NSTP GROUP 3
Disaster Awareness preparedness
and Management.
DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT
CONCEPTS,
PRINCIPLES AND TRENDS (R.A. 10121)
BASIC TERMS:
1. Acceptable risk is the level of loss a society or community considers
acceptable given existing social, economic, political, cultural, technical
and environmental conditions. In engineering terms, acceptable risk is
also used to assess structural and non-structural measures undertaken
to reduce possible damage at a level which does not harm people and
property, according to codes or “accepted practice” based, among
other issues, on a known probability of hazard.
2. Biological hazard is about the processes of organic origin or
those conveyed by biological vectors, including exposure to
pathogenic micro-organisms, toxins and bioactive substances,
which may cause the loss of life or injury, property damage,
social and economic disruption or environmental
degradation. Examples of biological hazards: outbreaks of
epidemic diseases, plant or animal contagion, insect plagues
and extensive infestations.
3. Building codes are ordinances and regulations controlling
the design, construction, materials, alteration and occupancy
of any structure to insure human safety and welfare. Building
codes include both technical and functional standards.
4. Capacity is the combination of all the strengths and resources
available within a community, society or organization that can reduce
the level of risk, or the effects of a disaster. Capacity may include
physical, institutional, social or economic means as well as skilled
personal or collective attributes such as leadership and management.
Capacity may also be described as capability.
5. Capacity building deals with efforts aimed to develop human skills
or societal infrastructures within a community or organization needed
to reduce the level of risk. In extended understanding, capacity
building also includes development of institutional, financial, political
and other resources, such as technology at different levels and
secsociety the society.
6. Climate change pertains to the climate of a place or region is
changed if over an extended period (typically decades or longer) there
is a statistically significant change in measurements of either the
mean state or variability of the climate for that place or region.
Changes in climate may be due to natural processes or to persistent
anthropogenic changes
in atmosphere or in land use. Note that the definition of climate
change used in the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change is more restricted, as it includes only those changes
which are attributable directly or indirectly to human activity.
7. Coping capacity is the means by which people or organizations use
available resources and abilities to face adverse consequences that
could lead to a disaster. In general, this involves managing resources,
both in normal times as well as during crises or adverse conditions.
The strengthening of coping capacities usually builds resilience to
withstand the effects of natural and human-induced hazards.
8. Counter measures are those taken to counter and reduce disaster
risk. They most commonly refer to engineering (structural) measures
but can also include non-structural measures and tools designed and
employed to avoid or limit the adverse impact of natural hazards and
related environmental and technological disasters.
9. Disaster is a serious disruption of the functioning of a community
or a society causing widespread human, material, economic or
environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected
community or society to cope using its own resources.
A disaster is a function of the risk process. It results from the
combination of hazards, conditions of vulnerability and insufficient
capacity or measures to reduce the potential negative consequences
of risk.
10. Disaster risk refers to the potential (not actual) 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.
11. Disaster risk management is the systematic process of using
administrative decisions, organization, operational skills and
capacities to implement policies, strategies and coping capacities of
the society and communities to lessen the impacts of natural hazards
and related environmental and technological disasters. This
comprises all forms of activities, including structural and non-
structural measures to avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation and
preparedness) adverse effects of hazards.
12. Disaster risk reduction (DRR) is a term used for reducing and
preventing disaster risks. It is founded on the principle that while
hazards are inevitable, its adverse effects like lost lives and/or
destruction of property are not. There are steps that we can do to
ensure reduction of risks. DRR actions can be political, technical,
social and economic. Disaster risk reduction (disaster reduction)
is the conceptual framework of elements considered with the
possibilities to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risks
throughout a society, to avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation
and preparedness) the adverse impacts of hazards, within the
broad context of sustainable development.
The disaster risk reduction framework is composed of the following fields of
action, as described in ISDR’s publication 2002 “Living with Risk: a global
review of disaster reduction initiatives,” page 23:
•Risk awareness and assessment including hazard analysis and
vulnerability/capacity analysis;
•Knowledge development including education, training, research and
information;
•Public commitment and institutional frameworks, including organizational,
policy, legislation and community action;
•Application of measures including environmental management, land-use and
urban planning, protection of critical facilities, application of science and
technology, partnership and networking, and financial instruments; and
•Early warning systems including forecasting, dissemination of warnings,
preparedness measures and reaction capacities.
GEOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF THE
PHILIPPINES
Philippines is an archipelago state, consisting of some 7,100
islands and islets, and covering a land area of approximately
300,000 km2.
