LESSON 4

DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT AWARENESS

“Trusting our intuition often saves us from disaster.”

-Anne Wilson Schaef

Lesson Objectives:

When you finish reading this lesson, you should be able to

1. Update knowledge on the operational concepts, principles structures and priority

actions relative to the Philippine Disaster Management System.

2. Identify risk reduction and preparedness activities that will reduce vulnerability,
mitigate the impact of emergencies and support efforts to prevent conflict and civil
unrest.

3. Acquire knowledge skills in various basic life support particularly on

preparedness and response training.

4. Create contingency plans based on the likely emergencies in their respective

schools.

5. Value their involvement and participation in preventing disaster risk reduction in

their respective schools as would be reservist.

DISASTER DEFINED

Disaster occurs when a hazard is realized. The term disaster is derived from the
Latin roots, dis and astro, meaning “away from the stars” or, in other words, an event to
be blamed on an unfortunate astrological configuration. Hazard, on the other hand,
means a danger or a risk. However, there is a caveat to this definition: to be considered
disastrous, the realized hazard must overwhelm the capability of a community (Coppola
2011).

Worst Disasters in Record History

Disaster Year Number Killed

 1. Mediterranean earthquake (Egypt and 1201 1,100,000
Syria)
1556 830,000
2. Shaanzi earthquake (China)
1737 300,000
3. Calcutta typhoon (India)
1780 22,000
4. Carribean hurricane (Martinique)
1815 80,000
5. Tamboro volcano (Indonesia)
1917 20,000,000
6. Influenza epidemic (world)
1931 3,000,000
7. Yangtze River flood (China)
1932 5,000,000
8. Famine (Russia)
1970 300,000
9. Bangladesh cyclone (Bangladesh)
1976 655,000
10. Tangshan earthquake (China)

Source: Coppola, D.P. 2011. Introduction to International Disaster Management. 2nd ed.
Massachusetts: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Source: Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency. 2013. “The Four Phases of Emergency
Management”. Accessed August 8, 2014, from http://www.scema.org/aboutus.php.

1. Mitigation. Mitigation seeks to reduce the likelihood or a consequence of

hazards risk before a disaster even occurs.

2. Preparedness. Preparedness minimizes hazard’s adverse effects through

effective precautionary measures that ensure a timely, appropriate and efficient
organization and delivery of response and relief action.
 3. Response. The response function of emergency management includes actions
aimed at limiting injuries, loss of life, and damage to property and the environment
that are taken prior to, during, and immediately after a hazard event.

4. Recovery. Disaster recovery is the emergency management function by which

countries, communities, families, and individuals repair, reconstruct, or regain what
has been lost as result of a disaster and, ideally, the risk of similar catastrophe in the
future. (Coppola 2007)

THE BIRTH OF THE OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE (OCD) IN THE PHILIPPINES

The office of Civil Defense in the Philippines started as the National Civil Defense
Administration (NCDA) and was established on August 18, 1954 through Republic Act
1190 otherwise known as the Civil Defense Act of 1954. On September 27, 2010,
Republic Act 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Act of 2010, was passed into law. This act, aimed to strengthen the
country’s disaster risk reduction and management system, was immediately passed in
response to the massive effects of typhoon “Ondoy” that wrought havoc to the National
Capital Region last September 26, 2009 (Office of Civil Defense 2013).

FUNCTIONS OF OCD

OCD, as the implementing arm of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council (NDRRMC), has the primary mission of administering a
comprehensive national civil defense and disaster risk reduction management program.
It provides leadership in the continuous development of strategic and systematic
approaches and measures to reduce the vulnerabilities and risks to hazards and
manage the consequences of disasters (“Functions of OCD” 2013).
Source: FAO Corporate Document Repository. 2003. “Organizational Structure of the Office of Civil
Defense”. Accessed August 10, 2014 from http://www.fao.org/wairdocs/ad695e/ad695e02.htm.

TYPES OF DISASTERS

Earthquake

The July 16, 1990 magnitude 7.9 earthquake in Luzon is one of the most well-
known earthquakes that hit the Philippines which caused the Hyatt Hotel in Baguio City
to totally collapse. It killed 1.621 people and an estimated damage of around 15 billion
pesos.

