I.
major direct causes are identifiable
Disaster
- A sudden calamitous occurrence
that causes great tragedy that causes
great harm, injury, destruction and
devastation to life and property.
- Two elements are affected life and
property
- Can cause minor, major, total
destruction or worse death
- “serious disruption of the functioning
of a community or a society involving
widespread human, material,
economic or environmental losses and
impacts, which exceeds the ability of
the affected community to cope using
its own resources.”
Result of the combination of:
- exposure to a hazard, conditions of
vulnerability present, insufficient capacity
or measures to reduce or cope.
Impacts includes:
- Loss of life, injury, disease and other
negative effects on human physical,
mental and social wellbeing, damage
to properties, assets, services, social
and economic disruptions and
environmental degradation.
Classification of Disasters:
Disasters can be divided into 2 large
categories:
A. Natural Disasters – a
natural phenomenon is caused by
natural forces. They can be classified
as rapid onset disasters and those
with progressive onset. These events,
usually sudden, can have tremendous
effects.
B. Man-made - Disasters
caused by man are those in which
especially those of a particular
intentional or non-intentional human
actions.
Subdivided into three categories:
1. 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
2. Terrorism/Violence - the
threat of terrorism: nuclear,
biological, and chemical agents
used to develop weapons of
mass destruction.
EXAMPLE: bombs or explosions;
release of chemical materials;
release of biological agents;
release of radioactive agents;
multiple or massive shootings;
mutinies
3. Complex humanitarian
emergencies - humanitarian
emergency resulting from an
international or civil war.
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, 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,
ethnic group or nation
The damage caused by disaster
cannot be measured. It also differs with the
kind of geographical location, climate, earth’s
specific characteristics, and level of
vulnerability. These determining factors affect
generally the psychological, socio – economic,
political, and ethnical state of the affected
area.
Risk and Disaster Risk
Risk has various connotations within
different disciplines.
-risk is defined as “the combination of the
probability of an event and its negative
consequences” (UNISDR, 2009).
-It is usually associated with the degree to
which humans cannot cope
The term disaster risk refers to the
potential disaster losses, in lives, health status,
livelihoods, assets, and services
Disaster risk is the product of the
possible damage caused by a hazard due to the
vulnerability within a community
It can also be determined by the presence of
three variables:
-hazards (natural or anthropogenic)
-vulnerability to a hazard
-coping capacity linked to the reduction,
mitigation, and resilience to the vulnerability of
a community.
II.
RISK FACTORS
Disaster risk as defined in the first
module, has three important elements such as:
 1. Exposure - the “elements at
risk from a natural or man-made hazard event
(Quebral, 2016).
2. 2. Hazard-a potentially
dangerous physical occurrence, phenomenon
or human activity that may result in loss of
life or injury, property damage, social and
economic disruption, or environmental
degradation.
3. Vulnerability - the condition
determined by physical, social, economic and
environmental factors or processes, which
increase the susceptibility of a community to
the impact of hazard (Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United nation, FAO 2008).
Reduction of the level of vulnerability
and exposure is possible by keeping people
and property as distant as possible from
hazards.
Risk Factors are processes or
conditions, often development-related, that
influence the level of disaster risk by
increasing levels of exposure and vulnerability
or reducing capacity.
The following are also taken into
consideration when risk factors underlying
disaster are involved:
⚫ Severity of exposure -who
experience disaster firsthand which
has the highest risk of developing
future mental problems, followed by
those in contact with the victims
and the lowest risk are those most
distant (only through news).
⚫ Gender and Family - the female
gender suffers more, this worsens
when children are present.
⚫ Age - age range of 40-60 are more
stressed, but children exhibit more
stress after disasters.
⚫ Economic status of country -
severe mental problems are more
prevalent in developing countries
like the Philippines. Furthermore,
natural disasters tend to have more
adverse effects in developing
countries than do man-caused
disasters in developed countries.
Factors which underlie disasters:
1. Climate Change - Climate change,
caused by human activities like burning fossil
fuels and deforestation, can increase disaster
risk by altering the frequency and intensity of
hazards, affecting vulnerability, and changing
exposure patterns, while also contributing to
natural climate variability.
