DISASTER READINESS AND RISK

REDUCTION
Remember, when
disaster strikes the time
to prepare has passed.

-Steven Cyros
BASIC CONCEPT ON DISASTER
 Disaster and Emergency

Emergency
• requires immediate attention and that
requires immediate attention of
emergency resources.

• a situation in which the community is

capable of coping
 Disaster and Emergency

Disaster
• a 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 or society to cope using its own
resources.
• delays human development
Learning Check:

• Differentiate Disaster from Emergency?

• Give an example of a disaster and an emergency?
In dealing with disasters one must
understand the following factors:

• Disaster Risk
• Nature of Disasters
• Effects of Disaster
BASIC CONCEPT ON DISASTER RISK
 Disaster Risk
• refers to the potential (not actual and
realized) disaster losses, in lives, health
status, livelihoods, assets and services,
which could occur in a particular
community or society over some
specified future time period.

• exist or are created within social

systems
How is Disaster Risk determined?

• It is determined by three factors:

• Hazard
• Vulnerability
• Coping Capacity
Hazard
• “a dangerous phenomenon, substance,
human activity or condition 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” (UNISDR, 2009)
Hazard
Each hazard is characterized by:

• Location
• Intensity
• Probability
• Likely frequency
Vulnerability
• the characteristics and circumstances
of a community, system or asset that
make it susceptible to the damaging
effects of a hazard.
Vulnerability
• Natures of Vulnerability

• Tangible/Material
• Intangible or Abstract
Vulnerability
• Types of Vulnerability (non-exhaustive)

• Poverty
• Population growth
• Environmental degradation
• Lack of awareness and information
• Geographical isolation
• Political uncertainties/instability
Coping Capacity
• refers to the ability of people,
organizations and systems, using
available skills and resources, to face
and manage adverse conditions such as
hazards, emergencies or disasters.
Recovery
• parallel to Coping Capacity it is the
Disaster Management Cycle’s growing
number of activities aimed at restoring
their lives and the infrastructure that
supports them.
Recovery Activities
• They are classified as:

• Short-Term Recovery
• Long- Term Recovery
Learning Check:

• What are the three factors that determine a

disaster risk?
• Give an example of a Yolanda recovery activity.
NATURE OF DISASTERS
Nature of Disasters
• Disasters can be classified into two
groups:
• Natural Disaster
• Human-made Disaster
Natural Disasters
• These types of disaster naturally occur
in proximity to, and pose a threat to,
people, structures or economic assets.
• They are caused by biological,
geological, seismic, hydrologic, or
meteorological conditions or
processes in the natural environment
Human-made Disasters
• These are disasters or emergency
situations of which the principal, direct
causes are identifiable human actions,
deliberate or otherwise
Learning Check:

• What is the difference between a natural and a

man-made disaster?
EFFECTS OF DISASTERS
Effects of Disaster
• Disaster effects can be classified into
these groups:

• Physical Impact
• Social Impact
• Emotional Impact
Physical Impact
• The physical impacts of a disaster are
the deaths and injuries, and the damage
to property and the built environment.
Social Impact
• The social impacts of a disaster to a
society are the disruption of its quality
welfare and economy.
Emotional Impacts
• The emotional impacts of a disaster to
a society manifest in trauma
Trauma
• an experience in which powerful and
dangerous events overwhelm a
person’s capacity to cope.
• Produces a behavior that makes a
person’s life uncomfortable.
Trauma
• These are disasters or emergency
situations of which the principal, direct
causes are identifiable human actions,
deliberate or otherwise
Learning Check:

• What are the different effect of disaster in a

society?
• Give an observation on Yolanda’s physical, social
and emotional impact.