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DISASTER AND DISASTER RISK

1. explain the meaning of disaster DRR11/12-Ia-b-1;

2. differentiate the risk factors underlying disasters DRR11/12-Ia-b-2;
3. describe the effects of disasters on one’s life DRR11/12-Ia-b-3; and
4. analyze disaster from the different perspectives (physical, psychological, socio-cultural,
economic, political, and biological) DRR11/12-Ia-b-6.

Hello learners! Welcome to our first lesson, which is about disaster and disaster risk concepts. Here,
you will learn when a natural event becomes a hazard and when a hazard becomes a disaster;
elements of disaster risk as well as the nature and effects of disasters. Are you excited? Come on,
let's get started!

The occurrence of a disaster depends on the interplay between a

natural phenomenon and the vulnerability of the populations
exposed. Before we go further, let us check your prior knowledge
of the basic concepts of disaster.

1. In two to three sentences, describe

the given image.
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2. List down the disaster that you can

identify from the image.
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 Answer the questions briefly.

1. What are the different disasters?

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2. How do disasters affect human life?
________________________________________________________________________________
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3. How do disasters negate the economic gains of a developing country?
________________________________________________________________________________
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Disaster

Philippines: A Natural Disaster-Prone Country

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The Philippines hosts frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because of its position within the
“ring of fire” which is at the edge of the most dynamic tectonic plates. It also lies along the western
edge of the Pacific Ocean, which lies along the natural path of the planet’s fiercest typhoons. We
certainly cannot prevent volcanic activities, earthquakes, typhoons, and landslides from happening.
However, natural events do not automatically become hazards, much less cause disasters.
A disaster happens when the probable destructive agent, the hazard (a potentially hazardous
physical event, phenomena, or human behavior that could cause death or injury, property damage,
social and economic disruption, or environmental degradation), hits a vulnerable populated area. A
natural event like a volcanic eruption that hits an uninhabited area does not qualify as a disaster. A
tsunami becomes a hazard if it poses a threat to people. It becomes a disaster only if it hits
vulnerable population and properties – in short if there are victims. Vulnerability refers to factors,
such as physical, social, economic, and environmental, that increase the susceptibility to the impact
of a hazard. For instance, a community has a significant portion of its population unable to evacuate
on time from lahar and other fast-moving volcanic hazards is considered very vulnerable. Vulnerability
can be reduced, for example, through an aggressive information and education campaign on storm
surge hazard. The growth in exposure of people and property to hazards and inability to reduce
vulnerabilities results in an increased number of disasters and greater loss. Exposure refers to
people and property.

Disaster is "a sudden, calamitous occurrence that causes great harm, injury, destruction, and
devastation to life and property.” It disrupts the usual course of life, causing both physical and
emotional distress such as an intense feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. Meanwhile, disaster
is defined by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction as a serious disruption
of a community's or society's functioning involving widespread human, material, economic, or
environmental losses and impacts that exceeds the affected community's or society's ability to cope
using its own resources.

Disasters are frequently the result of a combination of factors, including exposure to a danger,
existing conditions of susceptibility, and a lack of capability or means to mitigate or cope with the
possible negative repercussions.

Classification of Disaster
1. Natural disaster - caused by natural forces, such as earthquakes, typhoons, volcanic eruptions,
hurricanes, fires, tornadoes, and extreme temperatures. They can be classified as rapid onset
disasters and those with progressive onset, such as droughts that lead to famine. These events,
usually sudden, can have tremendous effects.

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 2. Man-made disaster - caused by man, those in which major direct causes are identifiable,
intentional or non-intentional human actions.

Categories:

 Technological/industrial disasters

Unregulated industrialization and

inadequate safety standards increase the
risk for industrial disasters.
Example: leaks of hazardous materials;
accidental explosions; bridge or road
collapses, or vehicle collisions; Power cuts

 Terrorism/Violence
The threat of terrorism has also increased
due to the spread of technologies involving
nuclear, biological, and chemical agents
used to develop weapons of mass
destruction.
Example: bombs or explosions; release of
chemical materials, biological agents, and
radioactive agents; multiple or massive
shootings; mutinies

 Complex humanitarian
emergencies
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The term “complex emergency” is usually
used to describe the humanitarian
emergency resulting from an international
 In such situations, large numbers of people
are displaced from their homes due to the
lack of personal safety and the disruption of
basic infrastructure including food
distribution, water, electricity, and
sanitation, or communities are left stranded
and isolated in their own homes unable to
access assistance.