2. Environmental Degradation -
changes to the environment can influence the
frequency and intensity of hazards, as well as
our exposure and vulnerability to these
hazards. It is both a driver and consequence
of disasters. Over consumption of natural
resources results in environmental
degradation, reducing the effectiveness of
essential ecosystem services, such as the
mitigation of floods and landslides.
3. Globalized Economic Development
- Globalized economic development leads to
increased polarization between rich and poor,
but can build resilience through risk-sensitive
strategies like protective infrastructure and
environmental management, reducing hazard
exposure in certain regions and cities.
4. Poverty and Inequality - Poverty is
a cause and consequence of disaster risk,
particularly extensive risk associated with
drought. People in poverty often live in hazard-
exposed areas and lack access to insurance
and social protection. Disasters can cause loss
of life, injury, damage, livelihoods,
displacement, poor health, and food insecurity.
Research shows that the poor generally suffer
the worst from disasters.
5. Poorly planned and Managed
Urban Development Urbanization in hazard-
exposed countries presents new opportunities
for resilient investment. Rapid, poorly planned
urbanization, especially in poverty-stricken
areas, can create risk, as population
concentrations and economic activities overlap
with high-risk exposure areas.
6. Weak Governance -Wrong
governance zones are investment
environments where public sector actors are
unable to fulfill their roles in protecting rights
and providing basic services. Disaster risk is
disproportionately concentrated in lower-
income countries with weak governance.
Factors affecting survivors' recovery include
poor functioning, lack of experience, stressors,
low self-esteem, and lack of control. Other
contributing factors include death, injury, life
threats, panic, separation, loss of property,
and displacement.
III. What is the difference between hazard
and disaster?
A hazard is a dangerous situation or
event that carries a threat to humans. A
disaster is an event that harms humans and
disrupts the operations of society. Hazards can
only be considered disasters once it affected
humans. If a disaster happened in an
unpopulated area, it is still a hazard.
The Human Effect of Natural and Man-
Made Disasters
1. Displaced Populations
-most immediate effects of natural
disasters is population displacement. A
large influx of refugees can disrupt
accessibility of health care and education,
as well as food supplies and clean water.
2. Health Risks
Severe flooding can result in stagnant
water that allows breeding of waterborne
bacteria and malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
Without emergency relief from
international aid organizations and others,
death tolls can rise even after the
immediate danger has passed.
3. Food Scarcity
The aftermath of natural disasters affects
the food supplies. It increases the risk of
severe malnutrition or worse. The impacts
of hunger following an earthquake,
typhoon or hurricane can be tremendous,
causing lifelong damage to children’s
development.
4. Emotional Aftershocks
-can be particularly traumatic for young
children.
-many children develop post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD), a serious
psychological condition resulting from
extreme trauma, they can be prone to
lasting psychological damage and
emotional distress.
Here are some ways on how to plan ahead of
a disaster:
1. Check for
hazards at home.
2. Identify safe
place indoors and
outdoors
3. Educate yourself
and family
members
4. Have Disaster kits/supplies on hand.
5. Develop an emergency
communication plan.
6. Help your community get ready.
7. Practice the Disaster Preparedness
Cycle
IV.
Vulnerability is a state of being at risk, defined
by Republic Act 10121, which states that a
community, system, or resource is susceptible
to the damaging effects of a hazard. It is
situation-specific, meaning different localities
may be more vulnerable to a hazard due to
their preparedness and resources. To reduce
vulnerability, communities must be resilient
and identify hazards, respond immediately,
and be prepared for potential disasters.
Vulnerability is not limited to earthquakes or
typhoons.
V.
Factors affecting vulnerability of one’s
community:
Population density near a hazard
event.
-Population differs from population density.
-Population refers to the number of
individuals inhabiting in a particular space
at the same time
-Population density refers to the number
of individuals living in an area in relation
to the size of an area (In that case, if fire
broke in that area, there is little space for
the population to escape quickly and
easily.)
-The primary consideration is not the
population size but the population density.
Capacity and efficiency to reduce
Disaster Risk.
