Natural disaster risk assessment and risk management
Trend analysis
A lot of the increase in the number of natural disasters in the IUB community reported is probably because of considerable improvements in accessing the relevant information, but the number of tornadoes and floods reported is still on the rise compared to earthquakes and epidemics.
Expert opinion
Many experts in the geographical departments state that floods are the most common natural disasters that occur in Indiana. However, the increase of natural disasters in the IUB community poses a few questions. Is the increase of natural disasters occurring because of a noteworthy advancement in access to the relevant information What role does infrastructure advancement and population growth play in the increase of natural disasters in Indiana Is climate change the real reason why natural disasters are on the rise in Indiana
Analysis
The frequency for a tornado occurring in Indiana is roughly twenty-seven miles, any one month of the year in any part of the state of Indiana. A result of this is that the IUB community experience tornados frequently. Recent estimates have placed the combination of wind speed, ground speed and upper winds at roughly 300mph. Tornados that have occurred in the IUB community are known to strike quickly with no warning (Bradford, Carmichael George, 2001). The tornados are reported to appear almost see-through, until a funnel picks up the debris and dust. The peak tornado season reported in the state of Indiana is March through June and is mostly likely to occur between 4pm and 9.30pm. However, the community has learnt how to be prepared in case of one.
Floods occur frequently in the IUB community, especially because Indiana is located in the Great Lakes region, and floods are the most common natural disaster in Indiana. A flood can develop over a short period, for instance in a few weeks. However, the IUB community takes the necessary measures before flooding can occur in the community. Most residents contact their insurance agents if they are residing in a flood plain. However, a majority of insurance companies in the state of Indiana do not include the damage caused by floods. The relevant authorities in the IUB community advise the residents to evacuate their homes if there is a risk of flooding, get to higher ground if doable, not to drive through any flood water as flood waters can wash away most vehicles. They are also advised not to drive through rushing floodwater in a road, as it is risky and to keep listening to the national radio for any possible step of actions to take.
Indianas vulnerability to floods and tornados.
Vulnerability is the reduced capacity of a group to predict, cope with, recover and resist from the impact of a natural disaster. The state of Indiana has been vulnerable because of the number of natural disasters it has endured. Indiana is one of the most tornado vulnerable states in the whole country. The nature of the population in the IUB community at risk from tornados is roughly ten percent of its population, which are about 6,377,796 residents (Stoltman, Lindstone Dechano, 2004). The number of Indianas residents at risk from the floods is about seven percent of its population. These residents are likely to reside near the great Mississippi River, which is known to burst its banks frequently if a lot of rain occurs.
Most of the structures found on the IUB community are mainly residential homes, commercial buildings, hospitals, schools and others. If there is a warning that a tornado can occur, the residents of Indiana are usually advised to stay tuned to the weather radio, look for danger signs such as dark sky, large dark cloud and a loud roar that is similar to a cargo train.
Tornados that have occurred in the IUB community usually leave behind a great impact on the economy, of the state as well as social impact. The social impacts of tornados that have occurred in the state of Indiana are fatalities, injuries and a lot of stress from the residents who have lost their loved ones to the tornados. The economic impact includes loss of revenue from lost production in the thriving Indiana businesses and many industries, as well as negative blow of economic multipliers (Marshall, 2008). The impact of the tornados on the commercial and residential buildings is the extensive damage to property, loss of landscaping and many trees, destruction and damage of vehicles, trains and airplanes. The tornados also interrupt electricity, communication wires, drinking water and the transportation network in the IUB community.
Flooding is the most significant natural disaster in the IUB community. Flooding occurs almost every year and it is not strange for numerous floods to occur in a year. The most likely type of flood that occurs in Indiana is flash flooding. This type of flooding happens throughout the whole state. It occurs frequently in the summer and spring seasons (Wheeler, 2002). Floods that have occurred in the IUB community in the past have led to the destruction of the properties that are near the water areas like the River Mississippi. The social impacts of the floods are injuries and fatalities. The floods also leave an impact on the environment and there is a risk of contaminated water, because in most cases of flooding, the sewer systems break down. However, the authorities in the IUB community have done a great job in the past with efficiently sanitizing drinking water to avoid water-borne diseases.
