Natural Hazards
Authors
The information in this chapter was prepared by Robert Gomez, Risk Management and Safety Services, Arizona State University.
Discussion
Natural hazards are viewed as natural events in which their incidence and severity may be increased or decreased by human management practices.
Natural hazards such as drought, earthquakes, flooding, lightning, and wildfires present unique threats to the environment and human health. The direct effects of these events can be somewhat quantified when there is loss of habitat, property and life.
Indirect human health consequences, however, may be more difficult to assess. For example, it would be difficult to calculate the spread of communicable diseases resulting from the destruction of sanitary sewer treatment plants.
The available data relative to deaths attributed to natural hazards are shown in Table 10.1 (Miela, 1990). This information provides a perspective for examining other environmental risks.
Table 10.1 Deaths of Arizona Residents Due to Selected Natural Factors
------------------------------------------------------------------ | Natural Hazard Cause of Death | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | ================================================================== | Excessive heat or cold | 51 | 31 | 35 | 45 | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | Lightning | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1 | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | Storms and floods | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | Totals | 54 | 38 | 40 | 47 | ------------------------------------------------------------------