Knowra Disaster Disaster A sudden event or sequence of events that causes severe harm, damage, or disruption to people, property, or the environment. Its effects arise from hazards interacting with exposed and vulnerable communities.
Hazard : A potentially damaging event, process, or condition that can cause harm to people, property, or the environment. A hazard becomes disastrous when it affects exposed people or assets.
Natural hazard : A naturally occurring process or phenomenon that can cause injury, death, property damage, or environmental harm. Earthquakes, floods, and storms are natural hazards that can trigger disasters.
Disaster risk reduction : Policies and actions that prevent new disaster risk, reduce existing risk, and manage residual risk. It aims to limit losses before hazards strike.
2010 Haiti earthquake : A magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck near Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010, causing catastrophic destruction and loss of life. Its toll reflected severe shaking alongside concentrated exposure and fragile infrastructure.
Displacement (human migration) : The forced movement of people from their homes or habitual places of residence. Disasters can make homes unsafe or uninhabitable, forcing temporary or lasting movement.
Exposure (risk) : The presence of people, infrastructure, or other valued assets in places that could be affected by hazards. Exposure determines which people and assets lie in a hazard’s path.
Technological disaster : A disaster caused by failures or accidents involving technology, infrastructure, or industrial systems. Industrial accidents and infrastructure failures show that disasters need not begin with nature.
Disaster preparedness : Planning, training, and resourcing undertaken to anticipate hazards and respond effectively when they occur. Preparedness improves readiness for warnings, evacuation, and emergency response.
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami : A magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011. The cascading event included a nuclear accident and prolonged displacement.
Public health emergency : An event or condition posing a serious threat to population health and requiring urgent public-health action. Injuries, disease, and disrupted care can turn disaster impacts into a health emergency.
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