An overview of the project disaster management
Answers
A serious disruption of the functioning of society which poses a significant, widespread threat to human life, health, property or the environment, whether arising from accident, nature or human activity, whether developing suddenly or as the result of long term processes, but excluding armed conflict.” [International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), 2007]
Key components of this definition are:
There is a serious disruption of society
There is a widespread threat to human life, property, and the environment
The disaster is caused by natural or man-made hazards
Hurricane Katrina
August 29, 2005
Fatalities: 1,422
Individuals homeless: 770,000
Jobless: 400,000
No power for 2.5 M homes
Damages from Hurricane Katrina now estimated between $152-$200 billion
Was there a disruption of society? Was there a threat to human life, property, and environment? Was the disaster caused by natural or man-made hazards?
Yes, Katrina definitely fits this definition.
Hazards cause disasters. Hazards can be natural, or man-made. Were the hazards which caused Katrina natural or man-made? The hurricane was clearly a natural hazard when it made landfall. But the poorly maintained levee system and building the city below sea level were clearly man-made hazards. Thus, the levees in New Orleans were the man-made hazard that became a disaster once the natural hazard of Hurricane Katrina occurred.
Disasters can be classified by timing.
Immediate
Onset is immediate, without warning, such as earthquakes or explosions. It is generally unpredictable.
Example: Christchurch Earthquake
Christchurch earthquake
Photo by Sharon Davis / CC BY-NC 2.0
Rapid
Onset comes with little warning, such as hurricanes. It is relatively predictable.
Example: Hurricane Katrina