EFFECTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS

Effects of Natural Disasters



Effects of Natural Disasters

Introduction

The world is a place where uncertainties and unpredictability dominates. Every other day, there are new hazards taking place in the form of natural disasters or manmade havocs. Some of them can be and are controlled by human beings while others are natural and there does not seem to be any power which can effecting on them or prevent them. These uncontrollable hazards are natural disasters which can only be prevented by the divine power.

This paper will be discussing the natural disaster, their occurrence in different forms and their effects on specially the Baby Boomer generation. It will also focus on different macro social system theories and how they influence elderly as a population risk.

Natural Disasters

The term 'natural disaster' has been defined by the scientists as the disturbing effects of any natural hazard. It includes earthquakes, flood, hurricane, volcanic eruptions, landslide and other calamities. Such big avalanches mostly lead to a physical, financial, environmental and human loss. These natural disasters not only occur for the time being but also leave their effects as aftermaths which are felt by the people later. They can be least harmful but sometimes, can even prove to be more dangerous than any other situation. (Gregory, 2010)

The different types of natural disasters are classified as geological, hydrological, meteorological, fire, health and space disasters. The geological disasters include earthquakes, avalanches, and volcanic eruptions in its category.

Floods and Tsunamis come under the category of hydrological disasters. The meteorological disasters consist of blizzards, cyclonic storms, drought, hailstorms and tornadoes. Health disasters are famine and epidemics. Solar flares and impact events are all the types of space disasters.

All these havocs are in one way or the other a great destruction can become the cause of a great loss for the mankind, despite of his much efforts and unlimited powers. They not only result in the physical loss but disasters like earthquake and flood mostly become a reason of huge physical and financial loss too.

Earthquake in Haiti

Haiti, officially called as the Republican of Haiti, is a Caribbean country and occupies the western portion of Hispaniola in a smaller proportion. According to the Human Development Index, Haiti is the poorest country in America which has experienced great political turmoil throughout its history.

On January 12, 2010, the city of Haiti was hit by a severe earthquake on the Richter scale of 7.0 magnitudes which went killing an estimated figure of more than 316,000 people and devastated the entire city. Countless businesses and many houses were destroyed along with many important governmental structures such as Presidential Palace and Parliament. This catastrophic natural disaster also created major damages in the areas adjacent to Haiti including Port-au-Prince and Jacmel.

In response to this calamity, many humanitarian organizations provided funds and rescue and relief services. The government of Haiti, after seeing such a huge loss and constantly increasing death toll, also pleaded the whole world for financial aid and ...