Hazard prone areas are areas which are likely to suffer from disasters such as earthquakes,

tsunamis and volcanic eruptions.However,many people still stay in these hazard-prone areas
even when the risks are more greater than the opportunities gained from the areas. The
following are some reasons :
Firstly, people may face political barriers as there are strict population and immigration
policies for every country. Migration is not free among, or sometimes even within, countries.
Secondly, there are also physical constraints because the environments in hazard-prone areas
are hostile and people do not choose to live elsewhere as some places around the world are
either too hot, too dry, too cold or too wet and not suitable for living.
Thirdly, people need to consider their social links in their respective countries. This is
because the ties to one's motherland and ancestors will prevent people from moving away,
especially when the tradition is a long one. People also have strong feeling for their friends
and relatives, and their own culture too. They consider the weakening of the social bond ,as a
great loss. This is because it will be impossible for some people to re-establish new social
links in new cultural environments.
Personlly,some people may also tend to believe that it is improbable for a hazard to strike the
same place twice. The hazard not occurring for a long period of time. It can be overlooked.
And also some religious people, believe that the attack of the hazards is just an ''act of God''.It
is useless to avoid it. It can be also the character of the person which make them leave the
hazard area for example people who easily gets scared.Therefore,the differences of peoples'
education level, past experiences, religious background ,and even the character of the person
may affect their decision for staying in the hazard-prone areas.
Economically, people will not be able to find new and high income job opportunities in new
areas so they decide to stay in hazard-prone areas as the vuluniciy,folding and faulting there
provides them with valuable resources for industry,power,farming and tourism.
Although people face a lot of risks from staying in hazard-prone areas, the governments' of
these areas have taken many measures to alleviate and reduce the risk of the hazards. The
following are some of the measures that the government has taken:
First of all, the governments have monitoring and warning systems. This help the government
to monitor the tectonic hazards and issue warnings as it give more time for evacuation and
helps reduce causalities.
For example, for earthquakes in order to predict the time and place of occurrence and scale of
possible earthquake, scientists analyze past records and use seismographs or satellites to
monitor earthquakes. For volcanic eruptions, there are usually signs of imminent activity
from the volcano before it erupts. For tsunamis, governments established many national and
international warning systems for example the Regional Tsunami Warning and Migration
System for the Indian Ocean in South East Asia. Another example is the Pacific Tsunami
Warning System in Hawaii.

Secondly, hazard-proof structures to design and build to minimize destruction by strong

tectonic hazards. For example, earthquake- prone regions have earthquake proof designs for
buildings to prevent the collapse of structures. For example, The Transamerica Pyramid in
the USA.For eruption-prone regions, roofs are built with strong structures and steep-sloping
sides. This helps shed ash and prevent the roofs from collapsing. For tsunami-prone regions,
sea walls can be built along the shores to protect the coast against tsunamis.
Thirdly, the government has implemented many land use planning policies for example,
avoid building cities with potential dangers such as nuclear plants and oil depots. Law
governing the height and structure of buildings should be imposed. Each building has to pass
tests for hazards such as earthquakes. And also an evacuation route with adequate road signs
should be established at the urban-planning stage.
For example, for earthquake-prone regions such as Japan, open places, such as parks are
designated as safety evacuation areas. For volcanic areas, volcanic hazard-zone maps are
prepared to show the areas that nay possibly be affected by lava flow and mudflow. This
helps prepare emergency evacuation plans. For tsunami-prone areas,governements often
provide subsidies to encourage people who live in the coastal areas to move to higher ground.
Also ,the governments has provide education and drills for citizens. For example in Japan,
there is education given about earthquakes and also regular large-scale earthquake drills are
held. This ensures good education and awareness among citizens.
Lastly, with well-trained and well-equipped rescue teams, people have higher chances of
being saved and it can reduce the number of people killed. And also disaster aid helps reduce
losses during hazards. For example, the American government has set up emergency funds
for various hazards. This helps strengthen equipment for rescue work. Other place for
example, Japan, New Zealand and the USA encourage private companies to provide
insurance with government-support schemes.
In conclusion, people in hazard-prone areas face more risks than opportunities and there are
major reasons like perceived risks of hazards, possible gains and losses of staying or not
staying in the hazard-prone regions which the people have considered and made rational
decisions. They have thought in economic.social,polotical and personal perspectives plus the
government efforts to reduce possible risks.