1. Speed of Onset in Hazard Management

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' refers to how quickly a hazard occurs after it is identified. For example, flash floods happen rapidly and often without warning, leaving little time for preparation. On the other hand, cyclones develop more slowly, allowing people to prepare and take precautions. Earthquakes present a unique challenge because they can occur suddenly with no prior warning, making it nearly impossible for individuals to prepare in advance.

Think of a flash flood as being similar to a sudden rainstorm that quickly floods a road, leaving drivers no time to find alternative routes. In contrast, a cyclone can be compared to a party invitation that gives you advance notice to prepare—like bringing snacks, cleaning the house, and inviting friends. The quicker the onset of the hazard, the less time we have to prepare.

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.

In disaster risk management, understanding the speed of onset includes not just how quickly a hazard can strike but also how often such events occur (temporal spacing). Hazards can be random, cyclic (like seasonal storms), or one-time events (like a recent earthquake). Knowing the timing and frequency of these hazards helps communities prepare better for potential disasters.

Consider how some people might regularly prepare for winter, knowing that snowstorms happen every year—this is a cyclic process. Conversely, imagine a neighborhood that has not had an earthquake in over a century and might not be prepared for a sudden quake because they view it as a one-time event.

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 primarily occur at the boundaries of tectonic plates, where two plates interact. As these plates move, they may collide, pull apart, or slide against each other. This movement can create stress and pressure, which is released suddenly as an earthquake when the built-up stress exceeds the strength of the rocks—this is a major type of hazard we focus on in disaster management.

Think of a rubber band: as you stretch it, you build up tension. Eventually, if you stretch it too much, it snaps. Similarly, tectonic plates build up tension over time until they suddenly shift, causing an earthquake.

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. One is that convergent boundaries; when two plates collide together this created the Himalayan mountain so, one way of the event of earthquake that can happen when two plates are colliding each other.

There are three main processes through which earthquakes can occur: 1) Convergent Boundaries: where two tectonic plates push against each other, possibly creating mountains like the Himalayas. 2) Subduction Zones: where one plate moves under another, often leading to significant earthquakes. 3) Divergent Boundaries: where plates move apart from each other, which can also cause earthquakes. Understanding these processes helps in predicting where earthquakes might occur.

Imagine a game of tug-of-war. When teams pull in opposite directions (like divergent boundaries), the rope may eventually break (causing an earthquake). When they push against each other (like convergent boundaries), they create tension that can lead to significant breaks in the earth's surface.

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.

It is important to recognize that hazards are an intrinsic part of our environment; they have always existed and will continue to happen. While we cannot prevent hazards themselves (like earthquakes or floods), we can work to anticipate and manage their impacts, building resilience in communities to withstand such events.

Think of natural disasters like the weather: just as we can’t stop rain from falling or snow from accumulating, we cannot stop hazards from occurring. However, we can use umbrellas and snow shovels to deal with the resultant rain and snow, just as we can prepare our communities for the impacts of hazards.

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