Disaster Category Classification 4
Disaster Category Classification 4 : Methodology: The classification of different types of disasters into main categories was primarily based on a matrix including the existing disaster categories from the main database owners: ADRC (GLIDE), CRED (EM-DAT), La Red (DesInventar), Munich RE (NatCatSERVICE) and Swiss Re (Sigma). The same exercise was done for the definitions of the disaster categories. Taking into account each database specificities, a first working group meeting was set up in order to reach a common disaster category classification and terminology to fit all databases. 4.1 Hierarchy of disaster categories: The new classification distinguishes two generic disaster groups: natural and technological disasters. The natural disaster category being divided into six disaster groups: Biological, Geophysical, Meteorological, Hydrological, Climatological and Extra-Terrestrial. Each group covers different disaster main types, each having different disaster sub-types. Tables 2 - 7 give an overview of the grouping of natural disasters. 4.2 Methodology: The hierarchy of the new classification is based on a "triggering hazard/event" logic. Indeed, the triggering hazard/event is used as the reference root to classify the disaster. For example, a mass movement can be triggered by either a geophysical or a hydrological phenomenon. The triggering hazard will then determine if the disaster is assigned to enter into the "mass movement dry" or "mass movement wet" category. Table 8 shows examples of how disasters are classified following this hierarchy. Tables 9 and 10 show the percentage distribution of events by disaster groups and disaster main types for the period 2000 - 2008 in both databases after the implementation of the new classification. See source for various tabulated examples of Disaster Category Classification
No records Found