3.1. Immutability of Hazards

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.

The speed of onset of a disaster is crucial for disaster risk management. Some disasters occur suddenly, like flash floods or earthquakes, where there’s little to no time for preparation. Others, such as cyclones, develop slowly, offering more time for warning and preparation. Understanding this speed allows for better risk management and response strategies.

Think of it like preparing for a race. If you know the race is going to start in a few minutes (like a flash flood), you have very little time to get ready. However, if you know the race is scheduled for next week (like a cyclone), you can train and prepare extensively.

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. And temporal spacing also very important; what time, when and it is happening, are they random, are they occurring in a cyclic process in a recurring process or they are one-time events, so these are important features when we are dealing with hazards.

Spatial dispersion refers to the areas likely to be affected by specific hazards, while temporal dispersion deals with the timing of these events. Understanding where and when hazards are likely to occur can help in planning and preparing for future events, whether they are one-time occurrences or part of a recurring pattern.

Consider planning a picnic. If you know it often rains in your area during certain months, you would likely avoid planning your picnic at that time. Similarly, knowing the areas prone to specific hazards helps in planning safety measures.

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.

Earthquakes happen when tectonic plates in the Earth’s crust interact. These plates may collide (convergent boundaries), one may slide beneath another (subduction), or they may move apart (divergent boundaries). When the pressure built up from these movements is released, it causes an earthquake.

Imagine a crowded elevator where everyone is pushing against the walls. Eventually, when the pressure is too much and someone yields, it can lead to a sudden jolt or movement similar to how an earthquake occurs when built-up pressure between tectonic plates is released.

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 are a natural part of our environment and have always existed; they will continue to occur. While we can’t avoid hazards entirely, we can learn to manage, prepare for, and respond to them effectively. Understanding their inevitability is key to strengthening disaster risk management strategies.

It's like the changing seasons; we know winter will come every year. Instead of trying to avoid it, we prepare with warm clothes and heating systems to make the season more manageable.

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.

From the statistics gathered between 1980 and 2005, floods were the most common disasters, accounting for 35% of all reported incidents. Other events, such as wind storms and earthquakes, made up a smaller percentage. This demonstrates that the majority of disaster risks are related to water and weather phenomena, which is crucial for prioritizing disaster risk management efforts.

Think of these statistics as a pie chart, where the largest slice represents floods. If you know floods contribute the most to disaster risks, you're more likely to focus on flood prevention measures, similar to how a student might spend more time studying the most difficult subjects for exams.

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.

The data shows that approximately 70% of deaths due to disasters from 1980 to 2005 were connected to hydro-meteorological factors like floods and droughts. This highlights the critical importance of addressing these types of disasters, especially in developing countries where resources and infrastructure to manage such risks may be limited.

Imagine a community that is largely dependent on agriculture. If floods or droughts strike, they may not only face loss of life but also economic devastation, similar to how a business struggling with economic downturn might be forced to shut down.

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.

Asia has been identified as a significant hotspot for disasters. The majority of disasters are related to hydro-meteorological events like floods and droughts. Understanding the regional distribution is essential for directing resources and planning interventions in the most affected areas.

Think of targeted charity work; if a charity knows that a particular region suffers from frequent floods, they’re more likely to send resources and aid to that area rather than somewhere that doesn’t experience as many 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.

Over the years from 1991 to 2002, there was an observable increase in the number of reported disasters worldwide, especially in Asia. This trend indicates that disaster incidents are becoming more frequent and highlights the importance of developing effective responses and risk reduction strategies.

Consider how increased smartphone usage has transformed how we communicate. Just as we adapt to more frequent use of technology, communities must adapt to the increasing frequency of disasters by improving their readiness and response strategies.

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