DISASTER READINESS AND RISK

REDUCTION
THE CONCEPT OF DISASTER
LESSON OUTLINE

• Natural Event vs Hazard vs Disaster

• Factors Affecting Disaster Risk

• Effects of Disasters
LET US DIFFERENTIATE:

•Natural Event
•Hazard
•Disaster
 ARE ALL NATURAL EVENTS
CONSIDERED AS HAZARD?
WHEN DOES A NATURAL EVENT BECOME A HAZARD?
WHAT IS A 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.
-United Nations Office for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR)
NOT ALL NATURAL EVENTS ARE HAZARD.

• When a natural event does not pose

threat to life, environment,
infrastructure, economy, and, societal
and political systems, it is not
considered a hazard.
NATURAL EVENT AND HAZARD: ANALOGY

• A natural event can be likened to weak

concrete fence that could collapse even
with just a slight push. It does not pose a
threat to anything or anybody if there is
nothing or no one nearby. Once you park a
car or stand right beside it, it becomes a
hazard.
 NATURAL EVENT OR HAZARD

• A hailstorm in the Antarctic

Natural Event
 NATURAL EVENT OR HAZARD

• Melting Antarctic ice

Hazard
 NATURAL EVENT OR HAZARD

• A light rain shower in the metro

Natural Event
 NATURAL EVENT OR HAZARD

• A low pressure area

developing in the Pacific
where fishermen are on sail

Hazard
 NATURAL EVENT OR HAZARD

• A sandstorm in an uninhabited
part of the Sahara Desert.

Natural Event
 NATURAL EVENT OR HAZARD

• A violent eruption in an
unoccupied volcanic island in
the Pacific.

Hazard
 NATURAL EVENT OR HAZARD

• La Niña and El Niño

Hazard
 HOW DO YOU DEFINE HAZARDS?
WHEN DOES A HAZARD BECOME A DISASTER?
WHAT IS A DISASTER?

• a serious disruption of the functioning of a

community or society involving widespread
human, material, economic and environmental
losses and impacts which exceeds the ability of
affected community or society to cope using its
own resources.
-United Nations Office for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR)
WHEN DOES A HAZARD BECOME A DISASTER?

• A hazard becomes a disaster when it

caused damage to life, property,
environment and systems (economic,
social, political and cultural).
 HAZARD OR DISASTER

• News forecasts about typhoon

say that it may cause flash
flood and landslides.

Hazard
 HAZARD OR DISASTER

• A magnitude 4.0 earthquake

was felt and detected but no
damage was caused.

Hazard
 HAZARD OR DISASTER

• Typhoon Yolanda hit Leyte and

destroyed properties and
caused loss of lives.

Disaster
 HAZARD OR DISASTER

• Warnings are given about the

possibility of a 7.2 magnitude
earthquake called the Big One.

Hazard
 HAZARD OR DISASTER

• A forest fire that caused the

destruction of a remote part of the
Australian Wildlife.

Disaster
 HAZARD OR DISASTER

• A huge road accident which

caused several death and froze
the traffic for several hours.

Disaster
 HAZARD OR DISASTER

• A tsunami in 2004 that destroyed several

properties and disturbed the economic and
socio-political system of Indonesia, India,
Thailand and Maldives.

Disaster
HOW DO YOU DEFINE DISASTER?
WHAT IS DISASTER RISK?
DISASTER RISK
• It is the probability of harmful consequences
or expected losses (death, injuries, property,
livelihoods, economic activity disrupted or
environment damaged) resulting from
interactions between natural or human-
induced hazards and vulnerable conditions.
World Health Organization(WHO), 2007
How likely is a hazard to become a disaster?
DISASTER RISK

• It is a chance or likelihood of suffering harm

and loss as a result of hazardous event. (Lanada,
Melegrito & Mendoza, 2016)

Risk = Chance (c) x Loss (l)

What are the factors that contribute to the
chance and possible loss?
WHAT IS A DISASTER?
exposure to hazards
Parena, J.S.(2016)
• a sudden, calamitous event, usually catching
residents unprepared. vulnerability

• disruption that overwhelms the resources and

capabilities of the community
coping capacity
DISASTER RISK

I. The exposure to a hazard;

II. The conditions of vulnerability that are present,
and;
III. Insufficient capacity or measures to reduce or
cope with the potential negative consequences.
 High High
Exposure Vulnerability

Low
Capacity

DISASTER RISK
HIGH RISK
 Low Low
Exposure Vulnerability

High
Capacity

DISASTER RISK
LOW RISK
2017 WORLD RISK REPORT
• United Nations University-Institute for Environment and
Human Security ranks the Philippines as third highest at
risk to disasters, behind Vanuatu and Tonga.
• The report measures risks using a system called world
risk index (WRI).
• WRI used 28 indicators and research data grouped
into: exposure, susceptibility, coping capacity and
adaptive capacity.
Esquire Philippines. (May 2, 2018).
WRI: EXPOSURE (52.46%; 3RD )

• A country is rated from its exposure to the following

hazards:
- Earthquake
- Cyclone
- Flood
- Drought
- Sea Level Rise
Parena, J.S Jr. (2016), Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction. Phoenix Publishing House, Inc: Quezon City
WRI: SUSCEPTIBILITY (VULNERABILITY; 52.78%)

-CITIZEN’S SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

• Population’s access to improved sanitation and
water supply
• Percentage of undernourished
• Dependency ratio
• Population of those below poverty line
• Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita
• GINI index (income or wealth distribution)
Parena, J.S Jr. (2016), Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction. Phoenix Publishing House, Inc: Quezon City
WRI: COPING CAPACITY

