DRRM FINALS REVIEWER
Lesson 1: Various Volcano Related
Hazards
Volcanic eruptions are one of Earth’s most
dramatic and violent agents of change. Not
only can strong volcanic eruptions
significantly alter land and water for tens of
kilometers around the volcano, but tiny liquid
sulfuric acid droplets erupting into the stratosphere
can change the atmosphere of our world.
Eruptions also cause people living near volcanoes
to evacuate their land and homes, often
permanently.
Definition of Terms
Volcano - signifies a mountain, hill, or simply a
vent, through which molten or hot pieces of
rocks and gaseous materials are ejected
from reservoir below the surface of the
earth.
Lava - streams of incandescent molten rock
materials which ooze out from a volcano.
What is a volcanic hazard?
A volcanic hazard is the probability that a
volcanic eruption or related geophysical event
will occur in a given geographic area and within
a specified window of time.
The risk that can be associated with a volcanic
hazard depends on the proximity and
vulnerability of an asset or a population of people
near to where a volcanic event might occur.
Different Volcanic Hazards
Volcanic related-Hazards is divided into 7 parts.
1. PYROCLASTIC DENSITY CURRENTS
(PYROCLASTIC FLOWS AND SURGES)
Pyroclastic density currents are gravity-driven,
quickly moving, ground-wrapping mixtures of
rock fragments and hot gases.
This mixture forms a thick fluid that travels around
the ground with the upper portion that is less dense
as the particles fall to the ground. The action of
the fluid depends on the solid concentration
compared to the amount of hot gases.
Pyroclastic flows and surges are potentially
highly destructive owing to their mass, high
temperature, high velocity and great mobility.
Deadly effects include asphyxiation, burial,
incineration and crushing from impacts.
2. LAHARS
Lahars are part of a family of debris streams that
are fluids made up of mixtures of water and
particles of all sizes, from clay to gigantic
boulders. The abundance of solid matter carries
the water, unlike watery floods where water carries
the fragments.
Lahars are composed of volcanic particles and
originate directly or indirectly from volcanic
action.
3. ASH FALLS/TEPHRA FALLS
Ash falls can cause minor to major damage to
vehicles and buildings, contaminate water
supplies, disrupt sewage and electrical
systems, and damage or kill vegetation.
Burial by tephra will break down roofs of buildings,
break power and communication lines and damage
or kill vegetation.
Even thin falls of ash can damage such critical facilities
as hospitals, electric-generating plants, pumping
stations, storm sewers and surface-drainage systems
and etc.
Many of the risks of tephra falls can be mitigated with
proper planning and preparation. This includes
clearing tephra from the roofs as it accumulates,
designing roofs wearing breathers or wet clothing over
the mouth and nose because tephra may contain
harmful gasses adsorbed to the particles as acidic
aerosols and salt particles.
4. LAVA FLOWS 3. producing suspensions of fine-grained particles in
air and water which clogs filters and vents of
Lava flows are streams of molten rock that pour motors, human lungs, industrial machines, and
or ooze from an erupting vent. nuclear power plants

4. carrying of noxious gases, acids, salts, and close

Lava flows rarely threaten human life, as lava
usually moves slowly – a few centimeters per
hour for silica flows to several km / hour for
basaltic flows. Major hazards of lava flows –
burying, crushing, covering, burning everything in
their path.
Methods for controlling paths of lava flows:
• construct barriers and diversion channels
• cool advancing front with water
• disruption of source or advancing front of lava
flow by explosives
5. BALLISTIC PROJECTILES
to the vent, heat.
6. VOLCANIC GAS
Volcanic gases are gases given off by active (or, at
times, by dormant) volcanoes. These include gases
trapped in cavities (vesicles) in volcanic rocks, dissolved
or dissociated gases in magma and lava, or gases
emanating from lava, from volcanic craters or vents.
Volcanic gases can also be emitted through
groundwater heated by volcanic action.
The most abundant volcanic gas is water vapor, other
important gases are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide,
sulfur oxides, hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, and fluorine.

Ballistic projectiles are fragments of solid

(blocks) or fluid (bombs) material ejected
during the range of magmatic or phreatic
(steam) explosive eruptions.

Tephra fall and ballistic projectiles endanger life and

property by:
1. the force of impact of falling fragments, but this
occurs only close to an eruption

