POINTERS TO REVIEW UNIT 1 CONCEPT OF DISASTER AND DISASTER RISK

DISASTER ,French word Des meaning Bad

Aster means star
BAD STAR
ANCIENT PEOPLE, disaster occurred due to inauspicious position of the planets, thus the name “Evil
Star”

Concepts of Disaster
D – disruption of function of a large number of people
I – impact involves human, material, monetary and ecological losses
S – sudden devastating and unexpected event
A – affect different levels of society: household level, community level and provincial level
S – safe keeping measures is the utmost concern T – total damages to life, limb and property is appalling
E – exceed the capacity of a neighborhood or the general public to manage by means of its own
resources
R – recovery takes months or years

Section 3 of The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, simply known as RA
10121 , disaster as a severe disruption of a community or society’s day to day functioning that involves
extensive physical, financial, material or ecological losses and it’s devastation surpass the capacity of the
affected people or community to deal with utilizing its own resources.

WHO , an incidence unsettling the customary situation of subsistence and resulting to a point of distress
that go beyond the capacity of adaptation of the affected community.

John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , disaster as sudden overwhelming and unforeseen
events in different levels:
HOUSEHOLD LEVEL= Events that concerns major health issues, financial difficulties, death of loved one,
or social adversities
COMMUNITY LEVEL=Occurrences like fire, collapse of buildings during an earthquake, flood, outbreak
of communicable and contagious diseases, and displacement of people due to armed conflicts.
PROVINCIAL LEVEL= are those that affect a greater number of people and surpass the capability of a
neighborhood or district to cope without outside assistance.

Beach (2010) identified the Disaster Cycle as mitigation/preparedness (pre-disaster phase), response
(disaster phase), recovery (post- disaster phase) and return to mitigation of future disaster.

Mitigation is defined as planning and preparations employ to minimize the impact of a disaster.
Mitigating measures are taken before, during and after a disaster.
Response is the mobilization of forces done during and immediately after a calamitous event. It’s vital
mission is to save life, limb and property. Utilization of all government agencies and non government
organizations is essential.
RA 7160 stipulates that the local government heads can perform emergency measures needed during
and in the aftermath of any disasters be it natural or man-made.
Recovery phase is the slow return to normal life after a disaster.
Concept of Disaster Risk
R – resources are in danger of being lost
I – incident occurring in particular locale over a period of time
S – surveillance is essential in disaster preparation
K – (constant) Disaster Equation Risk = Hazard x Vulnerability/ Capacity Risk is defined as the measure of
the expected losses due to a hazardous event occurring in a given area over a specific period of time.
Taken from the perspective involving community resources risk equation is stated as:
RISK = HAZARD x VULNERABILITY/CAPACITY.

Risk assessment is an important aspect of disaster planning. It identifies what natural or man-made
phenomenon the individual, community or country is at risk for.

Nature of Disaster 2 Major Classifications of Disaster:

(1) Natural - Natural disaster results from an environmental disturbance or peril that surpassed the
coping capacity of the affected community. Eg. Volcanic Eruption, Typhoons, Tsunamis.
(2) Man-made. Man-made disasters are cause by errors of man, either intentional or accidental. Eg. Oil
spills, Armed conflict.

Disasters based on-set, impact and duration:

a. Natural phenomena like earthquakes, tsunamis and tornados usually occur without warning.
b. Advancement of technology made it possible for the populace to prepare from typhoons and volcanic
eruptions
c. Fire begins suddenly and maybe contained within a few hours but the physical, emotional,
psychological, financial, and social effects them.
d. The El Niño Phenomenon while gradual in onset produces prolong impact.

Disasters can also be categorized based on the extent of the disaster related to the ability of the local
government unit or district to take action
(1) Level I Disaster: A community is able to manage the disaster effectively utilizing its own resources;
(2) Level II: A community is not able to manage effectively to a disaster and necessitates assistance from
outside resource.
(3) Level III: A community is not able to manage the disaster effectively and necessitates the assistance
of the national government.

Effects of disasters
1. Human Impact
2. Environmental danger
3. Infrastructure damage

Major Philippine Disaster in terms of Casualties

Year / EVENT / Deaths
November 8, 2013 Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) 6,300
August 17, 1976 Moro Gulf Earthquake 6,000
November 5, 1991 Typhoon Uring (Thelma) 5,956
July 16, 1990 Luzon Earthquake 2,412
 December 4, 2012 Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) 1,901
November 29, 2004 Tropical Depression Winnie 1,619
October 13, 1970 Typhoon Titang (Kate) 1,551
December 15, 2011 Typhoon Sendong (Washi) 1,439
September 1, 1984 Typhoon Nitang (Ike) 1,422
November 30, 2006 Typhoon Reming (Durian) 1,399

Major Philippine Disaster in terms of number of people affected

Year Event Number of people affected
November 8, 2013 Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) 16,106,807
December 4, 2012 Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) 6,246,664
November 12, 1990 Typhoon Ruping (Mike) 6,159,569
September 26, 2009 Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) 4,901,763
June 21, 2008 Typhoon Frank (Fengshen) 4,785,460
September 29, 2009 Typhoon Pepeng (Parma) 4,478,491
August 6, 2012 “Habagat” (Southwest Monsoon) 4,451,725
October 21, 1998 Typhoon Loleng (Babs) 3,902,424
September 27, 2006 Typhoon Milenyo (Xangsane) 3,842,406
November 20, 1973 Typhoon Openg (Vera) 3,400,024

Major Philippine Disaster in terms of Cost of Damages

Year Event Estimated Cost of Damage
(Php)
November 8, 2013 Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) 923, 269, 995
December 4, 2012 Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) 76,183,245
September 4, 1995 Typhoon Sisang (Nina) 31,513,500
September 29, 2009 Typhoon Pepeng (Parma) 26,342,055
June 15, 1991 Mt. Pinatubo Eruption 19,935,000
November 12, 1990 Typhoon Ruping (Mike) 17,482,500
July 16, 1990 Luzon Earthquake 16,632,000
September 24, 2011 Typhoon Pedring (Nesat) 15,487,785
June 21, 2008 Typhoon Frank (Fengshen) 12,811,230
October 18, 2010 Typhoon Juan (Megi) 12,408,525

Prepared by:
Imelda L. Mosqueda