Example: conflicts or wars and Genocide,

the deliberate killing of a large group of
people from a particular ethnic group or
nation

Disaster Risk

Within different areas, risk has distinct connotations. Risk is defined as "the combination of an event's
probability and its negative effects" in general (UNISDR, 2009). As a result, the term risk is
multidisciplinary and can be applied to various situations. It is frequently related to the degree to
which humans cannot deal with a situation (lack of capacity) (e.g., natural hazard).

The word "disaster risk" refers to the prospective (rather than actual and realized) losses in lives,
health, livelihoods, assets, and services that could occur in a community or society at some point in
the future. The product of the potential damage produced by a hazard resulting from a community's
susceptibility is disaster risk. It should be emphasized that the impact of a hazard (of a certain level)
will differ depending on the community (Von Kotze, 1999:35).

No two disasters are alike. Some are definitely similar, but appreciating their differences in terms of
their nature ad magnitude of triggering hazards, exposed elements at risk, and vulnerabilities will help
us deal with potential disasters. The risks associated with disasters can be estimated and can be
expressed either quantitatively or in relative terms. This provides a ay of comparing past and future
disasters.

Elements of Disaster Risk

When more people encroach on hazardous areas and urban centers continue to grow along the path
of hazards events, the magnitude of disasters is expected to increase. Thus, the risk of losing lives or
causing injury to people and of losing or damaging property due to a hazard increases as the levels of
exposure and vulnerability increase. It refers to the expectation value of deaths, injuries, and property
losses that would be caused by a hazard. Disaster risk is expressed as a function of hazard,
exposure, and vulnerability. It seeks not only to express the chance of the disaster happening but
also to quantify the impact.

As the disaster risk model implies, the magnitude

of the disaster depends on: 1) the severity of the
natural event, 2) the quantity of exposure of the
elements at risk which includes lives and
properties, and 3) vulnerability level or quality of
exposure.

5 Disaster Risk = hazard x exposure x vulnerability

According to this formula, if there is no hazard,

then the risk is null (the same if population or
The occurrence of natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions cannot be prevented, but
reducing exposure and vulnerability can minimize their impact. Mitigation and preparedness
measures will result in the reduction of vulnerability and thus, in disaster risk. The level of vulnerability
and exposure can be reduced by keeping people and property away as far as possible away from
hazards.

Factors which underlie disasters:

1. Climate Change - may exacerbate catastrophe risk in a number of ways, including modifying the
frequency and intensity of hazardous events, affecting vulnerability to hazards, and altering
exposure patterns. For most people, the term "climate change" refers to the alteration of the
world's climate that we humans are responsible for, such as the burning of fossil fuels,
deforestation, and other practices that raise carbon footprints and greenhouse gas
concentrations in the atmosphere. Climate change is defined as a change that can be attributed
“directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and is
in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods” by the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
2. Environmental Degradation - environmental changes can have an impact on the frequency and
intensity of hazards, as well as our exposure and sensitivity to them. Deforestation of slopes, for
example, can raise the risk of landslides, and removing mangroves can enhance the damage
caused by storm surges (UNISDR, 2009b). It is both a cause and a result of disasters,
diminishing the environment's ability to meet societal and ecological demands. Overconsumption
of natural resources degrades the environment, lowering the effectiveness of critical ecosystem
services like flood and landslide mitigation. As a result, disasters are more likely, and natural
disasters can wreak havoc on the environment.
3. Globalized Economic Development - on a global scale, it leads in growing polarization between
the rich and the poor. Globalized economic development is increasing the exposure of assets in
hazard-prone locations, but it also gives an opportunity to enhance resilience if properly
managed. Risk can be decreased by engaging in risk-aware development techniques include
investing in protective infrastructure, environmental management, and improving informal
settlements. Increased hazard exposure is projected as particular regions and cities gain
dominance and affluence (Gencer, 2013).
4. Poverty and Inequality - poor people are more likely to reside in high-risk areas and have fewer
resources to invest in risk-reduction strategies. People in poverty are frequently obliged to utilize
their already limited assets to cushion disaster losses due to a lack of access to insurance and
social protection, driving them deeper into poverty. Poverty is thus both a cause and a
consequence of disaster risk (Wisner et al., 2004), with drought being the hazard most closely
connected with poverty (Shepard et al., 2013). In addition to loss of life, injury, and property
damage, disasters can result in total loss of livelihood, displacement, ill health, and food
insecurity, among other things. Vulnerability is not just about poverty; significant study over the
last 30 years has proven that disasters disproportionately affect the poor (DFID, 2004; Twigg,
2004; Wisner et al., 2004; UNISDR, 2009b).
5. Poorly Planned and Managed Urban Development - in hazard-prone countries, a new wave of
urbanization is sweeping the country, bringing with it new potential for resilient investment. Cities
are becoming increasingly dense in terms of population, poverty, and disaster risk. The
increasing rate of urbanization and population density (in cities) can create risk, particularly when
development is rapid, poorly managed, and occurs in the context of widespread poverty. Many
cities' growing populations and economic activities appear to be overlapping with areas of high-
risk exposure.
6. Weak Governance - weak governance zones are investment settings where public sector
players are unable or unwilling to fulfill their roles and obligations in defending human rights,