- LEVEL OF PREPAREDNESS AND ABILITY TO RESPOND

EFFECTIVELY TO DISASTERS
• Corruption Perception Index
• Failed States Index
• Number of physicians per 10,000 people
• Number of hospital beds per 10,000 people
• Insurance Coverage
Parena, J.S Jr. (2016), Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction. Phoenix Publishing House, Inc: Quezon City
 𝒗𝒖𝒍𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒕𝒚
WRI: ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚

- ABILITY TO ADJUST AND FORM LONG-TERM STRATEGIES

• Adult Literacy Rate
• Combined Gross Enrolment Ratio
• Gender Parity in Education
• Women in national parliament (government)
• Water quantity
• Biodiversity and habitat
Parena, J.S Jr. (2016), Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction. Phoenix Publishing House, Inc: Quezon City
 𝒗𝒖𝒍𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒕𝒚
WRI: ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚

• Forestry Management
• Agriculture
• Government expenditure on health per capita
• Life expectancy at birth

Parena, J.S Jr. (2016), Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction. Phoenix Publishing House, Inc: Quezon City
WHAT ARE THE FACTORS THAT AFFECT RISK
TO DISASTERS OF A COUNTRY?

World Risk Index

• Exposure
• Susceptibility
• Coping Capacity
• Adaptive Capacity

Parena, J.S Jr. (2016), Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction. Phoenix Publishing House, Inc: Quezon City
Effects of Disasters
THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO CLASSIFY THE
EFFECTS OF DISASTERS

Categories
Types • Human/Biological
• Primary • Social
• Physical/Material
• Secondary
• Psychological
• Tertiary • Economic
• Environmental
• Political
Parena, J.S Jr. 2016. Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction. Phoenix Publishing House, Inc: Quezon City
Lanada, M.I, Melegrito, M.L., & Mendoza,D.J. 2016. Building Resilient Communities. Phoenix Publishing. Quezon City.
TYPES OF EFFECTS

• Primary- direct effects

Example: Damaged structures due to earthquake
• Secondary- indirect effects; stem from primary
effects
Example: Fire break out due to gas leak and electrical
wiring damage caused by earthquake
• Tertiary- long-term effects
Example: Relocation of people affected by earthquake
Parena, J.S Jr. (2016), Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction. Phoenix Publishing House, Inc: Quezon City
CATEGORIES

• Human/Biological
- Injuries
- Disease Breakout
- Missing People
- Death

Lanada, M.I, Melegrito, M.L., & Mendoza,D.J. 2016. Building Resilient Communities. Phoenix Publishing. Quezon City.
CATEGORIES: SOCIAL

- People suffer with permanent disabilities

(physical and psychological) which affects
societal structures, especially family.
- Loss of family members
- Evacuation and relocation
- Disturbed indigenous communities

Lanada, M.I, Melegrito, M.L., & Mendoza,D.J. 2016. Building Resilient Communities. Phoenix Publishing. Quezon City.
CATEGORIES: SOCIAL

- Children manifest increased alcohol and drug

use, school drop out rate, early pregnancy,
decreased appetite, irritability, delayed
development , too much dependency, emotional
disturbance
- Criminality rate

Lanada, M.I, Melegrito, M.L., & Mendoza,D.J. 2016. Building Resilient Communities. Phoenix Publishing. Quezon City.
CATEGORIES: PHYSICAL/MATERIAL
- Damaged properties: collapsed buildings, roads
and bridges
- Disturbed electrical and water supply
- Loss of homes, vehicles, business and other
belongings

- “The poor people suffer more during disasters

than rich people.”
Lanada, M.I, Melegrito, M.L., & Mendoza,D.J. 2016. Building Resilient Communities. Phoenix Publishing. Quezon City.
CATEGORIES: PSYCHOLOGICAL
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Depression
- Fear or Phobia
- Anxiety
- Despair
- Nervous Breakdown
- Other psychological disorders
Lanada, M.I, Melegrito, M.L., & Mendoza,D.J. 2016. Building Resilient Communities. Phoenix Publishing. Quezon City.
CATEGORIES: ECONOMIC
- Damages have personal, local and national
economic impacts
- Disruption in agriculture, production,
manufacture, flow of goods and services
- Loss of livelihood
- Shortage
- Poor has limited to no access on commodities
- Hoarding, price hike and theft
Lanada, M.I, Melegrito, M.L., & Mendoza,D.J. 2016. Building Resilient Communities. Phoenix Publishing. Quezon City.
CATEGORIES: ENVIRONMENTAL

- Destroyed forests, water, marine and agricultural

resources
- Waste production
- Improper sanitation; pollution
- Epidemics
- Exploitation of natural resources to meet the
urgent needs of affected people

Lanada, M.I, Melegrito, M.L., & Mendoza,D.J. 2016. Building Resilient Communities. Phoenix Publishing. Quezon City.
CATEGORIES: POLITICAL
- Government response(local and national)
- Balancing funds/resources with the peoples’ needs
- Change in appointment
- Parties attacking another parties for government failure or
improper response
- Issues in distribution of relief goods
- Strikes, protests, rebellion, revolution
- International support

Lanada, M.I, Melegrito, M.L., & Mendoza,D.J. 2016. Building Resilient Communities. Phoenix Publishing. Quezon City.
Questions?
Questions?