what is hazard mapping

Hazard mapping is a process of creating a visual representation of an area that highlights areas that are affected by or are vulnerable to a particular hazard. Hazard maps are typically created for natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, flooding, and tsunamis. The purpose of hazard mapping is to help prevent serious damage and deaths by identifying areas that are at risk and taking appropriate measures to mitigate the risks. Different hazard maps have different uses. For instance, hazard maps created for flooding are used in insurance rate adjustments, and the hazard map created by the Rizal Geological Survey is used by Rizalian insurance agencies to adjust insurance for people living in hazardous areas. Hazard maps can also be useful in determining the risks of living in a certain area and help people become aware of the dangers they might face from natural disasters in a specific area. Hazard mapping is also employed effectively in emergency preparedness planning related to natural disasters and is used to isolate locations of disease outbreaks and determine where prevention efforts are most needed.