A hazard becomes a disaster when it affects human populations, infrastructure, and the environment, causing significant harm, damage, or disruption. This occurs when:
*Hazard + Vulnerability + Exposure = Disaster*
*Factors that contribute to a hazard becoming a disaster:*
1. Magnitude and intensity of the hazard
2. Population density and vulnerability
3. Lack of preparedness and emergency planning
4. Inadequate infrastructure and resources
5. Environmental and social conditions
*Examples:*
*Natural Hazards*
1. Earthquake (hazard) → Devastating earthquake in Haiti (2010) killing 220,000 people (disaster)
2. Hurricane (hazard) → Hurricane Katrina (2005) causing widespread flooding and damage in New Orleans (disaster)
3. Tsunami (hazard) → 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami affecting several countries, killing 230,000 people (disaster)
*Human-made Hazards*
1. Industrial accident (hazard) → Bhopal gas tragedy (1984) releasing toxic chemicals, killing 3,787 people (disaster)
2. Cyber attack (hazard) → WannaCry ransomware attack (2017) disrupting global healthcare and infrastructure (disaster)
3. Transportation accident (hazard) → Titanic sinking (1912) resulting in 1,503 deaths (disaster)
*Environmental Hazards*
1. Climate change (hazard) → Rising sea levels and intense storms causing coastal flooding and damage (disaster)
2. Deforestation (hazard) → Landslides and floods in Indonesia (2018) affecting 22,000 people (disaster)
3. Water pollution (hazard) → Flint water crisis (2014) contaminating drinking water, affecting 100,000 people (disaster)
*Health-related Hazards*
1. Infectious disease outbreak (hazard) → COVID-19 pandemic (2020) spreading globally, infecting millions (disaster)
2. Food contamination (hazard) → E. coli outbreak in Germany (2011) affecting 4,000 people, killing 53 (disaster)
In each of these examples, a hazard became a disaster due to a combination of factors, including magnitude, vulnerability, exposure, and inadequate preparedness.