Earthquakes are caused by sudden movements, comparatively near to the

earth’s surface, along a zone of pre-existing geological weakness, called fault. These
movements are preceded by the slow build-up of tectonic strain that progressively
deforms the crustal rocks and produces stored elastic energy. When the stress exceeds
the strength of the fault, the rock fractures. This sudden release of energy produces
seismic waves that radiate outwards in ever widening spheres around the fault. It is the
fracture of the brittle crust followed by elastic rebounding on either side of the fracture,
which causes ground shaking. The point of rupture (bypocentre) can occur anywhere
between the earth’s surface and a depth of 700 km. The most damaging events,
accounting for about three-quarters of the global seismic energy release, are shallow
focus earthquakes. Earthquakes are measured at the epicenter and its magnitude is
measured using a scale named after its developer, Charles Ritcher (Smith 2004).

The Ritcher Magnitude Scale of Earthquake

Descriptor Magnitude Annual Average Hazard Potential

1. Great Earthquake 8 and higher 1 Total destruction, high loss of life

2. Major Earthquake 7-7.9 18 Serious building damage, major

loss of life

3. Strong Earthquake 6-6.9 120 Large losses, especially in urban

areas

4. Moderate 5-5.9 800 Significant losses in populated

Earthquake areas

5. Light Earthquake 4-4.9 6,200 Usually felt, some structural

damage

6. Minor Earthquake 3-3.9 49,000 Typically felt but usually little

damage

7. Very Minor Less than 3 9,000 per day Not felt but recorded
Earthquake

Source: Coppola, D.P. 2011. Introduction to International Disaster

Management. 2nd ed. Massachusetts: Butterworth-Heinemann.

The Ten Strongest Earthquakes in the World since 1900

 Location Date Magnitude (Ritcher Scale)

1. Chile 1960 9.5

2. Alaska 1964 9.2

3. Aleutian Island 1957 9.1

4. Kamchatka 1952 9.0

5. Ecuador (off the coast) 1906 8.8

6. Aleutian Islands 1965 8.7

7. India—China border 1950 8.6

8. Kamchatka 1923 8.5

9. Indonesia, Banda Sea 1938 8.5

10. Kuril Islands 1963 8.5

Source: Coppola, D.P. 2011. Introduction to International

Disaster Management. 2nd ed. Massachusetts:
Butterworth-Heinemann.
Tsunami

The
magnitude 9.0 Tohoku
earthquake
was recorded
as the most
powerful earthquake
to ever happen in
Japan as it also
resulted in a tsunami
which reached
133 ft. in height.

Source: Asianet Satellite Communications Ltd. 2012. “2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami”.
Accessed September 10, 2014, from http://asianetindia.com/2011-Tohoku-earthquake-
and-tsunami

The world’s ‘tsunami’ comes from two Japanese words: tsu (port, harbor) and
name (wave or sea), an appropriate derivation since these waves inundate low lying
coastal areas. Most tsunamis result from tectonic displacement of the seabed by large,
shallow-focus earthquakes. They can also be caused by the collapse of volcanic
Islands, large rocks fall into confined bays and meteorite impacts. From 1982-2002, 157
tsunamis were recorded worldwide, with all but 19 located in the Pacific region. Pacific
Ocean tsunamis have claimed the lives of over 50,000 coastal residents during the past
100 years. The most active source region responsible for about one-quarter of these
events, is along the Japan-Taiwan island arc near the edges of four tectonic plates.
 Worldwide Recorded Fatalities from Tsunamis 1982-2002

