Basic Concepts
Hazard - A hazard is defined as “a
dangerous phenomenon, substance,
human activity or condition that may
cause loss of life, injury or other
health impacts, property damage, loss
of livelihoods and services, social and
economic disruption, or environmental
damage” (UNISDR, 2009)
- Could be a potentially damaging
phenomenon
- It could be natural or
human-induced.
Examples: Typhoon, Extreme Rains,
Earthquake, Tsunami, Severe Flooding,
Rain cause landslides, Rough seas
Exposure - The degree to which the
element as risk are likely to
experience hazard events of different
magnitudes
Vulnerability - is the characteristics
and circumstances of a community,
system or asset that make it
susceptible to damaging effects of a
hazard.
- This may arise from various
physical, social, economic &
environmental factors.
Vulnerability has been related to the
following factors:
- Social integration - Ethnicity,
Age, Gender, Location, Status,
Wealth, Income, Education,
Family type.
- Psychological and Physiological -
Locus of control, Disability,
Coping-style, Individual’s
perception, Lifestyle, Agility,
Mobility, Experience
Risk - is the combination of a
Probability of an event to happen and
its negative consequences.
R=
𝐻𝑎𝑧𝑎𝑟𝑑 * 𝑉𝑢𝑙𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 (𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒)
𝐶𝐴𝑃𝐴𝐶𝐼𝑇𝑌
Disasters (Recipe and Remedies)
Disaster - is a natural or man-made
(or technological) hazard resulting in an
event of substantial extent causing
edsignificant physical damage or
destruction, loss of life, or drastic
change to the environment.
A disaster can be ostensively defined
as any tragic event stemming from
events such as earthquakes, floods,
fires, catastrophic accidents. It is a
phenomenon that can cause damage
to life and property and destroy the
economic, social and cultural life of
people.
- Disasters are seen as the
consequences of
inappropriately managed risks.
These risks are the product of
a combination of both hazard/s
and vulnerability. Hazards that
strike in areas with low
vulnerability will never become
disasters, as is the case in
uninhabited regions.
Types of Disasters
Natural Disasters
Examples: Earthquakes, landslides and
avalanches, volcanic eruptions, floods
and cyclones.
Man-made Disasters - Chemical
disaster, Nuclear disaster, Biological
disaster.
Examples: stampedes, fires, transport
accidents, industrial accidents, oil spills
and nuclear explosions/radiation. War
and deliberate attacks may also be
put in this category.
Effects of a Disaster
- Population displacing
- Injury or death
- Risk of epidemic of diseases
- Damage to infrastructure
- Psychological problems
- Food shortage
- Socioeconomic losses
- Shortage of drugs and medical
supplies
When is an event a disaster?
1. At Least 20% of the population
are affected & in need of
emergency assistance or those
dwelling units have been
destroyed.
2. A great number or at least 40%
of the means of livelihood such
as bancas, fishing boats,
vehicles and the like are
destroyed
3. Major roads and bridges are
destroyed and impassable for
at least a week thus disrupting
the flow of transport and
commerce
4. Widespread destruction of
fishponds, crops, poultry, and
livestock, and other agricultural
products and
 5. Epidemic
Why are disaster impacts increasing?
1. Increased in population
2. Climate change
3. Increased vulnerability due to:
- Demographic changes
- Increased concentration of
assets
- Environmental degradation
- Poverty
- Rapid urbanization and
unplanned development

Understanding Disaster Risk

Risk = Hazard * Exposure *
Vulnerability