Katasztrófakockázatértékelés

Katasztrófakockázatértékelés is the process of identifying, analyzing, and evaluating the potential risks associated with natural or human-induced disasters. It aims to understand the likelihood of a hazard occurring and the potential consequences it could have on people, property, the environment, and economies. This involves assessing both the vulnerability of a community or system to a hazard and the hazard's own intensity and frequency.

The process typically begins with hazard identification, which involves cataloging potential threats such as earthquakes, floods, droughts, wildfires, or industrial accidents. Following this, exposure assessment determines who or what might be affected by these hazards. Vulnerability assessment then examines the susceptibility of exposed elements to damage, considering factors like building construction, infrastructure resilience, social and economic conditions, and environmental degradation.

Once hazards, exposure, and vulnerability are understood, risk analysis quantifies the potential losses. This can involve qualitative descriptions or quantitative modeling to estimate the probability of certain levels of damage or casualties. Finally, risk evaluation compares the analyzed risks against predefined criteria to determine their significance and prioritize mitigation efforts. The outcomes of a katasztrófakockázatértékelés inform decision-making for disaster preparedness, prevention, mitigation, and response planning, ultimately contributing to building more resilient communities.