Classification of natural disasters between the legislation and application: experience of the Republic of Serbia

Abstract

The paper discusses the definitions of natural disasters and recommends the implementation of definitions and classifications of natural disasters in accordance with those decreed at the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) and Munich Re insurance Company (Munich RE) for administrative use in the Republic of Serbia. For the Republic of Serbia, the issue of natural disasters is presented both through government documents (e.g. the Law on Emergencies and the National Strategy of the Protection and Rescue in Emergencies) and the survey of the frequency and typology of disasters. Significant discrepancies exist between older and more contemporary classifications of disasters in Serbia. They are especially emphasized in comparison to the CRED and Munich RE classifications and databases. This causes problems in the monitoring, recording and assessment of the effects of natural disasters. It is proposed that definitions be adapted and implemented into legislative and other documents.

ФЕНОМЕНОЛОГИЈА ПРИРОДНИХ КАТАСТРОФА Теоријско Одређење И Класификација Природних Катастрофа

“…У литератури постоје бројни радови посвећени класификацији природних катастрофа (Below, Wirtz, & Guha-Sapir, 2009;Berren, Beigel, & Ghertner, 1980;De Boer, 1990;Lukić et al, 2013;Mlađan & Cvetković, 2013;Yang & Chen, 1999). Рецимо, према месту настанка природне катастрофе се могу класификовати на: геофизичке (земљотреси, вулкани, цунами); метеоролошке (торнада, муње, олује с градом, снежне олује, мећаве, хладни и врући таласи итд.…”

Natural hazards – some introductory thoughts

“…Together seven paper are going to be presented. Luki} et al (2013) present contemporary trends in classification of natural hazards and attempts to harmonize them with some examples from Serbia. Gavrilov et al (2013) discuss the problem of hail suppression in Serbia.…”

Forest fire analysis and classification based on a Serbian case study

“…CRED and Munich RE), are prerequisites for improved standardisation, both legislative and applicative (Lukić et al 2013). …”

“…Processes of interaction between natural and anthropogenic systems also bring about hazards. Improved understanding of these interactions alters our comprehension of natural hazards, shifting it from an area of pure natural phenomena to the domain of social and psychological occurrence (Lukić et al 2013).…”