Knowra Natural disaster Natural disaster A destructive event driven by natural processes that causes significant harm to people, property, or the environment. Its effects depend on both the physical hazard and the exposure and vulnerability of affected communities.
Natural hazard : A natural process or phenomenon with the potential to cause harm to people, property, or the environment. The hazard is the physical event; disaster describes severe consequences when it meets exposed, vulnerable communities.
Earthquake : The sudden shaking of the ground caused by movement along faults or by volcanic activity. Earthquakes can cause collapse, landslides, fires, and tsunamis in a short interval.
Disaster risk reduction : Policies and measures that prevent new disaster risks, reduce existing risks, and manage residual risks. It targets the conditions that turn natural hazards into disasters.
Disaster mortality : Deaths directly or indirectly caused by a disaster during and after its occurrence. Mortality measures the gravest immediate human consequence, while indirect deaths may follow later.
Technological disaster : A destructive event caused by failures or accidents involving technology, industry, or infrastructure. Its initiating cause is technological failure rather than a natural process.
Disaster risk : The potential for disaster losses arising from hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and capacity. Risk captures how likely natural processes are to produce damaging consequences.
Tropical cyclone : A rotating low-pressure storm that forms over warm tropical or subtropical waters. Cyclones combine destructive winds, heavy rain, and coastal storm surge.
Early warning system : A system that monitors hazards and communicates timely information so people can act before impacts. Warnings can create time to evacuate or protect assets before an event strikes.
Displacement (human migration) : The forced movement of people from their homes, often because of conflict, disaster, or development projects. Destruction and danger can force people to leave temporarily or permanently.
Humanitarian emergency : A crisis that threatens lives and well-being and requires urgent humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian emergencies describe urgent needs, whatever their cause, rather than a hazard category.
Show all 29