Deck 1: Hazards and Disasters

Question 1

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

A) economic
B) social
C) environmental
D) all of the above

Answer 1

D

Question 2

After a hazard event, ecosystems:

A) can cause human-made disasters
B) fail to sustain further plant life
C) can regenerate and plant and animal life can begin anew
D) lose their ability to regenerate animal life

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Over the long-term, volcanic lava and ash:

A) prevent future plant growth
B) form fertile soils that stimulate new plant growth
C) do not produce any beneficial results as compared to other natural hazards
D) remain unchanging components in the delicate balance of nature

Answer 3

B

Question 4

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

A) extraterrestrial
B) geographical
C) hydrological
D) meteorological

Question 5

Systems of hazard measurement used by meteorologists, hydrologists, and other scientists include:

A) Saffir-Simpson scale
B) Richter scale
C) Modified Mercalli scale
D) all of the above

Question 6

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

A) heightened media exposure
B) increased development in vulnerable areas
C) strong building codes
D) the effects of climate change

Question 7

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

A) Disasters tend to occur in 50 year cycles
B) Developers are motivated more by profit than by building environmentally friendly structures
C) The population doesn't take disaster preparation seriously
D) More development and more people are in harm's way than ever before

Question 8

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

A) the taxpayers
B) FEMA
C) Department of Homeland Security
D) the federal government

Question 9

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

Question 10

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

Question 11

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

Question 12

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.

Question 13

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

Question 14

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

Question 15

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

Question 16

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.

Question 17

Sometimes referred to as the "CNN syndrome," our increased awareness of disasters worldwide through the internet and social media makes it appear that there are ______________ natural disasters.

Question 18

________________ 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.

Question 19

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.

Question 20

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.

Question 21

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?

Question 22

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