-Community that is less vulnerable has the
capacity to reduce disaster risk because
-It can provide accessibility and availability
of services and facilities during and after
disaster.
-It has the ability to anticipate, adapt, and
respond to possible disaster.
VI.
Physical vulnerability- includes
population density levels, place of a
settlement, the site design, and
materials used for infrastructure and
housing. For example, UP Visayas
buildings were totally destroyed
during the super typhoon Yolanda in
2008 leaving the structure totally
damaged.
Social vulnerability -happens due to
inability of people, organization, and
societies to prevent severe effects
from hazards because of the expected
behavior in social interactions,
institutions, and system of cultural
values.
Level of economic vulnerability is
based on the economic status of
individuals, communities, and
nations. The poorer the country, the
more vulnerable to disasters because
they lack the funds or budgets to
build sturdy structures and put other
engineering measures in place which
protect them from being affected by
disasters.
Social and economic vulnerability can
be combined also known as
socioeconomic vulnerability.
Environmental vulnerability is
caused by natural resources depletion
and destruction. Organisms like
humans, animals, and plants are all
dependent on the environment for
survival. Human activities like
deforestation, burning of fossil fuels,
and kaingin affect the natural abilities
of the environment to protect itself
from any natural hazard due to
absence of trees which may cause
landslide and flashfloods. Sometimes
the effects are irreversible.
The Philippines has high
vulnerability due to the
following reasons
-It lies in the Pacific typhoon belt
and we are visited by an average
of 20 typhoons every year.
-Rugged nature of the landscape
makes it vulnerable to landslide,
mudflows, and other disasters.
-It is an archipelagic country with
many small islands where some
areas are at below sea level.
-It has the longest shoreline in the
world at 32,400 km making it
vulnerable to storm surges.
-It is still a primary agricultural and
fishing economy.
-With poor institutional
and social capacity to
manage, respond, and recover
from natural hazard events.
-With high level of poverty
-Aside from typhoon, it is also at
risk to volcanic eruptions, quakes,
and floods.
VII.
Hazard is a harmful condition, substance,
human behavior or condition that can
cause loss of life, injury or other health
effects, harm to property, loss of livelihood
and services, social and economic
disruption or damage to the environment.
Any risk which is imminent is threat.
Exposure is the presence of elements at
risk or chance of being harmed from a
natural or man-made hazard event.
Elements include the individuals,
households or communities, properties,
buildings and structures, agricultural
commodities, livelihoods etc. The more a
community is exposed to hazard factors,
the higher is the disaster risk or higher
chance disaster occurrence.
Vulnerability means the characteristics
and circumstances of a community,
system, or asset, that make it susceptible
to the damaging effects of a hazard and
inability of a community to prevent,
mitigate, prepare for and respond to
hazardous events.
Risk implies the probability of possible
adverse effects. This results from the
interaction of social and environmental
systems, from the combination of physical
danger, and exposed item vulnerabilities.
Disaster is a serious disruption to the
functioning of a community or society
which causes widespread human, material,
economic or environmental losses that
exceed the capacity of the community or
society concerned to cope with the use of
their own resources. It results from the
mix of hazards, risk conditions and
inadequate capability or measures.
Exposure and vulnerability, on the
other hand, are distinct. A certain
community can be exposed but it does not
mean that it is vulnerable. Exposure to
hazard can make a community vulnerable.
But not all communities that are exposed
to hazard can be considered vulnerable.
Vulnerability depends on the preparedness
and readiness to a hazard of the
community. It depends mostly on how
they mitigate, respond, and recover. If a
certain community
- POPULATION
- PHYSICAL ELMENTS
- ESSENTIAL FACILITIES
- SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS
- TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES
- ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
- LIFE LINES
- ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS
Disaster mitigation measures are those
that eliminate or reduce the impacts and
risks of hazards by means of proactive
measures taken before an emergency or
disaster takes place. Mitigation is the
action of reducing something's severity,
seriousness, or painfulness.
VIII.
 Hazards can be categorized in
different types:
Natural hazards - arise from
natural processes in the
environment.
