Secondary Hazards

You should also think about secondary hazards. Secondary hazards can lead to cascading effects, and their impacts need to be considered as part of the risk assessment process.

  • Underwater earthquakes can produce tsunamis
  • Earthquakes and floods can lead to fires and landslides
  • Hurricanes include flooding and wind hazards
  • Wildfires, when followed by rain, can produce mudslides and devastating flooding
  • Severe storms can include high winds, lightning, and heavy rains
  • Dam and levee failure can be caused by heavy rains, and can cause catastrophic flooding 
Graphic representation of an equation about secondary hazards.
Secondary Hazard: Wildfires, when followed by rain, can produce mudslides and devastating flooding.