2.4. Characteristics of Affected Population

So, also here is another chart you can see from 1950 to 2005, the number of events that flood is increasing, storms also are increasing, earthquake is almost the same as from 1950’s to 2005, you cannot see much huge differences but other disasters you can see they are increasing very prominently.

This chunk discusses the trends in natural disasters from 1950 to 2005. It highlights that while floods and storms have been increasing in frequency, earthquakes show little variation during this time period. Understanding these trends is important for disaster risk management, as they indicate which types of hazards may pose growing risks to populations.

Imagine if a city experiences more rainstorms each year, leading to frequent flooding. Just like how a garden needs more attention if the rainy season grows longer, communities must adapt their disaster preparedness as certain natural disasters become more common.

So, we are talking about hazards that this landslide or this stone when it is exposed to heavy rainfall or earthquake, it can have some potentiality to cause human injury or loss or property damage.

This chunk emphasizes the potential risks associated with natural hazards, such as landslides triggered by heavy rainfall. It implies that while hazards exist, their impact on human lives or property depends on various factors, including human presence and infrastructure in vulnerable areas.

Think of a game of Jenga, where each block represents a person or a building. If one block is removed carefully but a bigger block (like landslide) pushes against the tower, the tower's stability is jeopardized. Similarly, hazards only become dangerous when they interact with human structures.

The presence of this person is very important. So, it is not only this person but if we have more settlements, more houses, more people we care more right, maybe here you look, we care more and more because the simple reason is that more and more people and settlements, houses, buildings are there.

In this chunk, the importance of human presence in hazardous areas is discussed. The more people and infrastructure that are present, the higher the risk associated with a disaster. This exposure influences how serious a threat a hazard is to the population.

Imagine a crowded beach during a storm. The more people there are, the more urgent it is to warn them about the dangers of swimming. On a deserted beach, the risk lessens because no one is physically exposed to the hazard.

This one we are calling as exposure; the situation of people, infrastructure, housing, production capacities and other tangible human assets located in hazard-prone areas.

This chunk explains the concept of exposure in disaster risk management. It refers to the people and structures that could be affected by hazards, emphasizing that exposure measures the potential impact of disasters on human assets.

Consider a town situated along a river that floods during heavy rains. If more homes are built close to the riverbank, the residents and properties become more exposed and thus at risk during a flood, similar to how placing more toys near the edge of a table increases the risk of them falling off.

So, how many people are exposed, who are exposed, these are important in disaster risk management. So, when we are talking about the exposure, the size of the city or the settlements and where this hazard will take place is one important component of exposure.

This chunk discusses the factors that define exposure. It indicates that awareness of the number of people and size of settlements in hazard-prone areas is critical for effective disaster management strategies. The geographic location of these hazards affects their impact on populations.

Imagine a small village near a volcano compared to a large city that is further away. Though both may face volcanic eruptions, the city has fewer people at risk per square mile because of its size and distance, illustrating the role of geography in exposure.

If in a place that is prone to landslides or potentially to have a landslide, like this one you can see and maybe in this village, the all people living there are old people; senior citizens above 65 years old.

This chunk points out how community demographics play a significant role in determining vulnerability. Older populations or those lacking economic resources are often more vulnerable to hazards, which means they may face heightened risks in disaster situations compared to younger, more economically stable groups.

Consider a community where only elderly residents live. In case of a natural disaster, these individuals might struggle to evacuate quickly. It's similar to a school where teachers must help younger students, as they have fewer resources and abilities to get to safety without assistance.

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