Date location Fatalities

1. 26 May 1983 Japan 103

2. 10 August 1988 Solomon Island 1

3. 2 September 1992 Nicaragua 169

4. 12 December 1992 Indonesia 2,080

5. 12 July 1993 Sea of Japan 330

6. 15 February 1994 Sumatra, Indonesia 7

7. 2 June 1994 South of Java, Indonesia 223

8. 4 November 1994 Skagway Alaska 1

9. 14 November 1994 Mindoro Is., Philippines 87

10. 1 January 1996 Sulawesi, Indonesia 9

11. 17 January 1996 Irian Jaya, Indonesia 108

12. 21 February 1996 North Coast of Peru 12

13. 17 July 1998 Papua New Guinea 2,182

14. 17 August 1999 Izmit Bay, Turkey 150

15. 26 November 1999 Vanuatu 5

16. 23 June 2001 South Peru 96

Source: Coppola, D.P. 2011. Introduction to international Disaster

Management. 2nd ed. Massachusetts: Butterworth-
Heinemann.
Volcanic Eruption

The
eruption of Mt.
Pinatubo on June
15, 1991 produced
one of the largest
terrestrial eruptions
of the 20th century.
The effects of
the eruption
were felt worldwide.

Source: Advameg, Inc. 2014. “Volcanoes”. In What is Global Warming? Accessed August 10,2014. From
http://www.scienceclarified.com/scitech/Global-Warming/What-Is-Global-Warming.html

There are about 500 active volcanoes throughout the world. In a normal year,
around 50 erupts. Despite their dramatic appearance and high public profile, volcanic
hazards create fewer distress than earthquakes or severe storms although the
infrequency of eruptive events is one of the most dangerous features. Traditionally
volcanoes have been classified as active, dormant or extinct. To be prudent, all
volcanoes that have erupted within the last 25,000 years should be regarded as at least
potentially active. In the past most volcanoes-related deaths have been due to indirect
causes, such as famine due to the destruction of crops by ash fall. Today, deaths are
more directly associated with violent eruptions and lahars (Smith 2004).

Tropical Cyclone
 Super typhoon Yolanda (International name: Haiyan) was a very powerful
typhoon with 230 km/h which hit the Philippines on November 8, 2013. It holds the
record of being the world’s strongest storm which landfall was ever recorded. It was also
the deadliest typhoon that ever hit the country which left more than 6,000 people dead.
Tropical cyclones (Indian Ocean and Australia) are sometimes called hurricanes
(Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean), or typhoons (Pacific Ocean). About 15 percent of the
world’s population is at risk from tropical cyclones. In 1992-2001, they were possible for
most of the 60, 447 people reported killed by ‘windstorms’, although most of these
deaths were due to drowning in the storm surge. Like other hazards, tropical cyclones
bring benefits as well as losses. An average year, about 86 tropical storms (winds of at
least 18 m s-1), 47 hurricane-force tropical cyclones (winds of at least 33 m s-1) and
20n intense hurricane-force tropical cyclones (winds of at least 50 m s-1) are recorded
worldwide. (typhoon in the Philippines 2013)

The Philippine Public Storm Warning Signals

Philippine Storm Warning Signal #1

Meteorological Conditions:

➢ A tropical cyclone will affect the locality.

➢ Winds of 30-60kph may be expected in at least 36 hours or intermittent rains may be
expected within 36 hours. (When the tropical cyclone develops very close to the locality,
a shorter lead time of the occurrence of the winds will be specified in the warning
bulletin.)

Impacts of the Winds:

➢ Twigs and branches of small trees may be broken

➢ Some banana plants may be tilted or downed.
➢ Some houses of very light materials (nipa and cogon) may be partially unroofed.
➢ Unless this warning signal is upgraded during the entire existence of the tropical
cyclone, only very light or no damage at all may be sustained by the exposed
communities.
➢ Rice crops, however, may suffer significant damage when it is in the flowering
stage.

Precautionary Measures:

➢ When the tropical cyclone is strong or is intensifying and is moving closer, this
signal may be upgraded to the next level.
➢ The waves on coastal waters may gradually develop and become bigger and
higher.
➢ The people are advised to listen to the latest severe weather bulletin issued by
PAGASA every six hours.in the meantime, business may be carried out as usual
except when flood occurs.
➢ Disaster preparedness is activated to alert status.
 Philippine Storm Warning Signal #2

Meteorological Conditions:

➢ A tropical cyclone will affect the locality.

➢ Winds of greater than 60kph and up to 100kph may be expected in at least 24
hours.

Impact of the Winds:

➢ Some coconut trees may be tilted with few others broken.

