Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction Classification of Disasters: 3.
Complex humanitarian emergencies - the term
Disasters can be divided into 2 large categories: complex emergency is usually used to describe the
Basic Concept of Disaster and Disaster Risk humanitarian emergency resulting from an international or
A. Natural Disasters civil war. In such situations, large numbers of people are
● The Philippines has experienced from an ● a natural phenomenon is caused by natural forces, displaced from their homes due to the lack of personal
inexhaustible number of deadly earthquakes, such as earthquakes, typhoon, volcanic eruptions, safety and the disruption of basic infrastructure including
volcano eruptions, and other natural disasters. This hurricanes, fires, tornados, and extreme food distribution, water, electricity, and sanitation, or
is due to its location along the Ring of Fire, a large temperatures. communities are left stranded and isolated in their own
Pacific Ocean region where many volcanic ● They can be classified as rapid onset disasters and homes unable to access assistance.
eruptions and earthquakes occur. those with progressive onset, such as droughts that
lead to famine. These events, usually sudden, can EXAMPLE: conflicts or wars and Genocide the deliberate
Disaster have tremendous effects. killing of a large group of people, especially those of a
● is "a sudden, calamitous occurrence that causes particular ethnic group or nation
great harm, injury, destruction, and devastation to B. Man-made
life and property”. ● Disasters caused by man are those in which major ● The damage caused by disaster cannot be
● It disrupts the usual course of life, causing both direct causes are identifiable intentional or measured. It also differs with the kind of
physical and emotional distress such as an intense non-intentional human actions. geographical location, climate, earth’s specific
feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. characteristics, and level of vulnerability. These
● A preceding definition of disaster stresses that two Subdivided into three categories: determining factors affect generally the
elements are affected – life (whether human or 1. Technological/industrial disasters - Unregulated psychological, socio – economic, political, and
animal) and property. industrialization and inadequate safety standards increase ethnical state of the affected area.
● are often a result of the combination of: the the risk for industrial disasters.
exposure to a hazard; the conditions of vulnerability Risk and Disaster Risk
that are present; and insufficient capacity or EXAMPLE: leaks of hazardous materials; accidental Risk
measures to reduce or cope with the potential explosions; bridge or ● has various connotations within different
negative consequences. road collapses, or vehicle collisions; Power cuts disciplines. In general, risk is defined as “the
combination of the probability of an event and
● According to the Food and Agriculture Organization 2. Terrorism/ Violence- The threat of terrorism has also its negative consequences” (UNISDR, 2009).
(FAO, 2008), disaster is “a serious disruption of the increased due to the spread of technologies involving ● The term risk is thus multidisciplinary and is used in
functioning of a community or a society involving nuclear, biological and chemical agents used to develop a variety of contexts. It is usually associated with
widespread human, material, economic or weapons of mass destruction the degree to which humans cannot cope (lack of
environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds capacity) with a situation (e.g. natural hazard).
the ability of the affected community or society to EXAMPLE : bombs or explosions; release of chemical
cope using its own resources”. materials; release of biological agents; release of
radioactive agents; multiple or massive shootings; mutinies
● The term disaster risk refers to the potential (not ● MAN-MADE DESTRUCTION- Caused by man are
actual and realized) disaster losses, in lives, health those in which major direct causes are identifiable Disasters and Its Effects
status, livelihoods, assets and services which could intentional or non-intentional human actions.
occur in a community or society over some Disaster
specified future time period. MODULE 2 ● is a damaging event that occurs suddenly and
involves loss of life and property. It can be of two
● Disaster risk is the product of the possible damage Geologic mapping is vitally important to education, types, natural and man-made.
caused by a hazard due to the vulnerability within a science, business and a wide variety of public policy
community. It should be noted that the effect of a concerns. For example, geologic maps help us assess the Natural disasters
hazard (of a particular magnitude) would affect likelihood, prepare for, and minimize damage from natural ● can destroy a whole community in an instant.
communities differently (Von Kotze, 1999:35). hazards. Examples of natural disasters are volcanic
● It can also be determined by the presence of three eruptions, tsunamis, earthquakes, and typhoons
variables: hazards (natural or anthropogenic); ● Areas that have the highest vulnerability to which are destructive to people's lives.
vulnerability to a hazard; and coping capacity rainfall-induced landslide have already been
linked to the reduction, mitigation, and resilience to identified by the MGB of the Department of Man-made disasters
the vulnerability of a community Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ● are caused by human beings. Some of the
through their Geohazard Mapping and man-made disasters are bomb explosions,
● DISASTER- A sudden calamitous event, bringing Assessment Program. This program to provide terrorism, wars, leakage of poisonous chemicals,
great damage, loss, destruction, and devastation accurate and detailed profile of the terrain of the pollutions, industrial accidents, and epidemics.
