Hazards and Disasters

EV5606 - Hazards and Disasters

This subject examines both natural hazards and resulting disasters that may develop. The first part of the subject focuses on the physical characteristics, causes, impacts and management of various natural hazards, with a particular focus on the tropics. Topics include: the relationship between climate change and natural hazards; coastal hazards; tropical cyclones; earthquakes; tsunamis; volcanoes; droughts; bushfires; floods; and landslides. The second part of the subject focuses on disasters, which are a human construct, where a natural hazard interacts with a community, overwhelming emergency services and causing widespread loss. Planning for disasters is a multi-disciplinary process that involves understanding, analysing, mapping and measuring communities, their infrastructure and their physical characteristics and location. The knowledge is necessary for preparing people to deal with hazards, to mitigate against disaster and to recover from hazards that impact communities.

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At least 9 credit points at level 1

At least 9 credit points at level 1 Offerings: All

Container 1

EV3606 - Hazards and Disasters

Evaluate a range of mitigation measures and their purpose, including hazard monitoring, community awareness and preparedness, and public education

Analyse hazard and disaster data and information from a range of sources

Describe the physical characteristics, causes, impacts, and management of various forms of natural hazards


Assess the roles of all sectors of government and institutions in emergency management and planning responses

Assess hazard impact and community vulnerability, including within a social impact methodology framework