| Non-weather natural disasters cause loss of life, damage to ecosystems, destruction of property and/or financial loss due to non-weather natural disasters. Includes disasters on land (e.g., earthquakes, volcanoes), on water (e.g., tsunamis) and extraterrestrial disasters (e.g., asteroid impacts and geomagnetic storms). The question in this article is what risks these non-weather-related natural disasters pose. To this end, I look at this phenomenon from the social viewpoints. | In this text I write my own opinion, not that of any organization. The 2024 Global Risk Report – WEF provides these definitions |
Preliminary note:
In this situation, I consider the social impact on people most important. Therefore, I always consider the different aspects of STEEPLD with respect to the social aspect.
What does Social from STEEPLD “say” about “non-weather related natural disasters”?
The question here becomes: what are the social implications for social, technical, economic, environmental, political, and demographic risks?
Social:
Loss of human life: The most immediate and tragic consequence is obviously the loss of human life. Natural disasters can do this in large numbers. Besides the immediate loss of family members and friends, the primary concern is the psychological impact on those who survive (as in wildfires). There are several types of foreseeable disorders among the physical and mental traumas. Besides the serious physical injuries, when loved ones are lost, there are a host of psychological problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders and depression. These traumas can last for a very long time and significantly reduce quality of life.
Another emotional-psychological threat is a loss of meaning: one experiences a sense of meaninglessness and loses confidence in the future. This is helped by a loss of social capital through a weakening or disconnection of social networks and communities. This affects the resilience of a society, but is often not taken into account.
In themselves, these massive psychological effects can lead to a destabilization of society. This is because trauma and stress can lead to increased tensions within families and circles of acquaintances, weakening social cohesion within the support pillars of the community.
Some people will reach for alcohol or drugs. As a result, there is an increased risk of conflict because people with such behaviors and mental health problems are typically more likely to get involved in conflicts.
Socioeconomic:
Mental health problems divert attention at work and reduce productivity at work and in daily life, which can have negative economic consequences. Such as, for example, an increased rate of work disability in the community.
Socio-demographic
Children and adolescents dealing with trauma may focus less on learning, which leads to school dropout. That in itself avenges itself later in their lives.
Studies with mice show that trauma is genetically passed on to subsequent generations, extending the impact of the disaster over several generations.
By creating a sense of meaninglessness, trauma and loss can give rise to a loss of cultural identity of people, perhaps even entire communities.
Parents with psychological trauma have more difficulty raising their children well, which means the latter will perform less in school and later have fewer job opportunities, or may struggle with mental illness themselves.
When a community is severely affected by a natural disaster, it will struggle to effectively and efficiently organize relief efforts and restore order to the chaos.
Loss of life can mean loss of parents which triggers anxiety; depression; prolonged grief reactions; negative effects on self-esteem; increased risk of suicide, substance abuse and eating problems; problems with executive functions; decreased quality of life; and changes in the way survivors approach adult relationships.
Social Consequences
Loss of cultural heritage occurs because disasters can cause the destruction of historic buildings, works of art and other cultural heritages. With loss of people, more specifically of the older generation, one additionally loses the memory of it which means an irreparable loss for future generations.
High casualty disasters can cause a “positive” shift in a society’s values and norms. For example, through a heightened awareness of vulnerability and a greater emphasis on solidarity and taking action around it. Or by passing on knowledge and skills from experience.
The cause of this realization may be that people sometimes lose all their possessions during a natural disaster.
Economic impact:
There is loss of labor due to deaths. If the disaster is major, production in labor-intensive sectors drops or stops. This brings a reduction in income and living standards. This can be particularly devastating for developing countries with a large informal sector.
In the aftermath of a disaster, outbreaks of infectious diseases such as cholera and typhoid can occur. This places an additional burden on the health care system. But in itself, so does the labor market.
Depending on the region affected, demographic changes occur. A major disaster may hit some age groups harder, or people with disabilities, or may disadvantage women and girls with respect to flight, health and hygiene. This with implications for social security and the labor market for these vulnerable groups.
When a region is repeatedly affected by the same or multiple types of disasters with many victims, it decreases overall resilience. Some people move away. Usually for a combination of reasons. Economic resilience also suffers. Partly because of this, since economy is one of the main drivers of recovery, the recovery process will slow down and take longer.
