Calamity and Disaster Preparedness

Disaster

It is a disturbance of a normal condition whether man-made or natural. This will cause

damage to lives, properties, and geographical contour of the area depending on the
magnitude of effect. Disasters happen when communities alone cannot manage an
emergency resulting from hazards, using their own resources. Thus, the community
requires external assistance because the damage and destruction exceeds their abilities
and capacities.

Disaster Management

It includes the development of disaster recovery plans, for minimizing the risk of
disaster recovery plans, for minimizing the risks of disasters and for handling them
when they do occur and the implementation of such plans. Disaster management
usually refers to the management of natural catastrophes such as fire, flooding, or
earthquakes. 

Disaster Risk Reduction

According to ASEAN Agreement (2005), it means a conceptual framework of elements

considered with the possibilities to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risks through
mitigation and preparedness to avoid the adverse impact of hazards within the broad
context of sustainable development.

Disaster Control

The act of limiting or mitigating the effects of disasters through the introduction of
measures designed to prepare the inhabitant and to protect their lives and properties
before, during and after a disaster.

NDCC is an inter- agency council responsible for disaster preparedness, prevention and
mitigation. It is chaired by the Secretary of National Defense with the heads of 18
departments. The NDCC utilizes the facilities and services of the office of the Civil
Defense as its operating arm in the discharge of its functions. NDCC does not
implement activities related to DRM since it is a policy and coordinating agency. It
operates through member agencies and its local networks (regional, and local disaster
coordinating councils) which are responsible for planning, implementing, funding and
carrying out specific activities related to DRM. NDCC adopted a Disaster Management
Framework to address the different stages of disaster management.
PHILIPPINE DISASTER REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT ACT (RA 10121)

LEGISLATIVE 2010- The act shifted the policy environment and the way the country
deals with disasters from mere response to preparedness.

RA 10121   -provides a comprehensive, all- hazard, multi-sectoral, inter agency and

community based approach to disaster risk management through the formulation of the
National Disaster Risk Management Framework. RA 10121 provides for the calamity
fund to be used in support of disaster risk reduction or mitigation, prevention, and
preparedness activities for the potential occurrence of disasters and not just for
response, relief, and rehabilitation efforts. Local risk patterns and trends and
decentralization of resources and responsibilities are recognized by R.A 10121 and
encourages the participation of NGOs, private sectors, community based organizations,
and community members in disaster management. Moreover the act mandates the
establishment of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management office (DRRMO) in every
province, city, and municipality, and a Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Committee (BDRRMC) in every barangay.

DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT (DRRM) Is a range of activities

(preparedness, mitigation, prevention, emergency response, recovery) that contribute
to increasing capacities and reducing immediate and long term vulnerabilities to
prevent, or at least minimize the damaging impact in a community.

ROLE OF THE YOUTH IN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

1. SHARING THE MESSAGE- According to Ronan et.al (2008) youth can help share the
message of disaster preparedness.

2. Acting as change makers- Youth can act as change makers by sharing information
they learned in youth preparedness programs and helping parents and communities to
prepare for disaster, for example by developing a disaster plan or disaster preparation
kit.

3. BRINGING CREATIVITYs- Youth can bring creative and resourceful ideas to disaster
preparedness efforts (Barlett 2008).

Man-made Disaster is caused by any untoward human activity resulting to damage to

properties and loss of lives. Below are some examples of manmade disasters with
corresponding preventive measures:

3 CATEGORIES OF MAN-MADE DISASTER

1. Armed Conflict and Civil Strife- Disaster management concern itself with various
aspects of armed conflicts and civil strife including the protection and support of
displaced person and refugees during the conflict, physical and economic reconstruction
and social rehabilitation in the aftermath of the conflict.( Mindanao Abu Sayyaf and
Moro National  Liberation Front activities in Mindanao.

2. Technological Disasters- usually a result of accidents or incidents occurring in the

manufacture, transport or distribution of hazardous substances such as fuel, chemicals,
explosives or nuclear materials.

3. Disaster in Human Settlements- Urban fire is the kind of principal disaster. There can
be devastating effect when fires break out in low level communities or in depressed
areas.  

FIRE- is a product of combustible materials. In order to produce fire there must be

fuel, oxygen and heat

The Bureau of Fire Protection suggests these basic preventions:

A.    During fire, close the door of the room where there is fire and close all doors as
you leave to delay the spread of fire and smoke.

B.    Make sure to use the back of your hand in touching hot objects. If it feels warm
stay on the other side.

C.    When there is too much smoke, cover your nose and mouth with wet towel drop to
the floor and crawl away from the fire.

D.   Leave the affected area as quickly as possible without saving valuables or

possessions; and Plan your escape route before the fire spreads. Most of all, do not
panic.

Nature of Fire

Elements of fire

A. Fuel – is an essential substance that burned on any matter capable of burning.

B. Heat - is a form of energy capable of raising temperature . Hence the fuel must be
heated to its kindling temperature. 

