What Is the Difference Between a Natural Hazard and a Natural Disaster?

Tsunami Sign

Natural hazards and natural disasters share similar traits; in the fact they are geographical occurrences. Where they differ is in the affect on the human population and property damage. Natural hazards are the event itself while a natural disaster is the affect of that event on people. These geographical events can occur in all areas of the Earth including its atmosphere.

Natural Hazard

Flood

Natural hazards include events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, volcanoes and earthquakes. Classified as natural hazards as they have the potential to cause havoc and great damage. Droughts and pestilence affecting crops as well as wildfires created by lightning storms round out the main sources of natural hazards.

Natural Disaster

Volcano

Natural disasters occur when there is loss of life and property damage due to a natural hazard such as a tsunami, volcano or earthquake. Natural disasters are as varied as the sources that cause them. Flooding can be caused by hurricanes or severe storms as well as flash flooding and can sweep away houses and cars easily. Wind damage created by hurricanes and tornadoes can be devastating.

Worst Natural Disaster

Hurricane

Natural disasters have affected all corners of the world with possible threats coming from space such as asteroids. The worst ever recorded natural disasters are usually calculated in the loss of life as well as property damage. Some well-known disasters had low loss of life and high insurance costs, while others have a much higher cost in human life. For instance, the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake in 2004, which triggered a tsunami, killed 275,000 people.

Hurricane Katrina, however, devastated New Orleans in 2005 killing approximately 1,000 people, but the property damage totaled $30 billion in insurance costs. New Orleans struggled to get back on its feet after this storm and could feel its affect for years.

Asteroid Threat

Asteroid

Asteroids have hit Earth in the past to catastrophic consequences; evidenced in the extinction of the dinosaurs millions of years ago. While the threat from an asteroid is pretty slim, the fact remains there will come a time when the Earth will be impacted by one. An asteroid impact can not only affect sea levels, create tsunamis and cause earthquakes--they can also raise so much dust into the atmosphere it can block out the sun.

Disaster Prevention

While there is really no way to prevent a natural disaster from happening you can be prepared for one. Knowledge of which natural hazards could be a threat to you is important to knowing how to prepare for them. Develop a plan for your family including where to meet in case of an emergency. Stock up on canned foods and bottled water as well as any first aid supplies you require. Know your evacuation route and where any potential shelters are well ahead of any disaster occurring.

References

• Connexions: The Difference Between Natural Hazards and Natural Disasters
• Nims Online: What is the Difference Between Natural Hazards and Disasters
• Department of Earth and Natural Sciences: 10 Worst Natural Disasters
• NASA: Natural Hazards

Resources

• National Geographic: Natural Disasters
• NOAA: Be Prepared