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Is the environment becoming more hazardous?—A global survey 1947 to 1980
Author(s) -
Shah Bindi V.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
disasters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.744
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1467-7717
pISSN - 0361-3666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-7717.1983.tb00822.x
Subject(s) - preparedness , natural disaster , disaster preparedness , assertion , hazardous waste , suicide prevention , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , environmental health , injury prevention , occupational safety and health , emergency management , forensic engineering , medical emergency , environmental planning , engineering , geography , medicine , political science , economic growth , computer science , economics , pathology , meteorology , law , programming language , waste management
This paper examines the assertion that natural disasters are increasingly destructive using evidence from disaster reports during the period 1947–1980. The criteria for judging the impact of a given natural disaster are chiefly loss of life and the extent of the geographical area affected. In spite of uneveness and bias in the reporting of sudden impact disasters the conclusions are that both the frequency of disasters and number of people killed are increasing. Further research into the social consequences of disasters and the need for disaster preparedness training programmes are recommended.