Disasters can have many impacts on the both the physical and natural worlds. These impacts can be summarized as economic, social and psychological impacts. This following section discusses the variety of disaster impacts.
2.4.1 Economic and Social Impacts
Disasters impact on the economy of a country in a number of ways. Some researchers have claimed that natural disasters can have a positive effect on the economy of a country. For example, the gross domestic product (GDP) in a country rises immediately after a natural disaster as money is spent on reconstruction (Albala-Bertrand, 1993; Otero and Marti, 1995; Dacy and Kunreuther, 1969; West and Lenze,1994)
However, other researchers say that this increase is temporary and natural disasters, especially large disasters, have negative impacts on the economic growth of a country (Raddatz, 2007; Noy, 2009; Raddatz, 2009; Loayza, et al., 2009; Fomby et al., 2009; Hochchrainer, 2009). For example, disasters have considerable impacts on the infrastructure of a country (housing, roads, telecommunications, utilities and others), which leads to to impacts on economic activities such as employment, production, income and inflation (Cavallo and Noy, 2010). Benson and Clay
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(2004: 1-3) explain that "natural disasters can and do have severe negative short-run economic impacts" and that there may be "adverse longer-term consequences for economic growth, development and poverty reduction." For example, The World Disasters Report (IFRC, 2002) states that a natural disaster can wipe out the long-process of development in a country in just a few hours. Therefore, the affected country should modify its investment programs (long-term effects) and economic policies (short-term effects).
Benson and Clay (2004) also point out different types of disasters have different impacts on the economy of the country. For example, meteorological disasters, which are very frequent, usually have wide negative impacts on the agriculture of the country. On the other hand, geophysical disasters, which are less frequent, usually have negative localized effects, for example damage to infrastructure.
Economic impacts of natural disasters are interconnected with social impacts. Kahn (2005) explains that the death toll of natural disasters in developing countries is much higher than industrialized countries because the former is ill-prepared for disasters while the latter is well- prepared. Similarly, Wildavsky (1988) argues that increased income usually means increased safety and preparation for natural disasters. Burton, et al. (1993) adds that there is a reverse relation between vulnerability and income. In other words, increased income means lower vulnerability and vice versa. The majority of people in developed countries have insurance schemes, better building construction and advanced weather and seismic monitoring devices. Moreover, some people in developing countries live in vulnerable and isolated areas, which makes it very difficult to reach the affected people.
In short, natural disasters might have negative impacts on the short-term economic performance of a country and long-term development of the affected country. Increased social impacts are also observed in developing countries where many poor people are vulnerable to disasters.
2.4.2 Psychological Impacts
Disasters, in psychology, are seen as mass traumatic events that affect many people (Sandhu and Kaur, 2013). People who are affected by disasters are called victims. There are different
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kinds of victims in disasters such as those who were injured, those who escaped death, family- members of the deceased and those who witnessed the disaster.
Sandhu and Kaur (2013) mentioned many psychological impacts for natural disasters. These impacts are peri-traumatic stress reactions, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complicated grief symptoms, depression, anxiety disorder, substance abuse disorders, distorted perceptions, pessimism and a tendency towards suicide. In some cases, people do commit suicide. The most common mental health disorders that occur after disasters are PTSD, depression, and generalized anxiety disorder (Meewisse et al., 2011; Norris et al., 2002).
The prevalence of PTSD was generally found to be 30 –40 per cent of directly impacted disaster victims. The psychological impact of disaster varies according to the type of disaster, with the lowest prevalence in natural disasters and the highest in man-made disasters (Neria et al., 2008).
The psychological impacts of natural disasters on the health of survivors can be detrimental as survivors might resort to self-medication with drugs or alcohol before they seek assistance from health providers. If the survivors already have mental health problems, they might increase the use of health facilities due to physical or psychological reasons (Den Ouden et al., 2007; Olteanu et al., 2011; Van der Velden et al., 2006). Such people are the most vulnerable to the psychological impacts of natural disasters because there will be disruption in usual health care, medication access, routine/support, and living environment (Horan et al., 2007).
The psychological impacts of natural disasters vary according to the age of the affected people. Children, particularly young children, are vulnerable and might suffer short- and long-term mental health problems throughout the disaster. Though teenagers are more developed and resilient than children, they are still suffer different mental health impacts because of loss of friends, community and possessions (Crane and Clements, 2005). As for older people, they can be the most vulnerable to the psychological impacts of natural disasters because of the difficulty in their evacuation, disruption of the daily routine, high risk of physical injury, loss of economic resources, delay in recovery, relocation, limited financial resources and replacement in possessions/housing and residing in a nursing home (Brown, 2007).
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