Tectonics Key Idea 1.9 a,b,c

Government hazard-mitigation strategies

managing hazard events

Hazard- adaptation strategies

important in protecting communities from the impacts of hazard events

focuses on key players involved in..

hazard mitigation- strategies meant to avoid, delay or prevent hazard events

hazard adaptation- strategies designed to reduce the impacts of hazard events, once they have occurred

Key Players in Managing loss

Diverting lava flows

GIS mapping

Land- use Zoning

Hazard- resistant design and engineering defenses

Crisis mapping

Modelling hazard impact

High- tech monitoring

Public education

satellite communication technology- helps transmit data from monitoring equipment

phone technology- used to communicate rapid warnings, used in japan 2011.

Early warning systems- give people more time to evacuate

GIS- creates hazard maps

Community preparedness and adaptation

modify vulnerability...

modify loss...

modify the event...

What is it?
process by which local government planners regulate how land in a community may be used.
In areas at risk from tectonic hazards it is an effective way to protect both people and property

Example: Mount Taranaki, New Zealand

In high risk areas:

  • settlements tend to be limited
    • certain structures and buildings prohibited, e.g. nuclear power plant and hodpitals
    • some comunities may be resettled, suich as along coast at risk from tsunami
    • development in areas that provide natural protection will be limited, e.g. mangroves






Effectiveness:

  • common in HIC countries
  • less common in developing countries
  • only effective in wealthier countries where the government is not corrupt.

What is it?

  • building barriers and digging channels to try and divert lava flows into safer directions, away from people and communities

Example: worked for the 1983 eruption Mount Etna

Why is it ineffective?

  • path taken by lava is hard to predict, hard to know where to dig the channels
  • terrain has to be suitable, with a downward slope
  • may push the lava towards another community

What is it?

  • used in all stages of disaster management cycle
  • used to help identify evacuation routes that should be used
  • help with rescue and recovery options

Example:

  • Nepal 2015 earthquake
  • gave information about the locations and rough population sizes of major towns and cities in Nepal
  • areas effected by earthquake
  • locations of airports and airstrips

Effectiveness:

  • helped aid agencies to identify the areas most effected effected, then to find the nearest location where aircraft carrying emergency supplies and relief workers could land

collapsing buildings are one of the main causes of death and damage in tectonic hazards

What is it?

  • new buildings and bridges designed to resist ground shaking
  • roofs of houses near volcanoes sloped to reduce ash build up
  • buildings at rsik from tsunami can be elevated
    -exist/ing buildings modified
    -protective structures like sea walls to slow impact of tsunami

Effectiveness:

  • not all buildings need to be high tech. In Pakistan some houses built form bales of straw held together with plastic netting
  • however most resistant design is very expensive , only available in rich countries.

technology helps communities become less vulnerable. Monitoring systems help scientists learn about disasters, in the hope of predicting them

failry effective, can go wrong hovers. Like in Hawaii when false alarm was seen.

After Haiti earthquake, a live map was set up. Locals provided information, such as where people were trapped, or where food and water was needed
rescue workers began using these maps, that were constantly updated. Uses crowd sourced information, as well as satellite imagery.

in the future, crisis maps can be used when next earthquake hits, and can be used to improve infrastructure and disaster preparedness

Information fed into computer systems which then model the effects of a disaster

  • also allow scientists to compare the effects of different scenarios ( e.g. effects on community if sea wall is built or not)
  • can be used by decision makers to help them develop plans and strategies to reduce impact of hazards, and target resources more effectively




education and public awareness can help reduce vulnerability

  • helps people understand what they can do to protect themselves, during and after hazard

it includes:

  • regularly practicing emergency procedures, in Japan an annual Disaster Prevention Day is held
  • encourage households to produce emergency preparedness kits
  • provide effective educational materials, such as construction knowledge

effectiveness:

  • helps reduce social impact
  • doesn't help against economic and environmental damage

in lower income countries it is important to develop suitable preparedness plans and educate local residents

local knowledge is important, e.g. during 2004 tsunami Thailand's Moken tribe noticed unusual movements in the bay of Bengal and ran for the hills, saving the village

preparedness activities include:

  • creating list of vulnerable people who need special assistance
  • evacuation drills
  • providing first aid courses

role of NGO's

role of insurance in hazard management

role of aid donors

role of communities in managing loss

short- term aid

long- term aid

emergency aid

food, clean water

reconstructing infrstructure

restoring water supplies

important when local government is struggling to respond.

  • can provide funds, coordinate search and rescue efforts, and help with reconstruction plans

very important in Pakistan earthquake 2005

natural disasters are very expensive, economic cost is always increasing

  • insurance can help communities recover, yet in many countries people dont have insurance

local people often first to respond in a disaster and play an important role.

  • crucial in immediate search and rescue
  • aid can sometimes takes days to arrive, local people have to understand recovery steps themselves
  • often involved in long term strategies for rebuilding