4.4. Growth of Disasters

Now, coming another important feature is the speed of onset like, if we consider a flood, it is a flash flood, it is very sudden without warning, very quick or is it a kind of slow process like in case of cyclone, we have much time to predict so, we have; we can prepare our self, we have better early warning system and we can take time but in case of earthquake, we do not have any time, it is very sudden or in case of flash flood, we have less time also consider to other kind of a flood. Or so, speed of onset is very important and when you are considering the hazards in disaster risk management and the spatial dispersion; area likely to be affected by particular event.

The speed of onset refers to how quickly a disaster strikes after the warning is given or how much time is available before it hits. For example, flash floods occur suddenly and catch people off guard, whereas cyclones can be predicted well in advance, allowing for preparedness. Earthquakes are unpredictable, giving no warning, while some floods develop more slowly. Understanding the speed of onset is crucial in disaster risk management because it affects how people and systems prepare for these events.

Think of it like a race. If you know a race is going to start at a specific time, like a sport event, you can prepare yourself, warm up, and get ready. This is similar to cyclones where people have time to prepare. But if a race starts unexpectedly, without warning—like a surprise flash flood—you're caught off guard and may not be ready to run. Understanding this difference helps communities better prepare for disasters.

In case of just for an example, maybe we can see that in case of earthquake; earthquake occurs along the boundaries of the tectonic plates of the earth crust. this is one hazard and when this is the source of the hazards and when this happen and this happens, we can see that these plates come in contact with each other and the pressure builds up an earthquake occurs. Now, this is just simply a physical event, this is you can see some of the distribution of the tectonic plates in some places and this hazard; this earthquake hazard, we have 3 processes; physical process that can trigger this hazard.

Earthquakes are often triggered by the movement of tectonic plates in the Earth's crust. These plates can interact in three main ways: convergent boundaries where two plates collide, subduction zones where one plate goes underneath another, and divergent boundaries where plates move apart. Each interaction can cause pressure to build up, which ultimately leads to an earthquake when this pressure is released.

Imagine pushing two heavy tables against each other. As you push, the pressure builds between the surfaces. When the tables can no longer hold that pressure, they suddenly move, creating a clattering sound—similar to how tectonic plates build up pressure until they finally release, causing an earthquake.

Now when we are talking about hazards, can we avoid hazard? No, historically hazards were there, it is there and it will remain. So, we cannot avoid hazard basically.

Hazards, such as earthquakes and floods, are an inherent part of the Earth's natural processes. They have existed throughout history and will continue to exist in the future. While we may not be able to prevent these hazards from occurring, understanding them helps us to minimize their impact through better preparedness and risk management strategies.

Imagine a storm that is bound to happen every year in the same season. You cannot stop the storm from coming, but you can choose to build a strong house to withstand it. Similarly, while we cannot avoid natural hazards, we can prepare for them better through planning and resilience strategies.

Now, looking into the disaster; number of disasters from 1980’s to 2005, you can look as I told also before, it is the flood that is the most reported disastrous event. 35% of the all disasters are from 1980 to 2005 are flood disasters. Another one is also big share is the wind storm, earthquake is only 11%, an extreme temperature is 11%, so overall 90% of disasters are related to hydro-meteorological disasters, that is very important finding.

Between 1980 and 2005, floods were the most common disasters, accounting for 35% of all reported incidents. Other significant disasters included wind storms. Conversely, earthquakes made up only 11% along with extreme temperatures. This data highlights the prevalence of hydro-meteorological disasters, which encompass weather-related events like floods and storms.

Think of it like statistics in a sports league. If a particular team wins most of the matches, you can expect that team to be dominant in the league. In disaster management, floods are like that dominant team, showing how significant a threat they pose compared to other disaster types.

Also, when we are looking into the loss of human life from 1980 to 2005, we can see that nearly 70% of loss of life are related to hydro-meteorological factors. So, hydro-meteorological disasters are very critical, particularly when we are looking into developing countries or underdeveloped countries. Here you can see that 28%, drought is the reason of human loss in 28%.

The analysis of human loss from disasters between 1980 and 2005 shows that 70% of fatalities were linked to hydro-meteorological factors like floods and droughts. Such disasters are particularly devastating in developing countries, where infrastructure and preparedness may be inadequate. Drought alone was responsible for 28% of these deaths, highlighting the critical nature of these events.

Think of a small village that lacks sufficient resources to cope during a drought—it may not have enough water stores or farming techniques to sustain its population. Just like this village, many developing countries face challenges under the weight of hydro-meteorological disasters, leading to considerable loss of life without adequate resources.

Similarly, flood 9%, earthquake is only 14%, here is the regional distribution of natural disasters from 1980 to 2005. You can see that Asia is one of the biggest source of disaster, it is one of the hotspot compared to any other region, when we are talking about disasters. And it is the hydro-meteorological particularly, the flood and drought which play a big share of the all disasters and disaster impacts.

The statistics indicate that earthquakes accounted for 14% and floods 9% of the total disasters in Asia, which is identified as a major disaster hotspot. Hydro-meteorological disasters, especially floods and droughts, heavily contribute to the disaster risk in this region, causing significant human and economic impacts.

Consider Asia to be like a busy intersection where a lot of traffic creates a high risk for accidents. Similarly, the concentration of natural disasters in Asian countries presents a significant risk, and just as drivers must navigate the intersection carefully, regions must be prepared to manage and mitigate the impacts of these disasters.

Here is also you can see from 1991 to 2002, the growth of disasters. So, actually it is increasing in all continents particularly in Asia, so in 1990’s and 2002, you can see in Asia’s, these disasters are actually more and more reported and more and more human losses and property damage are reported.

From 1991 to 2002, there was a noticeable increase in the number of reported disasters globally, with Asia experiencing particularly high growth. This trend indicates not only more occurrences of disaster events but also escalating human and property losses resulting from these disasters.

Imagine how a garden over time can grow more weeds if not tended to properly, leading to larger problems. Similarly, if we don't actively manage and prepare for disasters, the frequency and severity of their impact can grow significantly over time.

--