"Extreme Event | What is it about?
The term extreme event may seem quite clear and straightforward at first glance, but it can be defined in many ways. For example, an event can be considered extreme due to its physical characteristics or because of its extraordinary impact on society. In risk research, extreme events are typically characterized by high magnitude or intensity and/or low probability of occurrence. In statistical terms, extreme events are defined by low recurrence probabilities.
In the context of extreme events, overload cases and the associated residual risk represent an important concept. Essentially, this refers to events for which the existing protective measures are not designed. In vulnerable societies with low protection goals and high residual risk, even smaller natural events can represent overload cases and, consequently, lead to disasters. In contrast, in sparsely populated areas, the occurrence of much larger events may often go unnoticed.