Natural and Technological Hazards

Running Head : Hazards

Natural and Technological Hazards

Name

College /University

Security officials , such as the branch of the United States Department of Homeland Security called the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA , the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA , United States Consumer Product Safety Commission , and other public or private disaster coordinating council , are in charge of assessing environmental conditions and situations in to determine the vulnerability , the probability , and the severity of potential natural and technological hazards in a given geographic area . Identifying these elements prior to actual disasters or

calamities helps in preventing or lessening loses or damages that will result from natural or technological hazards

There are two identified kinds of hazards that might endanger the lives of the people : natural hazards and technological hazards . Natural hazards are brought about by geologic processes . Examples of natural hazards include earthquakes , volcanic eruptions , tsunamis , landslides floods , droughts , hurricanes , tornadoes , etc (Nelson , 2007 ) The impact or the magnitude of consequences brought about by natural hazards are uncontrollable , although its occurrence is in some ways influenced by man 's daily activities and decisions . On the other hand , technological hazards are brought about technical or scientific failures that significantly affect man and the environment . Examples of technological hazards include dam failures (collapse of structure , fires (uninhibited fires in rural or developed areas , and the discharge of hazardous materials or substances to the environment , nuclear-related incidents national security hazards , power interruptions , and disruption of telecommunication lines (MBJ , 2001 ) Technological hazards , unlike natural hazards , are influenced by man-made technologies , with the extent of damages uncontrollable , and at times undetermined

Vulnerability or susceptibility as it is related to hazards describes the potential effects or consequences of natural and technological hazards and how these consequences influence the environment and human life (Nelson , 2007 ) Assessing probability and severity of hazards means the identification of potential natural or technological hazards and determining the magnitude of predicted loses and management , and how hazards will less likely or greatly produce impact to human life and the environment . Security officials are in charge of assessing these aspects of prevention , identification , rehabilitation , etc . from natural or technological hazards

FEMA established a Mitigation Directorate in to calculate risks from natural or technological hazards and implement appropriate measures to decrease loses or damages to human life , the environment , properties public establishments , etc . The Mitigation Directorate has three divisions , the Risk Analysis Division , the Risk Reduction Division , and the Risk Insurance Division (FEMA , 2008

The Risk Reduction Division oversees planning proposals for FEMA other partner organizations , and the state or federal government to implement in to prevent the potential loses or damages of natural or technological hazards . The Risk Reduction Division employs strategic engineering concepts and advanced technology to spot incoming hazards vulnerabilities , probabilities , and severities of natural and technological hazards . The Risk Reduction Division is active in controlling the operations and exploitations of lands , plans and practices in building the physical attribute of structures and establishment , and other related activities in to...