C. Oxygen - there should the presence of sufficient oxygen which comes from the
surrounding air
GENERAL CLASSIFICATIONS OF FUEL ARE;

1. CLASS A- These are the ordinary combustible materials which are mostly solid. 2. 2.
CLASS B– These are the kinds of fuel which are in liquid or gas state ( LPG, OIL, AND
OTHER PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.)

3. CLASS C- These are electrically energized fuel ( flat iron, electric fan, etc.)

4. CLASS D- metallic fire ( potassium, magnesium and other combustile metals.

HEAT- comes from the fuel itself which called spontaneous combustion. This contains
hydrocarbon (CH2) which comes from plants and animals.

VAPOR- is considered hydrocarbon which ignites when mixed with oxygen in air.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATIONS OF ENERGY (HEAT)

1. CHEMICAL ENERGY- It is the heat which results from chemical reaction -heat
decomposition-heat solution

2. ELECTRICAL ENERGY- It is the heat from the electricity.

-resistance heating

-arching

-short circuiting
-electric heating

3. MECHANICAL ENERGY- It is the heat resulting from

- Friction

 - Compression

4. SOLAR ENERGY- It is the energy derived the sun. It confines the distribution of
radiated even rays from the sun in one area.

5. Nuclear energy- It is the heat resulting from breaking or combining atom.

Heat fission- separating or breaking of an atom

Heat Fusion- combining atom together

STAGES OF FIRE

1. Incipient Stage- There is no visible smoke or flame.

2. Smoldering stage- There is smoke but no flame.

3. Flame Stage- There is an actual fire and heat builds up in the air.

4. Heat Stage- There is uncontrolled spread of super-heated air. 

MOST COMMON SOURCES OF FIRE

1. Arson

2. Lightning

3. Kitchen Grease

4. Flammable Chemicals

5. Electrical short circuits

6. Debris burning in Forest and neglected camp

7. Overheated electrical appliance

CLASSES OF FIRE AND HOW THEY ARE EXTINGUISHED

1. CLASS A- Materials: wood, cloth, paper, trash, plastic and upholstery. Use water to
extinguish class A fires, soda acid or foam extinguishers.

2. CLASS B- Fire occurs out of flammable liquids and gases such as gasoline, oil grease,
paints, kerosene, solvents, etc.

Use dry powder foam, vaporizing liquid or carbon dioxide extinguishers for class B fires.
Don’t use water on class B fires it will speedily spread the fire.

3. CLASS C – This kind of fire originates from energized electrical equipment, fuse
boxes, wirings and appliances.

Using water should be avoided as it may cause shock or fatal electrocution.

4. CLASS D- Combustile metals are the sources of Class D fires such as magnesium,
potassium, and sodium and other materials.

OIL SPILL This can be accidental or intentional and can happen both in the sea or
land usually during collisions of transport vehicle.

NATURAL DISASTER

Natural Disasters occur when there is no human intervention to cause such and are
often referred to as “Acts of God”. These are some practical preventions.

1.   FLOOD- When fast rising of water in an area has been observed, go to the higher
ground. Flood is the condition that occurs when water overflows the natural or artificial
confines of a stream or body of water or when run off waters from heavy rainfall
accumulates over low lying areas. The effects of floods can be local, impacting a
neighborhood or community or very large affecting entire river basins and multiple
cities and towns.  Flash floods have a dangerous wall or roaring water that carries mud,
rocks, and other debris that can sweep away most things in its path. Flooding overland
occurs outside a defined river, stream. Flooding can also occur when a dam breaks
producing effects similar to flash-floods.

2.   TYPHOON- Always monitor the weather bulletin to the local weather bureau and
local government units.

3.   TSUNAMI- When there is a fast decrease in the sea water level usually the
tsunami occurs and even after an earthquake. According to national Calamities and
disaster Preparedness Plan (august 24, 1988) is a series of travelling ocean waves of
long length and period usually caused by a seismic disturbances in the ocean floor. 

4.   STORM SURGE- pertains to the abnormal rise of water level along a shore as a

result primarily of the winds and pressures associated with storms.
5.   EARTHQUAKE – One of the most frightening and destructive phenomena of
nature is a severe earthquake. Most earthquakes are due to the movement of large
slabs of rock called tectonic plates. Theses plates may be bent or stretched when the
plates slide or move against each other. Sooner or later the plates break and shift . The
stored energy is released in the form of waves when the break happens, which we feel
as earthquake.

Earthquake is a sudden slipping or movement of a portion of the earth’s crust

accompanied and followed by series of vibrations.

If this occurs, cover your head with hard object like books, chairs and others and leave
the building immediately.

EARTHQUAKE INTENSITY SCALE

 INTENSITY I: SCARCELY PERCEPTIBLE

1. Under favorable circumstances, people can feel it.

2. Balanced delicate objects are disturbed slightly.

3. Still water in containers oscillates noticeably.

INTENSITY II- SLIGHTLY FELT

1. It is felt by few individuals at rest indoors.

2. Objects which are hanging swing slightly

3. Still water in containers oscillates noticeably.

INTENSITY III- WEAK

1. Many people indoors especially in upper floors of buildings felt it. Vibration is felt like
the passing of a light truck. Some people feel dizzy and nauseated.

