NATURAL HAZARDS

Difference Between a Natural Hazard and a Natural Disaster

 Natural Hazard:
Refers to a potential threat or risk arising from natural processes of the lithosphere
(e.g., tectonic activity), biosphere (e.g., ecosystems), and atmosphere (e.g., weather
events). Hazards are not inherently disastrous unless they interact with human
activities or settlements.
Example: A hurricane forming in the ocean is a natural hazard.
 Natural Disaster:
Refers to the actual effects of a hazard, particularly when it significantly impacts
human and physical landscapes. Disasters occur when the hazard affects areas with
high population density or vulnerable infrastructure.
Example: A hurricane causing widespread damage to a coastal city becomes a natural
disaster.

Link:

High-Risk Areas in the Caribbean for Natural Hazards

Caribbean countries face high risks from the following hazards:

1. Earthquakes:
Common in tectonically active zones like Haiti and Jamaica.
2. Hurricanes:
Frequent during the Atlantic hurricane season (June–November); countries like the
Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and Dominica are particularly vulnerable.
3. Volcanoes:
Areas near active volcanoes, such as Montserrat and St. Vincent, are at high risk.
4. Landslides:
Occur in hilly or mountainous regions, especially after heavy rains, as seen in St.
Lucia and Dominica.
5. Flooding:
 Low-lying coastal areas and river basins in Trinidad, Guyana, and Jamaica often
experience severe flooding.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pO-7nfep5I

Effects of Natural Hazards and Disasters

Short-Term Effects:

 Human: Loss of lives, injuries, displacement, and psychological trauma.

 Economic: Damage to infrastructure, businesses, and agriculture.
 Environmental: Immediate destruction of ecosystems, soil erosion, and
contamination of water sources.

Long-Term Effects:

 Human: Long-term health issues, homelessness, and disruption of communities.

 Economic: Economic stagnation due to rebuilding costs and loss of livelihoods.
 Environmental: Permanent changes to landscapes, such as loss of arable land or
destruction of biodiversity.

Responses to Natural Hazards and Disasters in the Caribbean

Key Actors in the Caribbean:

 Individuals: Creating disaster preparedness plans and securing property.

 National Agencies: Governments coordinating evacuation and providing relief (e.g.,
Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management).
 Regional Agencies: Organizations like the Caribbean Disaster Emergency
Management Agency (CDEMA) supporting regional preparedness and response.

Disaster Management
Disaster management refers to the process of effectively preparing for and responding to
disasters. Many Caribbean countries are at risk of various natural hazards such as hurricanes,
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. These hazards often cause disasters in various territories
within the region. This highlights the need for effective disaster management.

The Disaster Management Cycle

The disaster management cycle refers to the process by which governments and other
organizations reduce vulnerability to, plan for, react to and recover from the impacts of
hazards. The steps in the disaster management cycle are:

Mitigation: This refers to steps which are taken in advance to reduce the potential impact of
hazards. Mitigation measures include establishing building codes, land use management,
zoning and warning systems.

Preparedness: This refers to steps taken to ensure that organizations, communities and
individuals are ready to respond in the event of a disaster. This includes creating strategies
and procedures to respond to disasters, public education and awareness campaigns and
creating reserves of equipment, food and water for use in the event of a disaster.

Response: This refers to actions taken during and immediately after the disaster. They
include search and rescue, emergency medical assistance, providing food and water to and
setting up temporary shelters for affected people. Humanitarian organizations such as the
Red Cross and USAID often assist during this phase.

Recovery: This involves efforts after a disaster to restore housing, infrastructure, economies
and other aspects of life to normal. Recovery efforts may also include counselling programs
for affected individuals. International organizations such as the World Bank and governments
of developed countries such as the USA often provide assistance in the recovery process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_3pyCZ3C4Y

A diagram showing the steps in the disaster management cycle is shown below.
CASE STUDY:

The 2010 Haitian Earthquake

The 2010 earthquake in Haiti is one of the most devastating natural disasters in recent
history, with widespread impacts on human life, infrastructure, and the country's
development.

Overview

 Date: January 12, 2010

 Time: 4:53 PM local time
 Magnitude: 7.0 on the Richter scale
  Epicenter: Near Léogâne, approximately 25 km (15 miles) west of the capital, Port-
au-Prince.
 Depth: 13 km (8.1 miles)

Causes

 The earthquake occurred along the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden Fault Zone, a strike-
slip fault between the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates.
 The region is tectonically active, with significant stress buildup from the movement of
these plates.

Immediate Impacts

1. Human Toll:
o Estimated 230,000 deaths and over 300,000 injuries.
o More than 1.5 million people displaced.
o Thousands were trapped under collapsed buildings.
2. Infrastructure Damage:
o Around 250,000 homes and 30,000 commercial buildings were destroyed or
severely damaged.
o Major facilities, including the Presidential Palace, National Assembly, and the
main Port-au-Prince Cathedral, were destroyed.
o Transportation infrastructure, including roads, ports, and the main airport, was
heavily damaged.
3. Economic Consequences:
o Total damage estimated at $7.8–$8.5 billion, nearly 120% of Haiti's GDP at the
time.
o Significant loss of businesses, schools, and healthcare facilities.
4. Environmental Impact:
o Landslides in hilly areas worsened the destruction.
 o Lack of proper sanitation led to water contamination and disease outbreaks.

Aftermath and Long-Term Effects

1. Health Crisis:
o A cholera outbreak emerged in October 2010, killing over 10,000 people and
sickening hundreds of thousands.
o Overwhelmed healthcare systems struggled to provide adequate treatment.
2. Displacement:
o Many displaced individuals lived in temporary shelters for years, with
inadequate access to clean water, sanitation, and education.
3. Economic Stagnation:
o Recovery was slow due to Haiti’s pre-existing economic fragility.
o Agricultural and commercial productivity declined sharply.
4. Social and Psychological Impacts:
o Families were separated, and many children became orphans.
o Survivors faced long-term psychological trauma.

Responses to the Earthquake

1. Local Responses:
o Immediate efforts by Haitian citizens to rescue survivors using minimal
resources.
o Local emergency services were overwhelmed due to limited capacity.
2. International Responses:
o Widespread humanitarian aid from organizations such as the United Nations,
Red Cross, and Doctors Without Borders.
o The U.S. and other countries deployed military forces to assist in rescue and
relief operations.
 o Pledges of $9 billion in international aid, though only a fraction was disbursed
effectively.
3. Challenges in Response:
o Poor infrastructure and lack of coordination delayed aid delivery.
o Corruption and inefficiency hindered rebuilding efforts.
4. Reconstruction Efforts:
o Efforts to "build back better" included improving housing, education, and
healthcare infrastructure.
o However, progress was slow due to limited resources and governance
challenges.

Lessons Learned

 Preparedness and Resilience: The disaster highlighted the importance of disaster

preparedness, including stricter building codes, early warning systems, and emergency
response planning.
 International Aid Coordination: Better coordination among international agencies is
essential for efficient disaster relief and reconstruction.
 Sustainable Development: Addressing underlying vulnerabilities such as poverty,
weak governance, and poor infrastructure can reduce the impact of future disasters.

The 2010 Haitian earthquake remains a tragic reminder of the devastating effects of natural
disasters, particularly in vulnerable and underprepared regions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-a261PjBmc