Question 1

While hazards are a function of the natural world, vulnerability to disasters is a function of

Accepted Answer

Hazards are natural phenomena that can potentially cause harm or damage, but vulnerability to disasters depends on human actions and behaviors. For example, the same natural hazard may result in different levels of damage and impact on different communities based on their level of preparedness, infrastructure, and emergency response capacity. Therefore, reducing vulnerability requires a focus on addressing social, economic, and political factors that contribute to risk and exposure to hazards.

Question 2

During the decade between 2000 and 2009, 54 weather and climate disaster exceeded $1_______, compared with 27 such events between 1980 and 1989.

Accepted Answer

The comparison is between the number of weather and climate disasters that exceeded $1 million between two decades, 2000-2009 and 1980-1989. In order to be able to compare the economic impact of these disasters, it is necessary to use the same unit of measurement, which is dollars. Therefore, the correct choice is C, billion, as it is the only unit that can appropriately represent the economic impact of such disasters.

Question 3

Former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, explained that building a culture of disaster prevention is difficult due to the fact that:

Accepted Answer

Building a culture of disaster prevention is difficult because the benefits of taking action lie in the future, making it difficult to prioritize prevention over immediate needs or concerns.

Question 4

Research about the value of mitigation suggests that for every dollar invested in mitigation, _____ dollars are saved.

Accepted Answer

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), for every dollar invested in mitigation, there is an average of four dollars in potential savings. This means that investing in mitigation measures can ultimately lead to significant cost savings in the event of a disaster.

Question 5

Which of the following is a communication strategy to help the public understand and take actions to reduce risk?

Accepted Answer

All three communication strategies listed are effective in helping the public understand and take actions to reduce risk. Highlighting the benefits of personal actions can motivate individuals to take action, while encouraging people to consider helping the more vulnerable promotes altruism and empathy. Starting with small actions that are easy to adopt can help build momentum and encourage people to take more significant actions in the future.

Question 6

As watersheds are developed, the increase in ____________, such as pavement and rooftops, causes more water from a storm to run off the land's surface into the drainage system and streams, and usually at a faster pace, than was the case before development.

Accepted Answer

Impervious surfaces, such as pavement and rooftops, prevent water from soaking into the ground and instead cause it to run off into streams and drainage systems at a faster pace than natural surfaces would. Porous surfaces would have the opposite effect, allowing water to soak in and reducing runoff. Mall construction is too specific and not necessarily relevant to all developments.

Question 7

____________________ is a method of using natural areas and ecological systems as a form of infrastructure to mitigate hazards and enhance the ecological health of an area.

Accepted Answer

Green infrastructure is the method of using natural areas and ecological systems as a form of infrastructure to mitigate hazards and enhance the ecological health of an area. It involves using natural processes like wetlands, green roofs, and rain gardens to manage stormwater, reduce urban heat island effect, and improve air quality. Organic, bio-engineering, and natural living are not the appropriate terms to describe this concept.

Question 8

Which of the following resources provides information that planners or emergency managers could use to incorporate the best available data during a risk assessment?

Accepted Answer

All three resources (National Climate Assessment, State Climatologists, Climate Data Initiative) provide valuable information for planners or emergency managers to incorporate during a risk assessment. The National Climate Assessment provides information on the potential impacts of climate change across the United States, including changes in temperature, precipitation, and extreme weather events. State Climatologists can provide localized data and analysis on climate trends, weather events, and potential risks to specific regions or communities. The Climate Data Initiative provides access to a range of climate-related data sets, tools, and resources that can be used for risk assessment and planning purposes. Therefore, choosing all three resources would allow planners or emergency managers to access a wide range of data and information to inform their risk assessments.

Question 9

Every state has a State Hazard Mitigation Officer who provides support to local communities carrying out mitigaiton planning.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Each state has a State Hazard Mitigation Officer who is responsible for supporting local communities in carrying out hazard mitigation planning.

Question 10

Both the Netherlands and the United States build flood protection systems that predict communities up to the 100-year storm event.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Both the Netherlands and the United States...

Question 11

Due to mitigation efforts implemented around the United States, disaster losses have declined significantly over the last few decades.

Accepted Answer

Despite mitigation efforts, disaster losses in the United States have increased, largely due to factors such as climate change, urbanization in vulnerable areas, and the increasing value of infrastructure and property in harm's way.

Question 12

A major obstacle to implementing hazard reduction measures involves the public's misunderstanding of risk and the fact that most people do not want to believe that their community will ever experience disaster.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that a lack of public awareness or understanding of risk is a significant barrier to effective hazard reduction measures. In addition, studies have found that many people are reluctant to accept the possibility that their community could be affected by a disaster, leading to a lack of motivation to take proactive measures to reduce risk.

Question 13

Each type of nonprofit environmental organization pursues its own priorities, but many of their objectives may overlap with local or state management goals for hazard mitigation in environmentally sensitive or ecologically fragile lands.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Nonprofit environmental organizations may have overlapping objectives with local or state government goals for hazard mitigation in environmentally sensitive or ecologically fragile lands.

Question 14

Some communities choose to model and plan for their flood risk based on the assumption that the land will be developed at a future time within the watershed.

Accepted Answer

Some communities may consider future development within the watershed when planning for flood risk.

Question 15

"No advere impact" refers to the concept that regulations about floodplain management should not negatively impact property values.

Accepted Answer

"No adverse impact" refers to the principle that actions within a floodplain should not adversely affect the rights, property, or safety of others. It is broader than just property values, encompassing overall harm or negative impacts.

Question 16

The U.S. _______ is conducted every ten years and is a valuable source of information about demographic trends in the United States.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The U.S. _______ is conducted every ten...

Question 17

Disaster ________ is defined as the ability to prepare and plan for, absorb, recover from, and more successfully adapt to adverse events.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Disaster ________ is defined as the ability...

Question 18

Effective risk _________ is an important role of emergency managers, because the public often do not want to believe that their community will ever experience a disaster.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Effective risk _________ is an important role...

Question 19

_______ is a software developed by FEMA to provide potential damage and loss estimates for earthquake, hurricanes, and flooding.

Accepted Answer

The answer of _______ is a software developed by FEMA...

Question 20

If a given property has a 1% chance of flooding in any given year, it is typically described as being within the ____________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If a given property has a 1%...

Quiz 13: Disaster Resilience