Technical
Perhaps the most important technical factors are the natech effects that occur during a natural emergency in a built environment, affecting infrastructure and essential services. This affects society locally.
Infrastructure damage includes destroyed houses, roads, bridges and other essential infrastructure such as hospitals, factories, power plants, schools, dams,…. This can complicate relief efforts. People become dependent on emergency shelter along with it,
Destroyed houses and buildings force people to leave their homes, leaving them homeless and dependent on emergency shelters. People find it difficult to meet basic needs and maintain social contacts.
Damage to infrastructure also increases the vulnerability of the affected community to future disasters and other threats.
This can take a long time because rebuilding infrastructure is expensive and time-consuming.
Vulnerable groups in society are often disproportionately affected by the consequences of infrastructure damage. After all, they benefit most from rest homes, hospitals, schools, … But in addition to loss of critical infrastructure, loss of access to essential services is also a problem in such risks. Obstruction especially of transportation services makes it difficult to distribute food, medicine and other essential goods. Obstruction of hospital services is pernicious for injured people. In the longer term, loss of access to education with closure of damaged schools is a problem for future prospects of youth. Finally, damage to historic buildings and cultural monuments is a loss of community identity.
Environment
Damage to ecosystems following non-weather-related disasters also poses risks.
Environmental damage with long-term impacts on biodiversity and natural resources.
This through a destruction of natural habitats leading to loss of biodiversity.
Damage to ecosystems such as devastated forests, polluted water sources and loss of biodiversity create long-term consequences for people.
Direct consequences are a loss of food resources resulting in malnutrition, especially in communities heavily dependent on natural resources. There is also the displacement of populations. Changes in the environment require people to leave their homes and migrate to other regions. In doing so, social and economic pressures on the receiving areas occur. Also, loss of income such as tourism occurs.
Further, increased vulnerability to animal-borne diseases occurs in regions where diseases such as malaria and dengue, for example, are found.
Scarcity of resources creates conflicts such as for water and land.
Political-social
An important social aspect is social cohesion after non-weather-related natural disasters
What is social cohesion here?
Social cohesion is the connection individuals feel to the community. It is feeling a shared identity. It is that in the community that creates cooperation and solidarity.
The effect of natural disasters on communities is that disasters can drive communities together and this gives rise to social support. This can happen through earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. This phenomenon subsides after some time.
One effect is reduced cooperation on solutions to the problems over time. This slows the subsequent recovery process and again increases vulnerability to future shocks. One will also notice a loss of trust in institutions, especially when “the government” is unable to respond adequately to the emergency. Some fringe figures may feel that one has free rein, and this may lead to increased crime and radicalization.
Political-social
Social risks of political instability following non-weather-related disasters
Conflicts may continue to grow over relief goods and their distribution when the conflicts are already present.
Political instability can further trigger a cascade of social problems that deeply affect society. Insufficient food, health care, failure of education and economic progress… and these can lead to further social unrest, conflict, division of society into a myriad of ethnic, religious and political groups, radicalization and even coups. This can further complicate the elaboration of contingency planning.
Migration
Displacement of populations by large numbers of people forced to leave their homes and seek shelter elsewhere, leading to refugee crises and social unrest and political tensions. This adds pressure on reception (capacity) and social cohesion in host countries.
The loss of income and property makes it additionally difficult to meet basic needs and makes migrants dependent on social assistance in host countries or regions. It also makes them vulnerable to discrimination and prejudice. They enter a different cultural environment to which they must adapt, which can encourage discrimination. Also, conflicts over limited resources such as housing and social services are possible.
Another problem with migration is the likelihood of introducing diseases with characteristics different from those in the host country.
Health Problems
A primary risk is one of increased mortality, especially for the vulnerable. Large numbers of sick people can also cause disruption in health care. In the process, quarantine measures may be imposed, causing social isolation and loneliness.
There is also stigmatization and exclusion of people of other orientations.
Mental health problems (see above) such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (due to loss of loved ones). This also includes intergenerational consequences. After all, children growing up during e.g. an epidemic may experience long-term physical and mental health problems.