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 delivering basic services, and providing public services. Lower-income countries with poor
governance are disproportionately vulnerable to disasters (UNISDR, 2015a). Within the larger
context of risk governance, disaster risk governance refers to the specific structures that
societies put in place to manage their catastrophe risk (UNISDR, 2011a; UNDP, 2013a) (Renn,
2008 in UNISDR, 2015a). This reflects how risk is viewed in the context of larger social and
economic concerns (Holley et al., 2011).

Recovery is hampered if survivors: were not functioning well before the disaster; had no experience
dealing with disasters; had to deal with other stressors after the disaster; had low self-esteem; felt
uncared for by others; believed they had little control over what happened to them; and were unable
to manage stress. Death of a loved one; damage to oneself or a family member; life threat; terror,
horror, or comparable sensations; separation from family; major loss of property; and displacement
are all variables that contribute to poor outcomes.

Nature and Effects of Disasters

Being aware of the nature of hazards and what these can do to people and other elements at risk is
the first step in every effort to minimize the effects of disasters.

Characteristics of Disasters
Disasters are inherently unexpected or come quickly with little or no warning. As a result, disasters
(both man-made and those resulting from natural events) cause widespread death, injury, and
property damage. Disasters cannot be managed through normal means. This requires the immediate
and effective intervention of both national government agencies (NGAs) and non-government
organizations (NGOs) to help meet the needs of the victims. Disasters create demands beyond the
capacity of a government. During a disaster, the situation is usually beyond the capabilities of local
government units (LGUs) or the national government to respond and handle. When the President
declares a state of emergency, response and recovery programs should be formulated and
implemented both by the public and non-government entities.
The following also characterize disasters:

 knows no political boundary;

 requires restructured and new responding organizations;
 creates new tasks and requires more people as disaster responders;
 renders inutile routine emergency response equipment and facilities;
 worsens confusion in understanding roles of people and organizations; and
 exposes lack of disaster planning, response and coordination. Inexperienced disaster
organizations often fail to see what their proper roles are.

Impacts of Disasters

Disasters often result from the failure to anticipate the timing and enormity of natural hazards. Little
lead time is left to take preparedness actions such as evacuation and strengthening of structures.
Disasters resulted in deaths and destruction or damage to homes and buildings crops’ destruction
and decreased quality or quantity of water. Apart from these, here are the other impacts of disasters:

 Medical effects – include injuries, emotional stress, epidemic diseases, indigenous diseases.
 Damage to critical facilities – widespread disasters can destroy or damage facilities that may be
critical not only in maintaining a safe environment and public order, but also in responding to the
disaster. Among these are communication installations, electrical generating and transmission
facilities, hospitals, water facilities, and other public and private buildings.
 Disruption of transportation – during initials stages of a disaster, almost all surface means of
transportation within a community are disrupted by broken bridges and roads and streets that are
rendered impassable by landslides or floods. The restricted mobility of vehicles makes rescue and
other emergency operations doubly difficult.