The impact of these two natural disasters in the IUB community is quite momentous as discussed above. Different sectors of the IUB community are directly affected due to this. For instance, most schools close down when floods have occurred in the state. However, the rescue teams are well equipped and trained to deal with these disasters although most of them prove to be extremely challenging. However, the IUB community has continued to be at risk of tornados and floods occurring due to its geographical location and partly due to the climate change that has continued to be witnessed worldwide.
Risk Assessment
The natural disasters that occur in the IUB community have continued to pose a great risk to the property and the people of this community. Because of the eccentricity in the state of Indianas geology, geography, there is a higher likelihood that the state is at risk of natural disasters like floods and tornados. Floods are more likely to occur frequently because of the heavy rains that occur in most parts of the State. Tornadoes are likely to occur and the probability of one occurring is in a year. However, this community is also at a risk of wildfires and subsidence, although these occur rarely. According to (Schneid Collins, 2001), there have been no acknowledged subsidences in the developed areas of he IUB community. Additionally, most of he coal mines, which are usually underground, as well as the karsts topography in the community, that would be a cause of these subsidence happenings are to be found in the southern rural farming areas that are sparsely populated.
The IUB community is also at a risk for some manmade disasters. Usually, these manmade disasters result from the residents pursuit to control the natural resources, for instance, they have built levees to protect farming land, which because of development now are situated between residential and floodwaters. Dams that have been constructed to conserve and provide water to the residents, or prevent the communitys rivers from flooding are the most common recipes for manmade disasters in the IUB community. However, the collapse of these dams can destroy the community as well its resources.
Nevertheless, in most cases, the natural disasters as well as the manmade disasters result to temporary problems to the residents of the IUB community. However, the natural disasters discussed above have the capability to destroy residential properties, lives as well as the economy.
Some measures have been put in place to ensure the earliest detection of tornados and floods that may occur in the state of Indiana. The Indiana state Hazard mitigation council was created to track the following to identify the risks that may affect the state of Indiana. These are
review of the up to date flood rate maps
Evaluation of past Indianas disaster declarations
Assessment of accessible improvement plans, as well as disaster analysis documentation.
The use of HAZUS-MH, to access the state of Indianas vulnerability for tornados.
Evaluation of risk review data from various organizations in Indiana
Assessment of information provided by geological studies that have been accomplished as a two-way effort between the state of Indiana Geological survey and the IDHS.
Disaster preparation plan
When preparing for a flood, the citizens of the IUB community should
Communicate with the relevant state officials to find out if there are plans to construct barriers such as levees, to stop water from the floods from entering the residential areas in Indiana.
Lift up the electricity panel, water heater and furnace if vulnerable to flooding.
Inaugurate check valves in sewer traps to thwart floodwater from backing up into the drains of the residential areas.
Seal the walls in the basements of the residential homes with waterproof components to evade seepage.
When preparing for a tornado, the IUB community should
Immediately go to the lowest level in a house or strong building,, such as a basement or a closet and stay away from corners.
If in a vehicle or a mobile home, immediately get out and go to the lowest level in a building as described above as mobile homes offer very little protection from a natural disaster with a high magnitude like a tornado.
If a resident is outside with no shelter immediately available, they are advised to lie down in a flat area and cover their heads with their hands, although not under a bridge.
Conclusion
There is a high likelihood of a tornado and floods occurring in the state of Indiana. The probability of a tornado happening is one in every year and the probability of floods occurring is several times in a year. Both these two natural disasters leave disastrous results in Indiana. The most common impacts are loss of electricity power, water-borne diseases because of the contamination of drinking water with floodwater.
Increased population as well as the eradication of unpaved earth and normal ground cover has augmented the residents of the IUB community to vulnerability and exposure to flooding and tornados. Concurrently, citizens of the IUB community have shown a noteworthy increase in interest in shielding their state from the devastating costs of unadulterated natural disasters. Additionally, the IUB communitys strategy is intended to eliminate or reduce the risk from the natural disasters without moving back the value of life of the citizens of the state of Indiana. The IUB community has restricted development of property in the floodways are examples of the efforts that the State of Indiana has accomplished in its mitigation efforts.
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