter may include the mounting of furniture,refrigerators,water heaters and breakables to the walls, and the addition of cabinet latches. In flood prone areas, houses can be built on stilts. In areas prone to prolonged electricityblack-outs installation of agenerator ensures continuation of electrical service. The construction ofstorm cellars andfallout shelters are further examples of personal mitigative actions.
Disaster risk reduction progress score for some countries in 2011. The score of 5 is best. Assessments include four indicators that reflect the degree to which countries have prioritised disaster risk reduction and the strengthening of relevant institutions.[90]Disaster risk reduction aims to makedisasters less likely to happen. The approach, also called DRR or disaster risk management, also aims to make disasters less damaging when they do occur. DRR aims to make communities stronger and better prepared to handle disasters. In technical terms, it aims to make them more resilient or less vulnerable. When DRR is successful, it makes communities less thevulnerable because itmitigates the effects of disasters.[91] This means DRR can make risky events fewer and less severe.Climate change can increaseclimate hazards. So development efforts often consider DRR andclimate change adaptation together.[92]
It is possible to include DRR in almost all areas of development andhumanitarian work. People from local communities, agencies or federal governments can all propose DRR strategies. DRR policies aim to "define goals and objectives across different timescales and with concrete targets, indicators and time frames."[91]: 16
There are some challenges for successful DRR. Local communities and organisations should be actively involved in the planning process. The role and funding of local government needs to be considered. Also, DRR strategies should be mindful of gender aspects. For example, studies have shown that women and girls are disproportionately impacted by disasters.[93] A gender-sensitive approach would identify how disasters affect men, women, boys and girls differently. It would shape policy that addresses people's specific vulnerabilities and needs.[94]
Spending on DRR is difficult to quantify for many countries. Global estimates of costs are therefore not available. However an indication of the costs for developing countries is given by the Us$215 billion to $387 billion per year (up to 2030) estimated costs for climate adaptation. DRR and climate adaptation share similar goals and strategies. They both require increased finance to address risingclimate risks.[96]: 49
DRR activities are part of the national strategies and budget planning in most countries. However the priorities for DRR are often lower than for other development priorities. This has an impact on public sector budget allocations. For many countries, less than 1% of the national budget is available for DRR activities.[96]: 51 TheGlobal Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) is a multi-donor partnership to supportdeveloping countries in managing the interconnected risks of natural hazards and climate hazards. Between 2007 and 2022, GFDRR provided $890 million in technical assistance, analytics, andcapacity building support to more than 157 countries.[96]: 54
Disaster response refers to the actions taken directly before, during, or immediately after a disaster. The objective is to save lives, ensure health and safety, and meet the subsistence needs of the people affected.[97]: 16 It includes warning and evacuation,search and rescue, providing immediate assistance, assessing damage, continuing assistance, and the immediate restoration or construction ofinfrastructure. An example of this would be building provisionalstorm drains ordiversion dams. Emergency response aims to provide immediate help to keep people alive, improve their health and support their morale. It can involve specific but limited aid, such as helpingrefugees with transport, temporary shelter, and food. Or it can involve establishing semi-permanent settlements in camps and other locations. It may also involve initial repairs to damage to infrastructure, or diverting it.
Recovery
A car driving on a flooded road inMelbourne, Australia.
The recovery phase starts after the immediate threat to human life has subsided. The immediate goal of the recovery phase is to bring the affected area back to normalcy as quickly as possible. During reconstruction, it is recommended to consider the location or construction material of the property.[98]
The most extreme home confinement scenarios include war,famine, and severeepidemics and may last a year or more. Then recovery will take place inside the home. Planners for these events usually buybulk foods and appropriate storage and preparation equipment, and eat the food as part of normal life. A simple balanced diet can be constructed fromvitamin pills,whole-grain wheat, beans,dried milk, corn, andcooking oil.[99] Vegetables, fruits, spices and meats, both prepared and fresh-gardened, are included when possible.[100]
Preparedness focuses on preparing equipment and procedures for use when adisaster occurs. The equipment and procedures can be used to reduce vulnerability to disaster, to mitigate the impacts of a disaster, or to respond more efficiently in anemergency. The USFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposed out a basic four-stage vision of preparedness flowing from mitigation to preparedness to response to recovery and back to mitigation in a circular planning process.[101] This circular, overlapping model has been modified by other agencies, taught in emergency classes, and discussed in academic papers.[102]
Society and culture
International law
The1951 Refugee Convention[103] and its 1967 Protocol are the cornerstone documents for refugee protection and population displacement.[104] The 1998 UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement and 2009Kampala Convention protect people displaced due to natural disasters.[105][106]
See also
Act of God – Natural disaster outside human control
^abZorn, Matija (2018), Pelc, Stanko; Koderman, Miha (eds.),"Natural Disasters and Less Developed Countries",Nature, Tourism and Ethnicity as Drivers of (De)Marginalization: Insights to Marginality from Perspective of Sustainability and Development, Perspectives on Geographical Marginality, vol. 3, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 59–78,doi:10.1007/978-3-319-59002-8_4,ISBN978-3-319-59002-8, retrieved2022-06-08
^D. Alexander (2002).Principles of Emergency planning and Management. Harpended: Terra publishing.ISBN1-903544-10-6.
