According to IFRC or the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, humanitarian aid and organization, disasters are severe disruptions to the functioning of a community that exceeds its capacity to cope using its own resources. Disasters can be caused by natural, man-made, and technological hazards, as well as various factors that influence the exposure and vulnerability of a community.
What is Hazard?
A hazard is a general occurrence that is risky or dangerous to the affected people. Therefore, they are naturally occurring situations in the world, which cannot be avoided. Furthermore, they pose a threat to our lives.
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Therefore, it can be assumed that a hazard can also be a precursor to a disaster and we can avoid the worse outcomes of a disaster that might follow a hazard if we take good disaster management steps.
What is Disaster?
A disaster has more negative consequences, unlike a hazard. Disaster is a degree of a hazard that has become more threatening. Therefore, a disaster can be defined as an occurrence that completely disrupts the normal life pattern of victims. In brief, a disaster is more catastrophic in nature. Furthermore, unlike a hazard, a disaster is more sudden and thus severe.
What is the difference between Hazard and Disaster?
Hazard is a dangerous situation that poses a threat to human life while disaster is an event that completely causes damage to human life and property. Disaster has more critical consequences when compared to the threats to the humans from a hazard. Therefore, disaster is more catastrophic in nature than a hazard. Disaster happens most often in a short time, thus making more severe while hazard will take its full shape after a series of events, which might have led it to happen. Therefore, necessary precautions can be taken to avoid the negative consequences of a hazard.