● RING OF FIRE- A path along the Pacific Ocean Philippine soils. The maps generated from this They are identified as man- made disasters
characterized by active volcanoes and frequent project have combined landslide and flooding because they happen due to human actions and
earthquakes. hazards as these two are the most common not by natural forces.
● CALAMITY- An event causing great and often geologic issues in sloping areas during rainfall.
sudden damage or distress. What is the difference between hazard and disaster?
● EARTHQUAKE- Shaking of earth caused by waves Mitigation A hazard is a dangerous situation or event that carries a
moving on and below the earth’s surface ● are actions taken to prevent or reduce the risk to threat to humans. A disaster is an event that harms
● VOLCANIC ERUPTION- When lava and gas are life, property, social and economic activities, and humans and disrupts the operations of society. Hazards
discharged from a volcanic vent. natural resources from natural hazards — is central can only be considered disasters once it affected humans.
● PACIFIC OCEAN- Largest and deepest of Earth's to the Decade initiative. If a disaster happened in an unpopulated area, it is still a
oceanic divisions. ● measures such as adoption of zoning, land-use hazard.
● TYPHOON- Type of tropical cyclone, or severe practices, and building codes are needed, however,
tropical storm. to prevent or reduce actual damage from hazards
● NATURAL DISASTER- A natural event such as a
flood, earthquake, or hurricane that causes great
damage or loss of life.
● DESTRUCTION- A sudden or great misfortune or
failure
The Human Effect of Natural and Man-Made Disasters 4. Emotional Aftershocks ● Various factors influence the effects of a disaster on
1. Displaced Populations Natural disasters can be particularly traumatic for young a country among them are the magnitude of the
● One of the most immediate effects of natural children. Confronted with scenes of destruction and the disaster, the geography of the area affected, and
disasters is population displacement. When deaths of friends and loved ones, many children develop the recovery efforts directed towards reducing the
countries are ravaged by earthquakes or other post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a serious immediate effects of a disaster
powerful forces of nature, many people need to psychological condition resulting from extreme trauma. Left
abandon their homes and seek shelter in other untreated, children suffering from PTSD can be prone to Effects of Physical Disasters
regions. A large influx of refugees can disrupt lasting psychological damage and emotional distress. - Injuries
accessibility of health care and education, as well - Physical disabilities or illness
as food supplies and clean water. - Sanitation
- Damage in infrastructure
2. Health Risks
● Aside from the obvious immediate danger that 2. Psychological Perspective
natural disasters present, the secondary effect can ● Victims of disasters may suffer from Post
be just as damaging. Severe flooding can result in Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other
stagnant water that allows breeding of waterborne serious mental health conditions, which are not
bacteria and malariacarrying mosquitoes. Without being given much attention to by the authorities or
emergency relief from international aid even by the victims, themselves. (This may be
organizations and others, death tolls can rise even sensitive statement)
after the immediate danger has passed. ● Disasters are mostly unpredictable, which leave
the victims in a state of shock. They tend to deny
3. Food Scarcity the loss and try to escape from reality. Being in a
The aftermath of natural disasters affects the food denial state makes the victims more vulnerable to
supplies. Thousands of people around the world are Disasters from Different Perspectives stress, anxiety, and other different maladaptive
hungry because of destroyed crops and loss of agricultural reactions. Death of a closed one also leaves the
supplies, whether it happens suddenly in a storm or The Different Perspectives of Disaster victim in a state of insecurity because the sense of
gradually in a drought. As a result, food prices rise 1. Physical perspective love, attachment and belongingness are deprived
reducing families’ purchasing power and increasing the risk ● Calamities are phenomena that cause great
of severe malnutrition or worse. The impacts of hunger physical damage in a community infrastructure, its
following an earthquake, typhoon or hurricane can be people and their properties, e.g. houses and
tremendous, causing lifelong damage to children’s environmental sources of living. These cited effects
development. of a disaster can be easily measured and the most
common. Natural disasters generally affect the
physical infrastructural facilities, agricultural
productivity and even lead to loss of life and cause
damage to property.
