Exam 1: Hazards and Disasters

The proportion of the United States population living on or near the coastline has been decreasing slightly over the past few decades.

After a hazard event, ecosystems:

In many communities that experience disasters, the long-term economic damages caused by businesses remaining closed can have a ripple effect that makes it difficult to recover.

Who finances activities of local, state, and federal governments before, during, and after a disaster?

Over the long-term, volcanic lava and ash:

Poor and marginalized communities and individuals are much more likely to be injured, killed or displaced by a disaster.

The degree to which humans reduce emissions of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide will effect the rate that our _______ changes in the future.

While the occurrence of natural hazards such as floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes is largely beyond human control, _______________ such as oil spills or terrorism are accidentally or intentionally caused by people.

Hurricane Katrina was the most powerful hurricane that has ever made landfall in the United States.

We are experiencing more disasters than ever before in our Nation's history because

________________ refers to the concept that vulnerability to disasters is not equally distributed across society, so that both in the United States and across the world, factors such as wealth, gender, or race can impact an individual's ability to withstand hazards.

The typical costs associated with hazards that affect the built environment include:

If local goverments and states are overwhelmed by a disaster and need help covering the costs of recovery and reconstruction, they typically turn to the _____________ for disaster assistance.

Natural hazards may appear to be increasing in frequency because of all of the following except:

Suppose a powerful hurricane is approaching the Atlantic coast. Explain why this does not necessarily constitute a disaster. What factors might result in a disaster from this scenario?

Explain why disaster losses in the United States have been increasing in recent decades and provide examples to illustrate each reason.

The following are not considered types of geophysical processes involved in natural hazards:

Technological disasters, such as chemical spills, can be a secondary impacts brough on by natural hazards.

Changes in climate do not have any effect on the weather than a community experiences.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading international body assessing and publishing reports about climate change.