Module 1

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.

Natural Disasters – a natural phenomenon is caused by natural forces, such as earthquakes,

typhoon, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, fires, tornados, and extreme temperatures.

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

Technological/industrial disasters - Unregulated industrialization and inadequate safety

standards increase the risk for industrial disasters.

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.

Complex humanitarian emergencies - the term complex emergency is usually used to

describe the humanitarian emergency resulting from an international or civil war.

Risk has various connotations within different disciplines. In general, risk is defined as “the
combination of the probability of an event and its negative consequences”

Disaster risk is the product of the possible damage caused by a hazard due to the vulnerability
within a community.

Module 2:

1. Exposure - the “elements at risk from a natural or man-made hazard event

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

Severity of exposure - which measures those who experience disaster first-hand which has the
highest risk of developing future mental problems, followed by those in contact with the victims
such as rescue workers and
health care practitioners and the lowest risk are those most distant
Gender and Family - the female gender suffers more adverse effects. This worsens when
children are present at home. Marital relationships are placed under strain.

Age - adults in the age range of 40-60 are more stressed after disasters but in general, children
exhibit more stress after disasters than adults do.

Economic status of country - evidence indicates that severe mental problems resulting from
disasters are more prevalent in developing countries like the Philippines.

Factors which underlie disasters:

1. Climate Change - can increase disaster risk in a variety of ways – by altering the frequency
and intensity of hazards events, affecting vulnerability to hazards, and changing exposure
patterns.

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.

3. Globalized Economic Development - It results in an increased polarization between the rich

and poor on a global scale.

4. Poverty and Inequality - Impoverished people are more likely to live in hazard-exposed
areas and are less able to invest in risk-reducing measures.

5. Poorly planned and Managed Urban Development - A new wave of urbanization is

unfolding in hazard-exposed countries and with it, new opportunities for resilient investment
emerge.

6. Weak Governance - weak governance zones are investment environments in which public
sector actors are unable or unwilling to assume their roles and responsibilities in protecting
rights, providing basic services and public services.

Module 3:

The Human Effect of Natural and Man-Made Disasters

1. Displaced Populations
One of the most immediate effects of natural disasters is population displacement. When
countries are ravaged by earthquakes or other powerful forces of nature, many people need to
abandon their homes and seek shelter in other regions.

2. Health Risks
Aside from the obvious immediate danger that natural disasters present, the secondary effect
can be just as damaging. Severe flooding can result in stagnant water that allows breeding of
waterborne bacteria and malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
3. Food Scarcity
The aftermath of natural disasters affects the food supplies. Thousands of people around the
world are hungry because of destroyed crops and loss of agricultural supplies, whether it
happens suddenly in a storm or gradually in a drought.

4. Emotional Aftershocks
Natural disasters can be particularly traumatic for young children. Confronted with scenes of
destruction and the deaths of friends and loved ones, many children develop post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD), a serious psychological condition resulting from extreme trauma.

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

Module 4:

The Different Perspectives of Disaster

1. Physical perspective
Calamities are phenomena that cause great physical damage in a community infrastructure, its
people and their properties, e.g. houses and environmental sources of living.

2. Psychological Perspective
Victims of disasters may suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other serious
mental health conditions, which are not being given much attention to by the authorities or even
by the victims, themselves.

3. Socio-cultural Perspective
Filipinos are generally known as “matiisin”, resourceful, helpful, optimistic, and prayerful. These
characteristics are manifested in the country’s recent fight against COVID19

4. Economic Perspective
Disasters affect the economic condition of a community because they reduce local and
international trade.

5. Political Perspective
Natural disasters are commonly thought to be less politically argumentative than armed
conflicts, yet a closer look shows that both the effects of a natural disaster and the resulting
distribution of humanitarian aid are profoundly linked to politics.
6. Biological Perspective
The disturbing effects caused by a prevalent kind of disease or virus in an epidemic or
pandemic level is known as biological disaster.