ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses risk as an overlay of hazard and vulnerability. It describes disasters as the realization of risk. Risk assessment includes a wide variety of disciplines and the perspectives of engineers, hydrogeologists, environmental scientists, chemists, microbiologists, geologists, geographers, and public administrators. There are two basic elements associated with risk assessment. These elements are risk quantification or estimation and risk evaluation. Risk assessment can be used as a tool in evaluating the potential impacts on public health of hazardous materials in remote or disposal facilities. A set of policies, procedures, and practices applied to minimize disaster risks at all levels and locations is called risk management. The framework of risk management includes legal provisions defining the responsibilities for disaster damage and long-term social impacts and losses. Groundwater is less vulnerable to short-term natural disasters such as floods, but it is more vulnerable toward long-term man-induced disasters such as overexploitation, gradual drawdown, and widespread contamination.
