A natural hazard is when a natural process and event become a threat to human life or property. Volcanoes, fires and floods are only hazards if people are affected by them. A disaster is when a hazard is so bad that in a certain time frame either 10 or more people are killed, 100 or more people are affect, a state of emergency is called, or international assistance is requested. Any or these scenarios bumps the event up from a natural hazard to a natural disaster. Greater even than a disaster though, is a Catastrophe. A Catastrophes is massive disaster that requires years of cleanup and recovery and exceptionally large amounts of money. The average yearly loss of life due to hazards is 80,000 and $50 billion annually.
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