James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2024

EV5606 - Disasters, Communities and Planning

Subject Description

This subject examines both natural hazards and resulting disasters that may develop. The first part of the subject focuses on the physical characteristics, causes, impacts and management of various natural hazards, with a particular focus on the tropics. Topics include: the relationship between climate change and natural hazards; coastal hazards; tropical cyclones; earthquakes; tsunamis; volcanoes; droughts; bushfires; floods; and landslides. The second part of the subject focuses on disasters, which are a human construct, where a natural hazard interacts with a community, overwhelming emergency services and causing widespread loss. Planning for disasters is a multi-disciplinary process that involves understanding, analysing, mapping and measuring communities, their infrastructure and their physical characteristics and location. The knowledge is necessary for preparing people to deal with hazards, to mitigate against disaster and to recover from hazards that impact communities.

Learning Outcomes

• assess the roles of all sectors of government and institutions in emergency management and planning responses
• describe the physical characteristics, causes, impacts, and management of various forms of natural hazards
• analyse hazard and disaster data and information from a range of sources
• assess hazard impact and community vulnerability, including within a social impact methodology framework
• evaluate a range of mitigation measures and their purpose, including hazard monitoring, community awareness and preparedness, and public education

Subject Assessment

• Written > Examination (centrally administered) - (40%) - Individual
• Written > Test/Quiz 1 - (20%) - Individual
• Written > Project report - (30%) - Group & Individual
• Written > Research report - (10%) - Individual

Note that minor variations might occur due to the continuous subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.

Inadmissible Subject Combinations:  EV3606

Availabilities