What is a Hazard?


The word ‘hazard’ owes its origin to the word ‘hasard’ in old French and ‘az-zahr’ in Arabic meaning ‘chance’ or‘luck’. Hazard may be defined as “a dangerous condition or event, that threat or have the potential for causing injury to life or damage to property or the environment.”

Any hazard – flood, earthquake or cyclone along with greater vulnerability (inadequate access to resources, sick and old people, lack of awareness etc.) would lead to disaster causing greater loss to life and property.
For example; an earthquake in an uninhabited desert cannot be considered a disaster, no matter how strong the intensities produced. An earthquake is disastrous only when it affects people, their properties and activities. Thus,disaster occurs only when hazards and vulnerability meet. Also, with greater capacity of the individual/community and environment to face these disasters,it reduces the hazard pressures.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Sattiriya Dance

The Chola Period marks a distinct and significant period in the art and architecture of India

Interior of the Earth