The country comprises three groups or large islands:
2) The Luzon group in the north and west, consisting of Luzon,
Mindoro, and Palawan
3) The Visaya group in the centre, consisting of Bohol, Cebu,
Leyte, Masbate, Negros,
Panay and Samar, and
4) Mindanao in the South.
Manila and nearby Quezon City, the country’s most-populous
cities, are part of the National Capital Region (NRC or Metro
Manila), located on the largest island Luzon (Cullinane, 2019).
The islands and groups are divided into four main classes of
administrative divisions, which consist of 17 autonomous
regions, 81 provinces, 1,489 municipalities, and the smallest
political units, 42,044 Barangays as of 2018 (PSA, 2018). The
Philippines is governed by a presidential form, in which power is
divided among three juridical branches; executive, legislative
and judicial, which seek democracy and balance by carrying
their equally weighted duties to uphold law, rights and
representation of the interests of the people (GoP, 2019).
In terms of disaster risk, Philippines ranked third among all of the countries
with the highest risks worldwide according to the World Risk Report 2018,
with index value of 25.14% (World Economic Forum, 2018). At least 60% of
the country’s total land area is exposed to multiple hazards, and 74% of the
population is susceptible to their impact (GFDRR, 2017). This is largely due to
the location and geographical context as the risk involving coastal hazards
such as typhoons, storm surges and rising sea levels is high. Also, as the islands
are located within the “Ring of Fire” between the Eurasian and Pacific
tectonic plates, earthquakes and volcanoes are posing serious risks to the
safety of the populace. Flooding, landslides, droughts and tsunamis further
contribute to the exposure to natural hazards (CFE-DM, 2018). Of these,
hydro-meteorological events including typhoons and floods, accounted for over
80% of the natural disasters in the country during the last half-century (Jha,
2018). Given the local ecologies, agriculture, mining, forestry, fishing and
services are major sources of people’s livelihoods.
■ The geographical location of the Philippines makes the country
uniquely exposed to a plethora of hazards, including recurrent
typhoons, storm surges, droughts, earthquakes and 53 active
volcanoes, eruptions of which are classified as the most deadly
and costly globally (Doroteo, 2015). The subduction zone
between the two tectonic plates (Eurasian and Pacific) creating
the seismic activity in the region are predicted to have the
capacity to generate major earthquakes in the near future, and
in the vicinity of metropolitan cities (Pailoplee & Status Report
2019 Pages // 10 Boonchaluay, 2016).
Disaster Risk Profile of the Philippines
The Philippines is prone to almost all types of natural hazards
because of its geographical location and geotectonic setting.In
addition, the Philippines is situated along the highly-seismic Pacific
Ring of Fire. This is the area where the Philippine Sea and Eurasian
Tectonic Plates meet and is prone to occurrences of earthquakes,
tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. In fact, there are 300 volcanoes in
the country and 22 are active. Almost all parts of the country
experience earthquakes. Generally, we encounter an average of 20
earthquakes a day, per latest figures from the Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). Earthquake disasters are
not as frequent as the typhoons and flooding that take place in the
Philippines.
Nevertheless, the impact generated on affected communities is usually
massive and devastating. Earthquake-induced disasters were few in numbers
and in terms of casualties. According to the Annual Report by the
PHIVOLCS, in 2017, six (6) damaging earthquakes hit the country
commencing with the magnitude 6.7 earthquake in Surigao del Norte on 10
February. Á series of earthquakes were recorded in Mabini, Batangas
Province from April to August 2017. A 9 major event in the earthquake
swarms had a magnitude of 5.5 on 04 April. Two (2) more strong earthquakes
occurred on 08 April, the first with magnitude 5.6, succeeded by another with
magnitude 6.0. On 12 April, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred with
epicenter near Wao, Lanao del Sur. On the 29th of the same month, a
magnitude 7.2 earthquake happened offshore of Saranggani, Davao
Occidental. On 25 May, a magnitude 5.4 earthquake happened near the
vicinity of San Marcelino, Zambales. Lastly, Ormoc City, Leyte and vicinity
were shaken by the magnitude 6.5 earthquake on 06 July (PHIVOLCS
Annual Report, 2017).
The strong ground shaking subsequently caused liquefaction, earthquake-
induced landslides, and damages to buildings and other infrastructures. Areas
transected by the active faults that moved and generated the earthquakes were
also affected by ground rupture. Aside from being situated in the Pacific Ring
of Fire, the country is also located along the Pacific Typhoon Belt.