2. Objects which are hanging swing moderately.

3. Still water in containers oscillates moderately.

INTENSITY IV- MODERATELY STRONG

1. People indoors and some who are outdoors generally felt it. People who are sleeping
lightly are awakened. Vibration is felt like the passing of a heavy truck.

2. Objects which are hanging swing considerably. Dinner plates, glasses, windows and
doors rattle. Floors and walls of wood framed building creak.

3. Parked cars may rock slightly.

4. Water in containers oscillates strongly.

5. Rumbling sound may sometimes be hear.

INTENSITY V- STRONG

1. Most people indoors and outdoors generally feel it. Many people sleeping are
awakened, frightened, and some run outdoors. You can feel strong shaking and rocking
throughout the building.

2. Objects which are hanging swing violently. Some dinning utensils are clattering and
clinking; hence are broken, small, light and unstable objects may fall or overturn.

3. Leaves and twigs of trees are shaking noticeably.

4. Open containers filled with liquid spill. Vehicles rock noticeably.

INTENSITY VI- VERY STRONG

1. Many people are frightened and run outdoors. Some may loose their balance.
Motorist feel like driving with flat tires.
2. Objects and furniture which are heavy move or may be shifted.
3. In hilly and mountains areas, few rocks and boulders roll. You can see trees
which are noticeably shaken.

INTENSITY VII- DESTRUCTIVE-

1. Most people are frightened and run outdoors. People find it difficult to stand in upper
floors.

2. Objects and furniture which are heavy overturn or topple.

3. You can observe limited liquefaction, lateral spreading and landslides. Trees are
shaken strongly.

INTENSITY VIII- VERY DESTRUCTIVE

 1. People panic and find it difficult to stand even outdoors.
2.  Many well-built buildings are considerably damaged.
3. There is displacement of tombstones, twisted or overturned.
4.  Manmade structures, tilt or tople brought by liquefaction and lateral spreading.

INTENSITY IX- DEVASTATING

1.  People are forcibly thrown to the ground. All are frightened.

2. Most buildings are totally damaged. Elevated structures and bridges are toppled
or destroyed.
3.  Plenty of utility posts, towers and monuments are tilted, toppled or broken.
Water and sewer pipes are bent, twisted or broken.

INTENSITY X- COMPLETELY DEVASTATING

1.  All man-made structures are practically destroyed.

2. There are massive landslides and liquefaction, large scale subsidence and
uplifting of land forms and many ground fissures can be observed.
3. There are changes in river courses and destructive seethes in large lakes.
4. There are many trees that are toppled, broken, or uprooted.  

AFTERSHOCK- It is an earthquake of similar or lesser intensity that follows the main

earthquake.

EPICENTER- The place on the earth’s surface directly above the point on the fault
where the earthquake rupture began. It expands along the fault during the earthquake
and fault slippage begins and can extend hundreds of miles before stopping

INTENSITY- the strength of earthquake based on the effects a person experiences

during an earthquake and on the damage it caused.

MAGNITUDE- A magnitude if 7.0 on the Richter scale indicates a extremely strong

earthquake. Each whole number on the scale represents an increase of about 30 times
more energy released than the previous whole number presented. An earthquake
therefore measuring 6.0 is about 30 times more powerful than one measuring

SEISMIC WAVES- These are vibrations that travel outward from the earthquake fault
at speeds several times per second.

SEISMOGRAPH- is a recording instrument used by the scientists to determine the

strength and location of earthquakes. It is equipped with sensors called seismometers
that can detect ground motions caused by seismic waves.

SEISMOGRAM- is the record of the wave printed on paper, film, or recording tape or
is stored and displayed by computers.
6. VOLCANIC ERUPTION- Keep updated with the reports and to the advice of the
volcanologist if you are living near a volcano. Out 220 volcanoes in the archipelago, 22
are classified as active . The most active volcanoes in the Philippines are Bulusan,Mayon
, Canlaon and taal. The most recent major eruption in the country is the Mt. Pinatubo
eruption in June 1991. PHIVOLCS forecast of the evnt saved at least 5 000 lives and US
$250 million worth of property and infrastructure.

You should prepare first aid kit, flash light and radio with batteries, matches, candles,
ready to eat food and extra cloth wrap in plastic bags before the occurrence of a
natural calamity.

7. TROPICAL CYCLONE- an intense weather disturbance such as typhoon and storm

composed of a big whirling mass of wind and rains similar to whirlwind, tornado or
waterspout but having immense or wide dimensions

8. RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT- are dust particles of earth and debris together with

radioactive materials that cling to them, carried by wind for many kilometers  and falling
it back to earth.

9. LANDSLIDES- brought by movement of masses of rocks, dearth or debris down a

slope. They are activated by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, storms, fires and human
modification of land.

GENERAL EFFECTS OF DISASTER

1. Loss of life

2. Injury

3. Damage to and destruction of property

4. Damage to and destruction of subsistence and cash crops

5. Disruption of production

6. Disruption of lifestyles

7. Loss of livelihood

8. Disruption of essential services

9. Damage to national infrastructure and disruption of governmental systems

10. National economics loss and

11. Sociological and psychological after effects.