As potential landowners and activists in local government, you will be faced with the prospect of evaluating the potential danger from a natural hazard. Unfortunately, few people have the facts necessary to make informed decisions about the environment that they inhabit. Consequently, many individuals unknowingly place themselves at increased risk from natural hazards or support government policies they do not understand. These trends will become increasingly evident as the semester progresses. The ES 494d course is designed to investigate some of the naturally occurring hazards facing humans.
Special attention is placed on the types of hazards that poise the most serious risks to humans.
It is hoped that after completing the course you will have a more complete understanding of geologic and climatic hazards in various regions of the world. This newfound knowledge should prove useful to you as a future land purchaser, voter and decision-maker. Hopefully, a more proactive approach to hazard prevention and avoidance may eventually develop. Identify private sector and government agencies involved in hazard decisions, including sources for pertinent data. Recognize the factors influencing policy decisions regarding natural hazard mitigation.