Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

Hazards that affect the built environment can have economic, social, and environmental costs. Economic costs may include damage to buildings or infrastructure, loss of productivity, and increased insurance premiums. Social costs may include displacement of people, loss of community, and psychological trauma. Environmental costs may include contamination of water, air, or soil, and damage to natural habitats. Therefore, all of the above options are potential costs associated with hazards in the built environment.

Question 2

After a hazard event, ecosystems:

Accepted Answer

Ecosystems have the potential to regenerate and sustain plant and animal life after a hazard event. This is a natural process, where the natural regrowth of plant life can stabilize soil, leading to the growth of new habitats and an eventual return of animal life.

Question 3

Over the long-term, volcanic lava and ash:

Accepted Answer

Volcanic lava and ash contain many nutrients that can enrich the soil, making it fertile for new plant growth. Over time, this can lead to the formation of rich, productive agricultural lands. Therefore, volcanic activity can have beneficial long-term effects on the environment.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Geographical refers to the physical features and composition of the earth's surface, and is not a type of geophysical process involved in natural hazards. The other choices (extraterrestrial, hydrological, and meteorological) all relate to physical processes that can lead to natural hazards.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

The Saffir-Simpson scale is used by meteorologists to measure the intensity of hurricanes. The Richter scale is used by seismologists to measure the magnitude of earthquakes. The Modified Mercalli scale is also used by seismologists to measure the intensity of earthquakes. Therefore, all three scales are used by different types of scientists to measure different hazards, making D the best choice.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

Strong building codes would actually decrease the impact and frequency of natural hazards. The other options are all factors that can contribute to the perception of increasing frequency of natural hazards.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

As our population continues to grow, more development occurs in areas that are prone to natural disasters such as floodplains, coastlines, and wildfire-prone areas. This means that more people and more property are in harm's way than ever before, leading to an increase in disaster occurrences.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

The activities of local, state, and federal governments before, during, and after a disaster are financed by the taxpayers through taxes and other forms of revenue. FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security may provide aid and funding, but ultimately the cost is borne by the taxpayers. The federal government may also provide additional funding in the form of disaster relief programs, but this funding ultimately comes from tax dollars as well.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

This is because they often live in areas that are more vulnerable to disasters, such as flood-prone or earthquake-prone areas, and they may lack the resources to prepare for or recover from the impact of a disaster. Additionally, they may face barriers in accessing emergency response and relief efforts.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

The statement is true, the IPCC is indeed 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.

Accepted Answer

Changes in climate can affect the weather patterns of a community in various ways, such as increased frequency of extreme weather events, changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, and altered seasonal cycles.

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.

Accepted Answer

When businesses remain closed, it can lead to lost income for employees, decreased tax revenues for the local government, and a decrease in tourism and consumer spending, all of which can prolong the recovery process.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

Hurricane Katrina was one of the deadliest and costliest hurricanes in U.S. history, but not the most powerful in terms of wind speed or pressure at landfall. Hurricanes like Camille (1969) and the Labor Day Hurricane (1935) were more intense in terms of their pressure and wind speeds when they made landfall.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

The proportion of the United States population living on or near the coastline has been increasing, driven by factors such as the appeal of coastal living, economic opportunities, and urbanization trends, especially in areas like the East and West Coasts.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

Natural hazards such as floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes can cause damage to infrastructure and industry, leading to technological disasters such as chemical spills, nuclear accidents, and oil spills.

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.

Accepted Answer

The answer of While the occurrence of natural hazards such...

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.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Sometimes referred to as the "CNN syndrome,"...

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.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________________ refers to the concept that vulnerability...

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.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The degree to which humans reduce emissions...

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.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If local goverments and states are overwhelmed...

Quiz 1: Hazards and Disasters