2. loss of agricultural lands if burial is greater than

10cm depth

Hydrometeorological Hazard
The Philippines, located in Southeast Asia, is
considered very vulnerable to natural hazards and
disasters, including typhoons, earthquakes, floods,
volcanic eruptions, landslides, and fires that affect the
country and its inhabitant.
Surrounding the Pacific Ocean basin is a circular arm
of active volcanoes known as the "Pacific Ring of
Fire" in which most of the volcanoes in the Philippines
are part of the Continental plate activities around this
area resulting in volcanic eruptions and tsunamis in the
country.
Hydrometeorological is a process or
phenomenon of atmospheric, hydrological or
oceanographic nature 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.
Hydrometeorological include:
1. Typhoon 2. Thunderstorm 3. Flood
4. Flashflood 5. Storm Surge 6. El nino
7.La Nina
1. Typhoon
Tropical cyclone, also called typhoon or hurricane,
an intense circular storm that originates over
warm tropical oceans and is characterized by
low atmospheric pressure, high winds, and
heavy rain.
2. Thunderstorm
This a powerful, short-lived weather, almost always
with lightning, thunder, dense clouds, heavy rain or
hail, and fast roaring winds. Occur when layers of
dry moist air rise to cooler regions of the
atmosphere in a broad, rapid updraft.
3. Flood & Flashflood
Flash flood or Flood is a high-water stage in which
water overflows its natural or artificial banks onto
normally dry land, such as a river inundating its
floodplain.
Main types of floods.
1. Inland flooding 2. Flash Flood 3. River Flooding
4. Coastal Flooding 5. Urban flooding

4. Storm Surge
"Daluyong ng Bagyo" in the philippine system
where the irrefular sea-level rise during tropical
cyclone or "bagyo" occurs. When the tropical
cyclone reaches the coast, powerful winds force the
ocean water over the coastal low- lying areas,
which can lead to flooding.

5. El Niño
Means the little boy in Spanish, refers to a large-
scale ocean-atmosphere climate interaction linked
to a periodic warming in sea surface temperature
across the central and east-central equatorial
pacific.

6. La Niña
This means the little girl in Spanish, represents
below-average sea surface temperatures
across the east-central equatorial pacific,
impacts tend to be opposite to those of El Nino.

FIRE IS CONSIDERABLY A FRIEND, Fire Hazards

BUT ONCE IT IS NOT CONTROLLED,
IT COULD BE ONE OF OUR GREATEST
ENEMIES, IRRESPONSIBILITY MAY LEAD TO
DISASTER AND EVERYTHING MAY CHANGE AS
QUICKLY AS A SPLIT SECOND. LOSS OF LIVES,
JOBS, INVESTMENTS, AND PROPERTIES CAN
GO UP IN SMOKE IN A MATTER OF HOURS,
KNOWLEDGE OF THE BEHAVIOR, CAUSES,
EFFECTS, AND SAFETY TIPS CAN SAVE LIVES
AND PROPERTIES.

FIRE TRIANGLE

Fire is a rapid oxidation of a material in the

exothermal chemical process of combustion,
releasing heat, light, and various reaction
products.

Fuel is any material that can be burned such as
solid, liquid, or gas. Combustion takes place
when fuel is converted into the gaseous state as
moisture is removed. This happens when vapor is
escaping from any combustible material.
Heat is an energy that flows through object.
Enough amount of heat would free the vapor
from solid and liquid forms of fuel. The
lowest temperature needed to form an ignitable
mixture in air near the surface of the liquid is
called flash point.
Oxygen is an element, estimated 21% of it
can be found in the air. During the
combustion process chemical takes place.
Oxygen is released and serves as an oxidizing
agent for combustible materials.
FIRE MAY START DUE TO NATURAL
CAUSES OR HUMAN-MADE INCIDENTS.
NATURAL CAUSES OF FIRE SUCH AS:
1.LIGHTNING THAT STRIKES ANY
COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL CAN SET
TREES ON FIRE WHICH MIGHT
EVENTUALLY RESULT IN FOREST FIRE OR
WILDFIRE.
2. VOLCANIC ACTIVITIES COULD ALSO,
CAUSE FIRE, IT SPEWS HOT GASES, ASH,
LAVA, AND WHEN THESE HOT MATERIALS
GET IN CONTACT WITH FLAMMABLE
MATERIALS MIGHT START A WILDFIRE.
3. SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION
HAPPENS WHEN A HYDROCARBON
SUBSTANCE UNEXPECTEDLY CREATE
FIRE WITHOUT APPARENT CAUSE.
• DRIED LEAVES & GRASSES
• SAWDUST
HOUSE FIRE IS AN INCIDENT THAT IS
GENERALLY CAUSED BY HUMAN AND
MACHINE ERROR.
COMMON CAUSES OF A HOUSE FIRE:
1. COOKING EQUIPMENT. POTS AND PANS
CAN BE OVERHEATED WHEN A PERSON
GETS DISTRACTED WHILE COOKING OR
LEAVES COOKING UNATTENDED. MOST
COMMON CAUSES OF HOUSE FIRES.

2. HEATERS, CAN CAUSE FIRE WHEN IT IS

PLACED NEAR OBJECTS THAT CAN
EASILY BURN LIKE CURTAINS AND
LAUNDRY CLOTHES.

3. CANDLES, IT IS NOT NATURALLY A

HAZARD BUT WHEN LEFT UNATTENDED IT
CAN EASILY BURST INTO FLAMES AND
CAUSE FIRES.

5. FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS. PETROL,

KEROSENE OR OTHER METHYLATED
SUBSTANCES ARE THE MOST COMMON
FLAMMABLES FOUND AT HOME THAT CAN
CAUSE FIRE IF NOT PROPERLY STORED.
ALWAYS STORE IN A COOL, DRY PLACE.