How Natural Disasters Affect Human Life, Economy, and the Environment

Nature can be beautiful and fascinating but scary at the same time. A natural disaster is an unforeseen and sudden occurrence of an event resulting from natural processes of the Earth. They can not be predicted nor avoided. Earthquake, tsunamis, volcanic eruption, cyclones, cause damage to human life, property and environment.

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Impact of Natural Disasters

Natural disasters badly affect population, agriculture, roads, animal habitats, and environment. Some are short term effects that can be settled urgently, whiles others last for years. Natural disasters have primary as well as secondary effects. Primary effects are the direct results of the natural disasters such as collapsed buildings, human casualties and destroyed infrastructure. Secondary effects are indirect effects that appear later and are the results of primary effects such as power failure, spreading of a disease, fire from broken gas pipes and psychological damage etc.

Impacts on individuals

At the individual level, the impact can often be felt physically, mentally and emotionally. Natural disasters not only cause loss of property, financial resources but personal injury or disability, as well.

After experiencing a natural disaster many individuals undergo severe emotional stress or depression. It changes an individual’s role, status and lifestyle.

Impact on communities

Communities that experience a natural disaster also face social and economic challenges. Many local communities lose their property, infrastructure and social setup. They have to move or migrate to other places. On 8th of October 2005, a massive earthquake damaged a widespread area across Pakistan. Over 80,000 people lost their lives and huge number of animals and plants were also destroyed. Thousand of people displaced or migrated to other places for their survival.

Economic Impact

Natural disaster have negative impact on the economy of any country. They cause so much loss to economic resources that recovery becomes difficult and almost impossible. Sometime capital assets and infrastructure such as housing, schools, factories, roads, dams and bridges are destroyed. Such destruction disturbs economy and brings unemployment. In 2004, tsunami developed in Indian ocean killed at least 225000 people across 14 centuries including Indonesia, Srilanka, India, Maldives, and Thailand.

Environmental Impact

A natural disaster can change the landscape and natural environment drastically. Earthquakes, floods and forest fires cause land and water erosion, disease, droughts and loss of habitat. Toxic gases emitting from volcanic activity and carbon dioxide from bush fires pollutes the environment. The wildfire that spread throughout Australian in 2020 is the example of how land and whole ecosystem damaged from a single disaster. It is claimed that 3 billion animals were affected during these fires.

Conclusion

Natural catastrophes serve as potent reminders of both the brittleness of human existence and the unpredictable nature of the natural world. They have long-lasting effects on people, communities, economies, and the environment that go well beyond the immediate devastation. Building collapses and habitat loss may be obvious signs of the physical harm, but the unseen consequences—such as psychological distress, uprooting, and unstable economies—are just as terrible. Societies can strive for better infrastructure, more effective disaster management systems, and increased risk awareness by realizing the magnitude of these repercussions. Natural disasters cannot be avoided, but they can be lessened in the long run and recovery can be aided by readiness, fortitude, and shared responsibility.

Reference:

Geography Text Book

Authors:

Ms. Raheela Awais
Prof. Muhammad Javed
Ms Shamsa Mufti
Prof. Muhammad Yameen Saleemi

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Categories

How Natural Disasters Affect Human Life, Economy, and the Environment

Impact of Natural Disasters

Impacts on individuals

Impact on communities

Economic Impact

Environmental Impact

Conclusion

Reference:

By Oliva

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How Natural Disasters Affect Human Life, Economy, and the Environment

Impact of Natural Disasters

Impacts on individuals

Impact on communities

Economic Impact

Environmental Impact

Conclusion

Reference:

By Oliva

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