Chapter 5 - Vulnerability and Exposure in Developed and Developing Countries: Large-Scale Assessments

Abstract

Natural hazards occur all over the world. The rising number of disasters is not only due to the increased number of natural hazards; but also (mainly) due to the fact that people prefer to live in the areas the most exposed to natural hazards, i.e., close to river banks and coastal areas. In order to decrease the number of causalities and affected people, populations should understand their level of exposure and vulnerability to such natural hazards. According to the Oxford dictionary “disaster” is “a sudden accident or a natural catastrophe that causes great damage or loss of life.” Disaster is defined as being an impact of natural hazards which leads to human and economic losses. The list of natural hazards is long; however, the goal of the present chapter is to look at the flooding phenomena.