The relevance and nature of natural hazard losses in the coastal zone

A nation whose coastal areas, offshore as well as onshore, are becoming more intensively developed and utilized must recognize the potential property damage as well as loss of life and cost of injuries that may result from increasing vulnerability to natural hazards such as hurricanes, accompanying tornadoes, and other storms. These will have an impact on communications as well as boat and vessel accidents, also on near-shore and offshore installations. The conclusions of this paper underscore the importance of safe and effective use of the marine environment and the need for increasing attention and analysis. Perhaps nowhere is our need for environmental data and analysis so great as it is in dealing with environmental hazards. As our growth continues are we still at the mercy of our physical environment?