➢ Few big trees may be uprooted.
➢ Many banana plants may be downed.
➢ Rice and corn may be adversely affected.
➢ Large number of nipa and cogon houses may be partially or totally
unroofed.
➢ Some old galvanized iron roofings may be peeled off.
➢ In general, the winds may be light to moderate damage to the exposed
communities.

Precautionary Measures:

➢ The sea and coastal waters are dangerous to small sea crafts.
➢ Special attention should be given to the latest position, the direction and
speed of movement and the intensity of the storm, as it may intensify and
move towards the locality.
➢ The general public, especially people travelling by sea and air, are
cautioned to avoid unnecessary risks.
➢ Outdoor activities of children should be postponed.
➢ Secure properties before the signal is upgraded.
➢ Disaster preparedness agencies/organizations are in action to alert their
communities.

Philippine Storm Warning Signal #3

Meteorological Conditions:

➢ A tropical cyclone will affect the locality.

➢ Winds of greater than 100kph up to 185kph may be expected in at least 18
hours.
Impact of the Winds:

➢ Many coconut trees may be broken or destroyed.

➢ Almost all banana plants may be downed and a large number of trees may be
uprooted.
➢ Rice and corn crops may suffer heavy losses.
➢ Majority of nipa and cogon houses may be unroofed or destroyed and there may
be considerable damage to structures of light to medium construction.
➢ There may be widespread disruption of electrical power and communication
services.
➢ In general, moderate to heavy damage may be experienced, particularly in the
agricultural and industrial sectors.

Precautionary Measures:

➢ The disturbance is dangerous to communities threatened/affected.

➢ The sea and coastal waters will be very dangerous to all sea crafts.
➢ Travel is very risky, especially by sea or air.
➢ People are advised to seek shelter in strong buildings, evacuate low-lying areas
and to stay away from the coasts and riverbanks.
➢ Watch out for the passage of the “eye” of the typhoon indicated by sudden
occurrence of fair weather immediately after a very bad weather with very strong
winds coming generally from the north.
➢ When the “eye” of the typhoon hits the community do not venture away from the
safe shelter because after one to two hours the worst weather will resume with
the very strong winds coming from the south.
➢ Classes in all levels should be suspended and children should stay in the safety
of string buildings.
➢ Disaster preparedness and response agencies/organizations are in action with
appropriate responses to actual emergencies.

Philippine Storm Warning Signal #4

Meteorological Conditions:

➢ A very intense typhoon will affect the locality.

➢ Very strong winds of more than 185kph may be expected in at least 12 hours.

Impact of the Winds:

➢ Coconut plantations may suffer extensive damage.

➢ Many large trees may be uprooted.
➢ Rice and corn plantations may suffer severe losses.
➢ Most residential and institutional buildings of mixed construction may be severely
damaged.
 ➢ Electrical power distribution and communication services may be severely
disrupted.
➢ In the overall, damage to affected communities can be very heavy.

Precautionary Measures:

➢ The situation is potentially very destructive to the community.

➢ All travels and outdoor activities should be cancelled.
➢ Evacuation to safer shelters should have been completed since it may be too late
under this situation.
➢ With PSWS #4, the locality is very likely to be hit directly by the eye of the
typhoon. As the eye of the typhoon approaches the weather will continuously
with the wind increasing to its strongest coming generally from the north. Then a
sudden improvement of the weather will cause light winds (a lull) will be
experienced. This means that the eye of the typhoon is over the locality. This
improved weather may last for more than one to two hours depending on the
diameter of the eye and the speed of the movement. As the eye moves out of the
locality, the worst weather experienced before the lull will suddenly commence.
This time, the very strong winds will come generally from the south.
➢ The disaster coordinating council concerned and other disaster response
organizations are now fully responding to emergencies and in full readiness to
immediately respond to possible calamity.
Source: PAGASA-DOST. 2014. “Philippine Public Storm Warning Signal”. Accessed August 10, 2014,
from http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/learning-tools/public-storm-warning-signals.

