Floods Glossary

hazard

A potentially damaging physical event, phenomenon and/or human activity, which may cause the loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental degradation. Hazard is not related to the persons or objects that could be affected. It describes only the thread emanating from an event. Hazards can include latent conditions that may represent future threats and can have different origins: natural (geological, hydrometeorological and biological) and/or induced by human processes (environmental degradation and technological hazards). Hazards can be single, sequential or combined in their origin and effects. Each hazard is characterized by its location, intensity, frequency and probability. In the framework of hazard and/or risk assessment studies the hazard H describes the probability of occurrence of a potentially destructive natural phenomenon in a defined area and within a defined time period.