Hotspots
Disasters represent a major source of risk for
the poor. These natural events can wipe out development gains
and accumulated wealth in developing countries. In this project
we have assessed the global risks of two disaster-related
outcomes: mortality and economic losses. We have estimated
risk levels by combining hazard exposure with historical vulnerability
for two indicators of elements at risk—gridded population
and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per unit area—for six
major natural hazards: earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides,
floods, drought, and cyclones. By calculating relative risks
for each grid cell rather than for countries as a whole, we
have been able to estimate risk levels at sub-national scales.
Such information can inform a range of disaster prevention
and preparedness measures, including prioritization of resources,
targeting of more localized and detailed risk assessments,
implementation of risk-based disaster management and emergency
response strategies, and development of long-term land-use
plans and multihazard risk management strategies. A set of
accompanying case studies, available separately, explores
risks from particular hazards or for localized areas in more
detail, using the same theoretical framework as the global
analysis.
We hope that in addition to providing interesting
and useful results, the Hotspots global analysis and case
studies will stimulate additional research, particularly at
national and local levels, increasingly linked to disaster
risk reduction policy-making and practice. Full details on
the data, methods and results of the global analysis can be
found in volume one of Natural Disaster
Hotspots: A Global Risk Analysis. Volume two, Natural Disaster Hotspots Case Studies, published in 2006, presents a series of case studies undertaken to support the global analysis.
Natural Disaster Hotspots: A Global Risk Analysis
Natural Disaster Hotspots: Case Studies
Hazards of Nature, Risks to Development: An IEG Evaluation of World Bank Assistance for Natural Disasters
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Contact for more information
regarding the project: hotspotsreport@ldeo.columbia.edu.
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