Preparedness Webinar: Natural Disasters-Natural Disasters PPT

Natural Disasters PPT
Pdf Summary
The document provides an overview of a webinar presentation on natural disasters, led by Dr. Peter W. Pendergrass. The session, part of a pilot series, discusses the identification and management of natural disasters through the lens of FEMA’s all-hazard approach and the public health implications. Key highlights include:<br /><br />1. **Natural Hazards and Disasters**: The webinar identifies 18 natural hazards as outlined by FEMA, such as avalanches, hurricanes, and wildfires. It distinguishes between a natural hazard (a potential threat) and a natural disaster (the actual occurrence and impact of a hazard).<br /><br />2. **FEMA’s All-Hazard Approach**: The approach entails four phases—mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery—to manage disasters. Mitigation focuses on reducing the potential impact, while preparedness involves planning and training. The response phase addresses immediate needs post-disaster, and recovery aids community restoration and resilience.<br /><br />3. **Economic and Human Cost**: The webinar examines the economic impact and human toll of disasters, particularly focusing on billion-dollar events. In 2023, the U.S. experienced 28 such events, costing $92.9 billion and resulting in 492 fatalities.<br /><br />4. **Hurricanes**: Hurricanes, as part of the broader category of tropical cyclones, are discussed in terms of formation, associated hazards like storm surges and flooding, and their classification on the Saffir-Simpson scale, highlighting their drastic economic and human consequences.<br /><br />5. **Wildfires**: Defined as unplanned fires in natural areas, wildfires are exacerbated by factors like dry weather and human negligence. Recent data illustrate the substantial number of wildfires and the federal costs of managing them.<br /><br />6. **Public Health Response**: The importance of integrating public health into disaster response is emphasized, with activities tailored to each phase of FEMA's model, from risk assessments and public education in mitigation to recovery efforts.<br /><br />The document concludes with details for a follow-up webinar on exposures (chemical, radiological, biological, and mechanical), scheduled for December 12.
Keywords
natural disasters
FEMA all-hazard approach
public health
economic impact
hurricanes
wildfires
mitigation
preparedness
response
recovery