Hazard and vunarability analysis SLP 2 - Essay Example

The table below shows the summary of natural disasters that took place in Japan during last 30 years. Type of Natural disasters   Number of Events (frequency) Rank Killed Rank Total Affected Rank Damage (000 US$) Rank overall priority rank Drought Drought 1   -   -   -       ave. per event     -   -   -       Total 1 4 _ 4 _ 4   4 4 Earthquake (seismic activity) Earthquake (ground shaking) 47   166164   994246   148122400       ave. per event     3535.4   21154.2   3151540.

4       Tsunami 8   6477   25319   450000       ave. per event     809.6   3164.9   56250       Total 55 2 4345 1 24319.1 2 3207790.4 1 1.5 Epidemic Bacterial Infectious Diseases 2   1   534   -       ave. per event     0.5   267   -       Viral Infectious Diseases 1   -   2000000   -       ave. per event     -   2000000   -       Total 3 4 0.5 4 2000267 1 _ 4 3.25 Extreme temperature Heat wave 3   138   18300   -       ave. per event     46   6100   -       Total 3 4 46 3 6100 3 _ 4 2.

5 Flood Unspecified 31   12814   7015269   268300       ave. per event     413.4   226299   8654.8       Flash flood 1   21   25807   1950000       ave. per event     21   25807   1950000       General flood 12   197   99266   1814000       ave. per event     16.4   8272.2   151166.7       Storm surge/coastal flood 2   34   384143   7440000       ave. per event     17   192072   3720000       total 46 2 467.8 2 452450 2 5829821.5 1 1.75 Mass movement wet Avalanche 1 4 13   -   -       ave.

per event     13   -   -       Landslide 20   989   25706   210000       ave. per event     49.5   1285.3   10500       total 21 3 62.5 3 1285.3 3 10500 2 2.75 Storm Unspecified 24   1890   192814   453500       ave. per event     78.8   8033.9   18895.8       Local storm 6   27   100499   363000       ave. per event     4.5   16749.8   60500       Tropical cyclone 109   32500   7512095   53055500       ave. per event     298.2   68918.3   486747.

7       total 139 1 381.5 2 93702 2 566143.5 2 1.75 Volcano Volcanic eruption 15   515   99979   132000       ave. per event     34.3   6665.3   8800       total 15 3 34.3 3 6665.3 3 8800 3 3 Wildfire Forest fire 1   -   222   -       ave. per event     -   222   -       total 1 4 _ 4 222 4 _ 4 4 (The International disaster Database 1) As a disaster manager for Japan, I have ranked the disaster types in terms of priority by calculating average value of the four different ranks- rank in terms of frequency, rank in terms of number of people killed, rank in terms of total affected people and rank in terms of damage to the economy.

After calculating priority rank following this criterion, I have found that earthquake is the highest priority natural disaster, whereas wildfire and drought are the lowest priority natural disasters. Earthquake has obtained the highest priority rank as it holds very high rank for each of the variable. For examples, it holds the highest rank (1) for number of people killed per event and second highest rank (2) for frequency and total affected persons. 2. The most vulnerable area of Japan to earthquake is the Northeast Pacific coast of Japan containing the cities like Tokyo, Nagoya and Kobe.

( Bachelor 1) The pacific tectonic plates are considered to be the most active source of volcano activity and the movement of the plates. However in Japan, the two tectonic plates close to northeast Pacific coast of the country are always under pressure as the plates are always expanding, close to this region. ( Bachelor 1) Reference: 1. Bachelor, Rosemary E. World's 20 Most Earthquake Prone Cities. 2010. Retrieved from http://www.suite101.com/content/worlds-20-most-earthquake-prone-cities-a209850 on 14th March, 2011. 2. The International disaster Database.

Summarized Table of Natural Disasters in Japanfrom 1900 to 2011. 2011. Retrieved from http://www.emdat.be/result-country-profile#summtable on 14th March, 2011