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 Economic impact – as a result of the destruction and damage to critical facilities, especially to
transportation and communication facilities, disasters disrupt economies as normal business
operations and other economic activities are curtailed. People must also leave their jobs and
devote their time to disaster-related activities, such as search and rescue, or to caring for
survivors.
 Global environmental change – there is increasing evidence of global climatic change brought
about by both human activity and disasters. Although the long-range consequences are hard to
predict, more severe cyclonic storms, an increase in both flooding and drought, and a trend
towards desertification cannot be ruled out.

The changes could result in a wide range of more hazards such as wildfires and mudslides,
reduced productivity in the oceans, and weakened immune systems of people and animals.

 Social and political impact – as a large segment of the population in developing countries
consists of the poor, who are the most vulnerable whenever a disaster strikes, these countries are
the most affected. The poor are the most prone to disasters like earthquakes and typhoons
because of the structures they live in which are unreinforced and poorly built. These are also often
located in marginal lands. When disasters happen, social and political inequities are usually
exposed, which may lead to major political and social changes.

The Effects of Natural and Man-Made Disasters to Humans:

 Displaced Populations - Population displacement is one of the most immediate repercussions of

natural catastrophes. When countries are devastated by earthquakes or other natural disasters,
many people are forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in other areas. A significant inflow of
refugees can wreak havoc on health care and education, as well as food supplies and safe
drinking water.
 Health Risk - Aside from the obvious immediate risk that natural catastrophes pose, the indirect
consequences can be equally devastating. Flooding can cause stagnant water, which causes
bacteria to thrive and malaria-carrying mosquitos to reproduce. Death tolls can climb even after
the immediate danger has passed if international humanitarian agencies and others do not
provide emergency relief.
 Food Scarcity - Natural catastrophes have a negative impact on food supplies. Thousands of
people go hungry around the world as a result of crop destruction and loss of agricultural supplies,
whether due to a storm or a drought. Food prices rise as a result, lowering households' purchasing
power and raising the risk of acute malnutrition or worse. Hunger can have devastating
consequences in the aftermath of an earthquake, typhoon, or hurricane, affecting children's
development for the rest of their lives.
 Emotional Aftershocks - Children might be particularly traumatized by natural calamities. Many
children develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a serious psychological condition caused
by extreme trauma, when they are exposed to sights of destruction and the deaths of friends and
loved ones. Children with PTSD are at risk of long-term psychological harm and emotional
discomfort if they are not addressed.

Strategies for Preparing for a Disaster:

1. Examine your home for any dangers.

2. Determine a safe location both indoors and outdoors.
3. Educate yourself and your family.
4. Have disaster supplies and kits on hand.
5. Make a communication plan in case of an emergency.
6. Assist your neighborhood in getting ready.
7. Put the Disaster Preparedness Cycle into Action.

POWERLINK:

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BsTRlF_ZJQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVwvbS-0q18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-yvMQFuo6U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y16aMLeh91Q

REFERENCES:

-Aurelio, M. A., et. al. (2016). Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction. Diliman, Quezon City:
Commission on Higher Education
-Rimando, R. E., (2016). Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction. Sampaloc, Manila: Rex Book
Store, Inc.

A. Identify the given set of if it is Natural or Man-made and explain why. Put your answer
on the blank space provided.

1. Mount St. Helen Volcano, viewed from the

South during its eruption on May 18, 1980

2. Tsunami in the South China Sea

3. U.S. Troops Withdrawing From Syria Draw

Scorn-WSJ

4. Motor vehicles accident-March 12, 2018

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 5. Kidapawan hotel collapses after magnitude 6.5
earthquake

B. Identify the classification of disaster and the disaster risks of a given disaster situation.

Disasters Natural or Man-Made Disaster risks (Effects)

1. Chemical spill
2. Radiation
3. Earthquake
4. Tornados
5. Nuclear disaster
6. London Smog
7. Terrorism
8. Tsunami
9. Floods
10. Road accident

Creating a Home Hazard Map

1. Create a hazard map of your home. The map should be easy to follow and understand.
2. Potential hazards should be colored in red and labeled properly.
Safe areas and paths should be colored in blue.
3. Develop a disaster mitigation plan.

Rubrics/Scoring Guide

Excellent (30) Good (25) Needs Improvement (20)

Comprehensiveness The map shows 5-7 The map shows 1-4 The map does not show
of the Map potential hazards hazards only. hazards.
correctly and potential
disasters were The map shows 1-2 The map does not show
described. safe spaces. safe spaces.

The map shows all

safe spaces and the
path going out of the
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 room.

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