Natural Disasters

Disaster Event: powerful event that causes substantial disorganization, disruption, or destruction to an area, community, or series of communities

Natural Disaster: a disaster that is caused by natural (nonhuman) factors

Characteristics of Natural Disasters

• Usually sudden• Usually unpredictable • Uncontrollable• Destructive• Acute• Usually clear low point• Limited area of victims

What Affects the Impact of Natural Disasters on Victims?

• Event duration• Event severity and life threat• Clear and early low point• Warning• Preparedness of community• Social cohesion of community• Property/possession loss• Financial loss• Separation from family• Death or injury of relative or friend• Witnessing injury or death

Technological Catastrophes

Technological Catastrophe: a disaster event that is caused by man-made factors and interventions

Examples of Technological Catastrophes

• Scarborough: radioactive wasteland

• Stouffville: chemical waste dump

• Pickering Nuclear Plant: the next Chernobyl?

Characteristics of Technological Catastrophes

• Sudden• Unpredictable• Often no clear low point• Perceptions of control altered• Extent of effects unclear• Expanded area of victims• Disquieting publicity• Loss of trust in government officials• Feelings of anger/betrayal by authorities• Damage may not be visible

Natural Disasters vs. Technological Catastrophes (Veitch & Arkkelin, 1995)

CHARACTERISTIC OF EVENT

NATURAL DISASTER TECHNOLOGICAL CATASTROPHE

SIZE -Often large geographical area directly affected

-Response from remote geographical locales is that it probably won’t happen here

-Often only small geographical areas directly affected

-Response from remote locales is: When will it happen here?

PROPORTION OF POPULATION AFFECTED

-Nearly everyone in immediate locale

-Only some in more remote locales

-Nearly everyone directly in immediate locale

-Many others indirectly from afar

VISIBILITY -Usually environment is disfigured with homes, businesses, etc. visually destroyed

- Can be both visible and invisible destruction

Natural Disasters vs. Technological Catastrophes (Veitch & Arkkelin, 1995)

CHARACTERISTIC OF EVENT

NATURAL DISASTER TECHNOLOGICAL CATASTROPHE

RAPIDITY OF INVOLVEMENT/ PREDICTABILITY

-Usually abrupt, though some hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. are forecast with some lead time

-Usually sudden (e.g., dam breaks)

-Exception: e.g., toxic waste leakage which is more insidious)

LENGTH OF INVOLVEMENT/ EVENT DURATION

-Often short duration (acute)

-Often identifiable low point

-Often effects are short-lived (but rebuilding can take time)

-May be relatively short-lived (e.g., plane crash)

-May be long-lasting (chronic; e.g., toxic leak)

-Sometimes no clear low point

PERCEPTION OF CONTROLLABILITY

-Not usually viewed as controllable

-Usually perceived as a loss or usurpation of control

Risk Perception:Heuristics/Shortcuts/General Inferential Rules

• Certainty: denial of uncertainty

• Availability: an event is more probable if it can be recalled

• Worst case: judgement based upon worst possible outcome

Effects of Natural Disasters and Technological Catastrophes

• No panic; stunned and numb response• Stress-related responses

– Anxiety– Depression– Nightmares and flashbacks– Phobias– Mood disturbances– Physical symptoms (e.g., pain, nausea)

Hans Selye1907-1982

• Selye was the pioneer in stress theory.

• Stress was defined as the nonspecific response of the body to any demands made upon it.

General Adaptation Syndrome: Hans Selye

• Alarm reaction (flight or fight)

• Resistance (adaptation—coping responses, but at a cost to the individual)

• Exhaustion (may lead to death if stress is prolonged)