How decision-making affects vulnerability to hazards

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Events such as volcanic eruptions and tropical storms can be seen as natural hazards, implying that people and their property are at risk due to unstoppable forces of nature. However, geographers now understand that the scale of a hazard is magnified when it affects a vulnerable population. Decisions made at local, national and international levels affect the vulnerability of people. Physical and human geography can intersect to cause a disaster, but if we can understand the reasons for vulnerability to hazards, we can also seek strategies to minimise their impact.