^B. Wisner; P. Blaikie; T. Cannon & I. Davis (2004).At Risk – Natural hazards, people's vulnerability and disasters. Wiltshire: Routledge.ISBN0-415-25216-4.[page needed]
^Organization of American States, Department of Regional Development; Organization of American States, Natural Hazards Project; United States Agency for International Development, Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (1990).Disaster, planning and development: managing natural hazards to reduce loss(PDF). Washington, D.C.: Organization of American States. Retrieved21 July 2014.
^Bouwer, Laurens M. (2019), Mechler, Reinhard; Bouwer, Laurens M.; Schinko, Thomas; Surminski, Swenja (eds.), "Observed and Projected Impacts from Extreme Weather Events: Implications for Loss and Damage",Loss and Damage from Climate Change: Concepts, Methods and Policy Options, Climate Risk Management, Policy and Governance, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 63–82,doi:10.1007/978-3-319-72026-5_3,ISBN978-3-319-72026-5
^Gasper, John T.; Reeves, Andrew (April 2011). "Make It Rain? Retrospection and the Attentive Electorate in the Context of Natural Disasters".American Journal of Political Science.55 (2):340–355.doi:10.1111/j.1540-5907.2010.00503.x.JSTOR23025055.
^Marine heatwaves in the Mediterranean Sea and beyond - an overview. 2024. pp. 5-24 inCIESM Monograph 51’’(F. Briand, Ed.) ISSN 1726-5886[1]
^Douville, H., K. Raghavan, J. Renwick, R.P. Allan, P.A. Arias, M. Barlow, R. Cerezo-Mota, A. Cherchi, T.Y. Gan, J. Gergis, D. Jiang, A. Khan, W. Pokam Mba, D. Rosenfeld, J. Tierney, and O. Zolina, 2021:Water Cycle ChangesArchived 2022-09-29 at theWayback Machine. In Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Masson-Delmotte, V., P. Zhai, A. Pirani, S.L. Connors, C. Péan, S. Berger, N. Caud, Y. Chen, L. Goldfarb, M.I. Gomis, M. Huang, K. Leitzell, E. Lonnoy, J.B.R. Matthews, T.K. Maycock, T. Waterfield, O. Yelekçi, R. Yu, and B. Zhou (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, pp. 1055–1210, doi:10.1017/9781009157896.010.
^Scawthorn, Charles, ed. (2005).Fire following earthquake. Technical Council on Lifeline Earthquake Engineering monograph. Reston, VA: American Society of Civil Engineers. p. 68.ISBN978-0-7844-0739-4.
^Alexander Mckee'sDresden 1945: The Devil's Tinderbox
^"Problems of Fire in Nuclear Warfare (1961)"(PDF).Dtic.mil. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 18 February 2013. Retrieved11 May 2016.A fire storm is characterized by strong to gale force winds blowing toward the fire everywhere around the fire perimeter and results from the rising column of hot gases over an intense, mass fire drawing in the cool air from the periphery. These winds blow the fire brands into the burning area and tend to cool the unignited fuel outside so that ignition by radiated heat is more difficult, thus limiting fire spread.
^US Department of Commerce, NOAA."The Peshtigo Fire".weather.gov.Archived from the original on 2021-04-25. Retrieved2021-04-25.
^"2009 Kampala Convention on IDPs"(PDF). United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. May 2019.Archived(PDF) from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved3 September 2021.
.jpg)
