The snow hazard in Mackenzie County : farmers' perceptions and adjustments.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Man's interaction with his environment involves facing risk and uncertainty in the form of environmental hazards. These threaten life and property, and the normal functioning of individuals and societies (an estimated 250,000 people die, and 25 billion dollars is directly lost each year, through disasters, the realization of hazards).

It is because much can be done to reduce the risk of these extreme events of nature, that a study of natural hazards is warranted.

This study concentrates on the affected population's perceptions of, and adjustments to, one particular hazard.

The result is a picture of this part of the relationship between Man and his environment, and an indication of how it can be modified to be more in Man's favour.

The hazard of the study, is severe snows on farms in Mackenzie County.

These snows are rare events, but they have the potential to be very damaging. However, there are measures the farmer can take to reduce this risk.