Nine fallacies of natural disaster: The case of the Sahel

This article presents nine statements which are generally accepted as true. However, when they are applied to a particular situation, in this case the recent prolonged drought in the Sahelian zone in West Africa, they are as often untrue as they are true. For example, such generalizations as people learn from their mistakes or when the rains come, everything will return to normal or technology is the answer, when applied uncritically to a specific situation often prove to become part of the problem as well as a hindrance to the attainment of a solution to that problem.It is strongly suggested that these nine generalizations, here called fallacies, be carefully assessed when applied, thereby removing one more obstacle in dealing with environmental problems in general and natural hazards in particular.Published in Michael H. Glantz (ed.), The Politics of Natural Disasters: The Case of the Sahel Drought (NY: Praeger Publ., 1976) reprinted by permission.Michael H. Glantz is a scientist in the Advanced Study Program at the National Center for Atmospheric Research which is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.