What to do before, During and after the Typhoon

TYPHOON SURVIVAL

BEFORE THE TYPHOON DURING THE TYPHOON AFTER THE TYPHOON

★ Store and adequate
supply of food and clean
water. Prepare foods
that need to be cooked.
★ Keep flashlights,
candles and battery-
powered radios within
easy reach.
★ Examine your house
and repair its unstable
parts.
★ Always keep yourself
updated with the latest
weather report.
★ Should you need to
evacuate, bring clothes,
first aid kit
candles/flashlight,
battery-powered radio,
food, etc.
Source: The Philippine Red Cross
More information at http://www.redcross.org.ph/lifeline.php
★ Stay inside the house. ★ If your house was
★ Always keep yourself destroyed, make
updated with the latest sure that it is
weather report. already safe and
★ If safe drinking water is stable when you
not available, boil water for enter. Watch out
at least 20 minutes. Place for live wires or
it in a container with cover. outlets immersed
★ Keep an eye on lighted in water.
candles or gas lamps. ★ Report damage
★ Do not wade through electrical cables
floodwaters to avoid being and fallen electric
electrocuted and posts to the
contracting diseases. authorities.
★ If there is a need to move ★ Do not let water
to an evacuation center, accumulate in
follow these reminders: tires, cans or pots
1. Evacuate calmly. to avoid creating a
2. Close off the windows favorable condition
and turn 0off the main for mosquito
power switch. breeding.
3. Put important appliances
and belongings on high
ground.
4. Avoid the way leading to
the river.
Tornado

Source: Owen, W. 2010. “Stovepipe tornado near the border between Colorado and Oklahoma”. In The
dirt in tornadoes. Accessed August 10, 2014, from https://earthdata.nasa.gov/featured-stories/featured-
research/dirt-tornadoes

A tornado is a violently rotating column of air averaging about 100 m in diameter

that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud. They are
often referred to as “twisters”. Most tornadoes are associated with ‘parent’
cumulonimbus clouds and are recognized by a funnel-shaped cloud that appears to
hang from the cloud base above. The greatest hazard exists when the funnel cloud
touches the ground and creates some of the strongest horizontal pressure gradients
seen in nature. Most tornadoes are of short durations and have limited destructive
paths, rarely more than 0.5 km wide and 25 km long. Tornadoes are highly localized
events, sometimes associated with hail. They form in warm, moist air ahead of a strong
cold front when the contrast in air masses produces latent heating and the creation of a
low pressure area near the surface. Most tornadoes losses result from victims, or
debris, becoming airborne and from building collapse. (Smith 2004)

Flood
 Metro Manila suffered high water levels up to a record of 20 feet and killed 646
during the Typhoon Ketsana which is named Ondoy by PAGASA. The typhoon’s epic
rainfall in Metro Manila.

Source: Philippines
News Headline.
2009. “Death toll due to
‘Ondoy’ rises to 83—NDCC”.
Accessed August 10,
2014, from

http://www.news.nfo.ph/news/news-headines/death-toll-due-to-ondoy-rises-to-83ndcc.

Flood is defined as the covering by water of land not normally covered by water,
investment in flood control and disaster preparedness, combined with improved
sanitation, has reduced mortality but large numbers of people are still made homeless
by floods. In addition to deaths from drowning, flood-related mortality includes disease
epidemics. Other intangible losses include environmental effects, such as water
pollution. There are secondary losses associated with temporary decline in house value
after the event whilst repeated flooding can have more permanent effects on property
prices.

The Flood Alerts

1. Yellow Rainfall Advisory. It is raised when the expected rainfall amount is

between 7.5 mm and 15mm within one hour and likely to continue.
2. Orange Rainfall Advisory. It is raised in areas where rainfall is between 15 mm
and 30 mm within one hour. Flooding is a definite threat in communities under the
orange alert.
3. Red Rainfall Advisory. It is issued when downpours constitute an emergency.
This is raised when observed rainfall is more than 30 mm within one hour or if
rainfall has continued for the past three hours and is more than 65 mm. when
PAGASA raises a red warning, communities should be prepared to respond. It
means serious flooding is seen and that residents should be ready to evacuate to
safety (official Gazette 2014).