Natural Hazards: Crash Course Geography #27

Today we wrap up the first half of our series on physical geography by taking a closer look at natural hazards - which are physical processes like heat waves and cyclones, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and floods and droughts. And when these natural events cause significant harm to humans, we call them natural disasters. So today we'll explore the ways geographers analyze and track these events, and take a closer look at the human impact of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and The Boxing Day Tsunami on the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

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[MariaMartinez-researcher]

The rules of the tsunami:
If you are at the beach, and an earthquake strikes, strong enough that you can't stand or walk normally, get away from the sea as fast as you can, toward the hills or the tallest building. Don't wait for orders or official calls.
If the quake was minor, but the waters noticeably and rapidly retire from the beach, same, and faster if possible.
Same, if the waters just retire and it's not the time for the low tide. Even more so if there are news of an earthquake in a neighboring place.
Don't stop to get your things. A tsunami can arrive in 15 minutes or even less. Some water and a blanket is all what you'll immediately need.
When in a safe place, stay there for about 8 to 24 hours. After that, whatever could happen will have happened. Before that, it might be still risky to go back.
Experience: In Chilean 2010 major earthquake and tsunami, most people in the affected coast, trusting our national instinct and lore, run to the hills. The government, at the moment badly informed about the quake's magnitude, told people there was no risk of tsunami, so they could go back to their houses. Many did. The tsunami got them.
So, with all due respect toward all elected or not elected authorities, don't go back at least for a few hours.
That was a bit of very hardly earned experience for you.

[kevintan]

I think a lot of us in the Philippines have grown tired of the word resilience as it's used to wave away responsibilities and accountability in disaster risk reduction.

[Beryllahawk]

I live in Mississippi and surviving Katrina was - well it was something, I can say that much. A LOT of the Southeast US has tax problems and lacks decent infrastructure, and Katrina laid that bare for the entire world to see. I think things have gotten a little better in the years since, but there's still a heck of a way to go, because the most vulnerable people are STILL in the same position they were before; there's effort to help, but it's moving a mountain with a tablespoon measure.

Great video - looking forward to Part Two of this series!

[chelseahart]

As a Natural Hazard Mitigation Officer, I really appreciate this easy way to explain what I do!

[kingston]

A lot of the the themes in this episode speak to social vulnerability a concept promulgated by Dr. Susan Cutter in her Hazards of place model. This was a good episode. A nice transition from physical geography to human geography. I'm more of a physical geographer but I hope human geography component is interesting in the coming weeks.

[makouras]

A normal Crash Course series would've stopped here. But this one is only half way, and this is absolutely awesome!

[bethmarriott]

An example of disaster preparedness - I live in Wellington, NZ - earthquake prone and recently the building I work in was closed because it had an earthquake safety assessment and failed miserably - we are all working from home now and may not see the inside of the building again until 2024 due to earthquake strengthening. All buildings in the city have to meet certain standards regarding earthquakes specifically which is pretty cool

[alistair]

my 1st pick would be New Zealand, jungle like forests but NO SNAKES
earthquakes volcano's floods and all possible disasters but no snakes!

[MariaMartinez-researcher]

Chilean here. A saying: "It isn't the earthquake what kills you, it's the building falling on you." An aspect not touched here regarding disaster prevention was In Chile we are considerably less worried about earthquakes' effects because there is an strict set of regulations about building. Take that into account when voting for your next authorities. In Chile, building regulations are not even an arguable subject, but maybe where you live there can be a choosing between candidates who propose costly disaster preventive regulations and others who prefer to save that money for other investments with a more immediate benefit.
Choose wisely.

[mohammadvaziri]

Excellent. Very informative presentation. Thank you

[omicronsdelta]

Want to stay in the States without having to worry all that much about natural disasters, come join us here in Michigan 😉

[bradmetcalf]

I’ve seen every crash course series to date. I wasn’t super excited about this series due to a lack of understanding or excitement for the topic. But i can honestly say this was one of the best so far. Keep it up

[davidfitzpatrick]

im biased since i live here but honestly id say the best place to live in the world is ontario canada. by extreme weather measures we only get heat waves cold waves and snowstorms which are usually not too too bad. Unlike teh states where pretty much no matter where uy live u get bad extreme weather like floods tornadoes etc. Yes u have to deal with four seasons (winter ugh) but if u want to live in a place where ur life isnt at risk by the freaking weather Ontario is the best.

[eustache_dauger]

Singapore (and Malaysia) are pretty much protected by Indonesia & the Philippines from earthquake, tsunami, volcano activities & typhoon from the west, south & east. But the hot & humid climate there sucks big time.

[KayneWalshNZ]

I just realised how sad I’m going to be when this series is over 😭😭

[lululucy]

Can you make a music theory course please!! I love these videos and I need more

[sizanogreen]

I live in Baden Württemberg, the south-westernmost state of germany high up over the lower river valleys. The worst disaster here I am aware of during my lifetime was a storm that blew some tiles from some houses.

[AVGEEK]

Why is it a hazard if its natural but not a hazard if its us, humans?

[gosnooky]

I live in Cambodia. No faultlines, no volcanoes, no tornados, and Vietnam absorbs typhoons. We get some flooding in the wet season, but that's the fault of poor drainage construction.

[alexpalmer]

This is why the British Isles are a sound place to be. We basically never get anything beyond some flooding every now and then and a Gale that you would rather be inside for.
Do not even have dangerous animals. Just gotta watch out for Smackheads and Roadmen and you're safe.