This explains the occurrences of different weather disturbances such as
typhoons. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA) reports that every year, an average of twenty (20)
tropical cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and five (5)
of which shall be most destructive.
Tropical cyclones and its sequential effects of rain and windstorms, as well as
floods are the most prevalent types of hydrometeorological hazards in the
country. In fact, the Philippines can also be called “Exporter of Typhoons.”
Between 1997 and 2007, eighty-four (84) tropical cyclones entered the Philippine Area
of Responsibility (PAR). These typhoons resulted to a total of 13,155 in human
casualty and more than 51 million families have been affected. Economic losses due to
typhoon damages in agriculture, infrastructures and private properties are estimated
to reach P158.242-B. Some of the most devastating floods and landslides are triggered
by these typhoons that happened also within this period.
The intensity scale classification of tropical cyclone by the Philippine Atmospheric
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), have developed
the category for Super Typhoon, with sustained winds of greater than 220 km per
hour. In the past years, the country does not have the category for Super Typhoon.
However, because of Typhoon Yolanda, the PAGASA had the realization that the
strength of typhoons can go beyond the country’s existing threshold. In addition,
Philippines also has to contend with the irreversible impacts of climate change that is
characterized by the increasing global temperatures.
FOUR (4) THEMATIC AREAS OF THE
PHILIPPINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
In accordance with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management
Framework (NDRRMF), through the National Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Plan (NDRRMP), the country envisions a “Safer, adaptive
and disaster resilient Filipino communities towards sustainable
development.” This will be achieved through the four distinct yet
mutually reinforcing priority areas, namely, (a) Disaster Prevention and
Mitigation; (b) Disaster Preparedness; Disaster Response; and (d)
Disaster Recovery and Rehabilitation. Each priority area has its own
long term goal, which when put together will lead to the attainment of
the country’s overall goal/vision in DRRM.
Four DRRM Thematic Areas
1. Disaster Prevention and Mitigation
•Early warning systems
•Flood forecasting and monitoring
•Hazard and risk mappings
•Structural and non-structural interventions
2. Disaster Preparedness
•Contingency planning
•Prepositioning and stock-piling
•Capacitating and organizing responders
•Training, drills and exercises
•Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment
3. Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery
•Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA)
•Issuance of advisories and situation reports
•Activation of Response Clusters and Incident Command
•System (ICS) Mobilization of responders
Humanitarian assistance (eg: relief distribution)
•Provision of financial assistance •Management of evacuation centers
4. Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery
•Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA)
•Enhancement of policies and plans
•Reconstruction using “build back better” approach
•Resettlement
•Provision of new sources of livelihood
ROLE OF THE YOUTH IN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
AND MANAGEMENT
Youth can play an important role in disaster preparedness and recovery.
Involving youth in disaster planning and recovery can increase their awareness
of hazardous situations that may occur in their neighborhood and teach them
how to respond in various types of emergencies. With all the natural disasters
and calamities that our country, these left most of the adult frightened while
most of the youth traumatized. Millions of children and youth usually represent
more than one third of the victims whenever disasters struck. Research have
shown that youth trainings focusing on disaster preparedness results in behavior
changes, and that youth who are prepared are more confident andempowered
when an actual emergency occurs. Thus, engaging youth in disaster risk
management training and activities can increase their awareness and knowledge
on what to do and how to act when disasters occur, and may decrease the
number of both youth and adult victims and casualties.
Youth plays an important role in disaster risk reduction and management, and
here are what the youth can do:
1. The youth has the energy to take immediate actions when emergencies occur.
When an actual disaster happens, the youths are the most capable in taking
immediate action during emergencies because they have the energy to do it.
2. The youths are incredibly resilient and creative. They are able to cope up and
adapt to changes. This allows them to overcome difficulties in their lives,
including calamities and disasters, and adapt with diverse range of people.
3. The youths can also contribute ideas and actions during disasters. By involving
youth in disaster planning and management, they will be better equipped to
respond appropriately and calmly when confronted with an actual event.
4. The youth has the potential to become a better leader and initiate plans.
Involving young people in disaster management can help them learn topics that
affect their lives while at the same time gaining hands-on experience designed to
equip them become tomorrow better leaders and initiate plans.
