Unexpected Natural Disasters: Hidden Risks in Your Region

Do you think you can forget about the risks associated with natural disasters - just because you haven’t ever experienced one? Think again, Many regions that appear to be free and clear on the surface might still experience crippling unknown natural disaster risks. Natural disasters can strike at a moment’s notice, such as serious flash floods can occur in Northeastern South Dakota, and naturally occurring sinkholes can fall out of nowhere in the “safe” neighbourhoods.

Climate change, rapid urban development, or simply overlooked environmental risks are slowly increasing regional risks from disaster. Is your world currently getting ready for a historical disaster, or making your neighbourhood ready for a potential disaster? Even if your neighbourhood does not become news-worthy, it’s time to re-examine your readiness.

What Defines a Disaster as ‘Unexpected’?

An unexpected natural disaster impacts a location that does not normally expect a disaster. These are instances where people live in areas that are not historically considered hazardous, taking residents and even public officials by surprise. The difference between a rare event and an unexpected event is awareness; a rare event may be forecast, whereas the unexpected event normally has neither a local warning system nor local preparedness. An example is landslides occurring in dry hilly areas, or urban flooding in which rainwater has no location to drain off. Other examples of hidden regional hazards could include areas previously thought to be free from foreseen (expected) natural disasters. Even the best summer beaches can become disaster zones overnight.

Example of Hidden Disaster Risks by Region

Not all disasters occur where we believe they do. Some of the most catastrophic cases of natural phenomena occur in places that do not conventionally host these threats. Let us look at some of the hidden risks of disaster in your area:

1. Urban Flash Flooding in Urban Areas

Flash flooding is not only a rural or riverside problem - it's becoming more common in urban areas. Limited drainage, impermeable surfaces, and limited open (green) space allow rainwater to skip water absorbed into the earth. When rain falls suddenly, rainwater accumulates quickly and then inundates roadways, buildings, and infrastructure.

2. Earthquakes in Non-Conventional Places

Earthquakes are typically considered along a bona fide fault line, but they happen in places with little or no earthquake history. For example, in the central United States, parts of eastern India, and South Korea all have regions that have recently experienced tremors from induced seismicity, which are earthquakes caused by humans in the form of fracking, mining, or deep boring.

3. Sinkholes and Land Subsidence

Sinkholes can happen instantaneously when rock is less dissolved or when groundwater is pumped out rapidly enough that it can no longer support its weight. Hazardous sinkholes can be deceptive sometimes, or maybe more accurately, temporarily elude our awareness, and in just seconds, we will see a sinkhole that has damaged a vehicle, a house or even a road.

Example: There are a lot of areas like Florida, which are immune to sinkholes, particularly because its foundation is limestone. There are many other parts of the World, like parts of China and parts of Mexico, that often experience land subsidence from mining and groundwater withdrawal as well.

4. Tornadoes Not Confined to Traditional Zones

Tornadoes are no longer confined to "Tornado Alley" in the U.S. or generally accepted "hot zones". Climate change has also allowed violent windstorms to occur at unwarranted locations.

Example: Tornadoes have struck in Europe, India and most recently southern South America, all historically low risk for tornadoes.

Japan’s deadly floods highlight how urban areas are increasingly vulnerable, reminding us that even highly developed cities are not immune to the growing threat of flash flooding.

Change of Climate and Regions Risk

Climate change is speeding up the pattern of weather and introducing new types of risks to geographic areas. The increasing ocean and air temperatures, combined with wind patterns, are causing formerly familiar weather patterns to become varied, unpredictable, and unsettled.

Some areas have never faced wildfires, but record-long dry seasons are affecting those places. Coastal areas are seeing daytime high tides, sea intrusion, and in places further inland, flash droughts, and unpredictable storms.

For example, in the last couple of years, we have seen wildfires in northern Europe and heatwaves in Canada and Japan (places not developed for these extremes).

Why You Might Not Be Prepared

When disasters occur in unexpected locations, the result can be far worse, not only because they did not expect it, but also because they were unprepared for such events.

Local governments likely don't have response plans in place for rare occurrences. Building codes may not assume hazards such as earthquakes or flooding. Public discussions and training campaigns generally only focus on the most common regional hazards, leaving residents completely uninformed.

Conclusion

If a place is safe, it doesn’t mean that a disaster can’t take place there. Disaster events can happen anytime without even a warning. The risk can be increased during climate change and heavy rainfall events.

To know the risk, you need to ensure safety first. It is essential to research your place, have a plan of emergency plan, and stay in the know. It is better to be well informed and nothing occurs than to be ill-prepared when something does occur.