Quasi-natural hazards- arise
through the interaction of natural
processes and human activities
e.g. pollution or desertification, smog
and fog
Technological (or man-made)
hazards- These arise directly as a
result of human activities.
e.g. accidental release of chemicals,
toxic and pesticides to floral and
fauna
Hazards Signs and Symbols
These signs and symbols with
corresponding meaning below help people
to be extra cautious, aware and
observant in surroundings.
Each picture is designed to become
recognizable to anyone as a signal word
like “danger” or “warning”.
IX.
Earthquake Hazards refer to
earthquake agents which have
the potential to cause harm to
a vulnerable targets which can
either be humans, animals or
even your environment.
The effects of an earthquake can be
classified as primary or secondary.
-Primary effects are
permanent features an
earthquake can bring out.
Examples include causes the soil to decrease in density.
fault scarps, surface ruptures, This poses danger for it lead to
and offsets of natural or unstable structures of buildings due to
human-constructed objects. ground subsidence.
-Secondary effects happen FIRES
when ground movement
results to other types of Earthquakes cause fires. Even moderate
destruction. Examples include ground shaking can break gas and
landslides, tsunami, electrical lines, sever fuel lines, and
liquefaction and fire. overturn stoves. To further complicate
things, water pipes rupture, so it would
EARTHQUAKE be impossible to extinguish the fire.
Seismic vibration is a common triggering
mechanism for landslides. Landslides can have 1.0
particularly devastating effects like floods, Effective recording and interpretation of
blocking of rivers, death, and damage to land ground motion
and natural resources. Landslides can be 2.0
prevented by reinforcing slope material, modifying Constructing seismic hazard maps
the pathway for surface and underwater and by 3.0
putting piles and retaining walls. Developing resistant structures
TSUNAMI
A tsunami is a huge sea wave triggered
by a violent displacement of the ocean
floor. Underwater-earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions or landslides can cause
tsunami. As it approaches a shallow
coastline, its speed decreased, but the
height of the tsunami increases
drastically, bringing so much damage
to nearby communities. Tsunamis can
also overwhelm sewage systems,
destroy structures and kill people
LIQUEFICATION
Earthquake motion can turn loosely
packed, water-saturated soil to liquid—
"liquefaction.” Liquefied soil becomes
less compact and ultimately lose the
ability to support roads, buried pipes,
and, of course, houses. It is caused by
vibration or saturation with water which
Map interpretation is the process
looking at the map in order for
us to be guided to a direction
or place where we wanted to go
using the different symbols or
elements of the map.
There are seven important
components of a map. These
components will help you
interpret a map.
 Compass rose. This will give
you the proper direction. This
is also called it
“orientation.”
 Title. It tells what the map is
about.
 Symbols. These are pictures
instead of symbols.
 Legend or Key. It explains the
meaning of symbols and
colour.
 Colour. It highlights the
important information to help
interpret maps.
 Scale. It shows the proportion
of map to real life.
 Grid Reference.
These are intersecting
lines to help locate
specific places on the
map. In some maps, it
is also called “border.”.
SDC Map Color Earthquake Hazard Potential effects of
Shaking
Very small probability of
A White experiencing damaging
earthquake effects
Moderate shaking-Felt by
B Gray Could experience shaking of all, many frightened. Some
moderate intensity heavy furniture moved; a
few instances of fallen
plaster. Damage slight
Strong shaking-Damage
negligible in buildings
C Yellow Could experience of good design and
strong shaking construction; slight to
moderate in well-built
ordinary structures;
considerable damage in
poorly built structures.
DO Light Brown Very strong shaking-
Could experience very Damage slight in specially
strong shaking (the darker designed structures;
D1 Darker Brown the color,the stronger the considerable damage in
shaking) ordinary substantial
buildings with partial
D2 Darkest Brown
collapse. Damage great in
poorly built structures.
Strongest shaking-Damage
considerable in specially
designed structures; frame
E Red Near major active faults structures thrown out of
capable of producing the plumb.
most intense shaking Damage great in
substantial buildings,with
partial collapse.
Buildings shifted off
foundations.
Shaking intense enough to
completely destroy
buildings.