BASIC DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE TRAINING
From assessing risks to building your team, these basic steps can make a
facility ready to be prepared for fires, floods, power outages, earthquakes, and
the unknown. Whether it’s a fire, flood, shooting, power outage, or other
situation, emergencies unfortunately hit the headlines often enough that the
subject of preparedness is no longer limited to security and facility
professionals. This is an opportunity to discuss, using as much backup data as
possible, the needs for each type of emergency.
Getting ready on activities involved in developing an emergency response plan
is the biggest reason to pay attention to an emergency response plan to be
prepared as prepared as possible for an emergency. While there is no one-size-
fits-all approach, there are common elements that should be addressed in the
creation of a plan. Here are five steps that facility and security key persons can
use to help guide emergency planning.
1. Know your risks. Listing potential emergencies and ranking them in regards to
importance and likelihood is essential to knowing what to do and what resources to
invest. There is no need to invest money in hurricane planning if your facility is not
near any coastal area, nor should you spend a lot of time for earthquake planning
if your facility is not near any area normally susceptible to earthquakes or with a
history of seismic activity. That doesn’t mean that you totally ignore these risks,
it’s just that you don’t dwell on detailed response tasks.
2. Build a team. Many emergency response plans are created in a vacuum, with no
inputfrom the end users. That's the wrong approach to take. In today's
environment, every individual in the organization may have a role as a kind of first
responder, who is expected to follow the rule, "see something, say something."
Emergency plans should be the product of an inclusive team instead of a single
individual or group. Putting together a team of subject matter experts from
different departments helps indetermining the overall span of the plan, including a
cycle of the four phases of emergency management.
Subject matter experts or other representatives from safety, security, human
resources, public relations or communications, facilities, operations and upper
management shouldbe involved from the start of the planning phase. If plans are
already in place, that team would form a good review committee to ensure that
all areas are covered.
3. Make critical information quickly accessible. So many times, if you ask to see an
emergency plan, someone goes to a file cabinet or shelf and pulls out a three
ringbinder, at least two inches thick, and hands the weighty document to you for
reading. Aplan like that certainly reflects a lot of work, but does anyone really know
what's in it anddoes it really describe the methods to respond during the emergency
event? When time comes to write a plan, the thinking is sometimes that, the bigger
thedocument, the better. This couldn't be farther from the truth. Plans need to be
concise as to the threat, the risk, and then what to do.
4. Update your alert and response procedures. We live in a world of second-guessing
about everything we do or don’t do in an emergency. Plans are made to ensure
everyone knows what to do in a timely fashion. Plans need to be specific and to the
point, with everyone involved knowing what may happen and what to do. This does
not mean to put into your action plan the specific details of what the responders will
do; rather, the focus in on the plans each person should know to protect
herself/himself and others.
Notification tools such as email, voice, and text blasts are now common on
college campuses and corporations. However, keep in mind that no one will get
the alert notification unless someone starts the process, not only by calling 911,
but also by notifying the people responsible for sending out the message to do
so. In many cases, the event (shooting or stabbing) has already been concluded
before the police arrive, with social media providing reports that are many
times erroneous.
5. Test the plan. Once the plan has been created, the next question is, will it
work? How do you know? The answer is a series of tests, drills, and exercises
designed to go through procedures that you are expected to know – in fact, that
you need to know to save your own life and the lives of others. Test the plans to
determine if they work or need to be improved, or and to provide continuous
tweaking of the plans to ensure any company, facility, or personnel chplans are
reflected in the plans.
Basic First Aid
First aid is when you provide basic medical care to someone
experiencing a sudden injury or in illness, it’s known as first
aid. In some cases, first aid consists of the initial support
provided to someone in the middle of a medical emergency.
This support might help them survive until professional help
arrives. In other cases, first aid consists of the care provided
to someone with a minor injury.
3 Steps for Emergency Situations
If you encounter an emergency situation, follow these three basic steps:
1. Check the scene for danger. Look for anything that might be dangerous, like
signs of fire, falling debris, or violent people. If your safety is at risk, remove
yourself from the area and call for help. If the scene is safe, assess the condition
of the sick or injured person. Don’t move them unless you must do so to protect
them from danger.
2. Call for medical help, if needed. If you suspect the sick or injured persyourself
emergency medical care, tell a nearby person to call the local number for
emergency medical services. If you’re alone, make the call yourself.
3. Provide care. If you can do so safely, remain with the sick or injured person
until professional help arrives. Cover them with a warm blanket, comfort them,
and try to keep them calm. If you have basic first aid skills, try to treat any
potentially life-threatening injuries they have.
Remove yourself from danger if at any point in the situation you think your
safety might be at risk.