3. Socio-cultural Perspective Economic Effects of Disasters (b) Pandemic Level: Biological disaster affects a much
● Filipinos are generally known as “matiisin”, - loss of life large region, sometime spanning entire continents or the
resourceful, helpful, optimistic, and prayerful. These - unemployment globe
characteristics are manifested in the country’s - loss of property ex. Swine Flue
recent fight against [Link] to the National - loss of household articles
Health Emergency, Enhanced Community - loss of crops Effects of Biological Disasters
Quarantine (ECQ) prevailed in the whole country. A - loss of public infrastructure ➢ loss of lives
lot of people temporarily lost their jobs, some ➢ public demobilization
people stranded in different regions, repatriated ➢ negative economic effect
OFWs were held in different quarantine facilities in 5. Political Perspective ➢ unemployment
Metro Manila, and all people were restricted to go ● Natural disasters are commonly thought to be less ➢ hunger
out of their homes for months. As a result, most politically argumentative than armed conflicts, yet a
Filipino families would rely on government’s help for closer look shows that both the effects of a natural
them to get by. However, limited resources and aids disaster and the resulting distribution of MODULE 5
from the government make people find possible humanitarian aid are profoundly linked to politics.
ways to survive amid the pandemic. PREVENTION MEASURES - BEFORE A FIRE
Political Effects of a Disaster • Have adequate and suitable smoke alarms installed
Socio-Cultural Effect of Disasters - People who have trust in political institution will assess across your building and floors.
➢ change in individual roles the government’s risk assessments as credible and accept • Take support from Thermal Imaging Assessment
➢ disruption of social relationships and personal their hazard policies (Johnson 1999) technology.
connections - Low level of trust in public institutions therefore means • Keep emergency numbers on easy accessibility.
that citizens may ignore the recommendations and • Make a fire escape plan and emergency exits diagrams.
4. Economic Perspective disregard the information provided by these institutions • Practice the fire exit plan regularly
● Disasters affect the economic condition of a (McCaffey 2004). • Use authorized electrical appliances and machines only.
community because they reduce local and - If individuals are confident that they will receive sufficient • Store matches and lighters in secure places.
international trade. It can also partially or totally aid from the government when a disaster occurs, they • Do not overload electrical outlets.
paralyze a country’s transportation system, just like might not be motivated to take measures on their own • Use surge protected multi-outlet power strips and
what happened in the COVID19 pandemic. (King and Kang 2000). extension cords only.
Implementation of a partial and total shut down of • Get annual maintenance checks for the oil, gas and
local business operations result to a lot of people 6. Biological Perspective wood heating units.
losing means of living. The disturbing effects caused by a prevalent kind of • Install an electrical safety switch or circuit
disease or virus in an epidemic or pandemic level is known • Keep fire extinguishers and blankets near the emergency
as biological disaster. exit.
(a) Epidemic Level: Biological disaster affects large
numbers of people within a given community or area.
Ex: Dengue.
WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF FIRE - DURING A FIRE
• Do treat the fire alarm as an emergency and exit the ADDITIONAL KEMEROT
building immediately.
• Immediately inform the nearest fire station.
• During the evacuation from the building, feel the doors for
heat before opening them.
• To escape the dense smoke in the air, fall and crawl to
reduce inhalation exposure.
• Remain in the room if you are unable to exit. Keep the
door closed and await assistance or notify rescue
Personnel of your location with something like a bright
cloth from the window.
• Close the doors before leaving the premises as this
would help in slowing the fire and decreasing the damage.
• Keep a track of your colleagues/neighbors and notify the
personnel if they are missing.
• Avoid collecting personal items before moving out of the
fire exit.
• Do not use an elevator during a fire emergency. Walk or
run through the stairs.
SAFETY RULES - AFTER A FIRE
• Once in a safe place, call or report about the fire outbreak
and inform about your safety/assistance required.
• Await further instructions from the fire emergency
department and stay safe in the refuge area.
• Do not panic or hinder the evacuation or fire exhaustion
process
