1.1 What are natural hazards?

A natural hazard is an event caused by natural processes of the Earth, such as floods, hurricanes, or earthquakes. These events can lead to social issues, like people losing their homes, and economic problems, like businesses having to close or the cost of rebuilding. If a natural hazard occurs in an area with people, it can become a disaster, with serious consequences for the community and economy there 

• Risk Acceptance: Some people weigh up the pros and cons and decide that the benefits of living in a particular place outweigh the potential dangers.

• Limited Options: Others might not have much choice about where to live, perhaps due to economic constraints or historical and familial ties to the area.

• Economic Benefits: Often, high-risk areas, like fertile floodplains or coastal regions, can offer particular economic opportunities, such as rich agriculture, fishing, or tourism industries, which can persuade people to stay despite the risks.

• Lack of Awareness: In some cases, individuals might not be fully aware of the risks, or they may underestimate the likelihood or impact of potential natural hazards.

• Urbanisation: As more people move to cities, densely populated areas can concentrate risk, especially if these urban areas are in vulnerable locations.

• Poverty: Limited financial resources can force people to live in hazardous areas or in poorly constructed buildings that are less able to withstand natural hazards.

• Farming Practices: The need for fertile land can draw people to live in risk-prone areas, such as floodplains, which are vulnerable to natural hazards.

• Climate Change: Changes in global climate patterns can increase the frequency and intensity of certain natural hazards, such as storms and droughts, leading to greater risks.

• Natural Hazards are Always Disasters: Not all natural hazards lead to disasters. A hazard only becomes a disaster when it significantly affects society, causing damage and loss.

• Hazards are Only Natural: While natural processes cause natural hazards, human actions can significantly increase the risk and impact of these hazards (e.g., poor land-use planning).

• It's possible for an area to have a high hazard risk but not experience a disaster for many years.

• Technology Can Fully Predict Hazards: While technology has improved hazard prediction, it’s not infallible. Sudden events like earthquakes can still occur with little to no warning.

• Living in a Developed Country Eliminates the Risk: Wealthier nations have more resources to cope with hazards, but they are not immune. Infrastructure and systems can still be overwhelmed by severe natural events.

• Climate Change Only Affects the Weather: Climate change impacts more than just weather patterns; it can also increase the frequency and severity of certain natural hazards, such as flooding and drought.

• People Always Have a Choice to Live in Safe Areas: Economic, social, and political factors often limit people's choices about where to live, sometimes forcing them to reside in high-risk areas.

• Disasters Affect Everyone Equally: Vulnerability to disasters can vary greatly. Often, the poorest and most marginalized groups in society suffer the most from natural disasters