Disaster Readiness and

Risk Reduction
Quarter 1 – Module 1:
Basic Concept of Disaster and
Disaster Risk
 What I Know

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. What is this inherently unexpected and happening that comes quickly
without any warning?
a. disaster
b. hazard
c. phenomenon
d. risk

2. A natural disaster is a(n) event.

a. expected
b. planned
c. scheduled
d. unexpected

3. It is also called as the Circum-Pacific belt, the zone of earthquakes

surrounding the Pacific Ocean where about 99% of the world’s earthquake
occurs.
a. locust
b. drought
c. ring of fire
d. subsidence

4. All of the following show effect of disasters EXCEPT .

a. displacement of populations
b. damage to the ecological environment
c. destruction of a population’s homeland
d. sustained public attention during the recovery phase

5. Which of the following is an example of man-caused disaster?

a. storm surges
b. flooded coastal areas
c. landslide on mining sites
d. oil spills from shipping boat

6. Which of the following is an example of natural hazards?

a. factories
b. fault lines
c. mining sites
a. chemical plants

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7. Which of the following is NOT a type of natural hazard that causes
disaster?
a. tornado
b. typhoon
c. earthquake
d. car accident

8. It is defined as the source of danger and something that may cause injury
or harm.
a. disaster
b. hazard
c. phenomenon
d. risk

9. Which of the following category is NOT part of man-made hazard?

a. terrorism/violence
b. technological/industrial
c. complex humanitarian emergencies
d. preventive and precautionary measures

10. Which of the following is useful to better establish priorities and

response activities, and systematize previous experiences?
a. disaster risk
b. effects of disaster
c. phases of disaster
d. categories of disaster

11. It involves the identification and mapping of the elements at risk and
the assessment of people, animals and plants that may be affected?
a. exposure
b. vulnerability
a. disaster risk
c. risk assessment

12. The potential disaster losses in lives, health statuses, livelihoods, assets,
and services, which could occur in a particular community or a society over
some specified future time period is called .
a. disaster risk
b. disaster mitigation
c. disaster preparedness
d. disaster prevention

13. Disaster has a great impact on .

a. buildings
b. garden
c. humanity
d. Parks

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14. Which of the following is a product of the massive damages to life and
property caused by a hazard due to the vulnerability within a community?
a. destruction
b. disaster
c. disaster risk
d. vulnerability

15. Disaster risk can be determined by the presence of the following

elements of Disaster EXCEPT .
a. phenomenon
b. coping capacity
c. vulnerability to a hazard
d. hazard (natural or man-made)

Lesson
What is Disaster and
1 Disaster Risk?

In this module, the learners will hold an understanding about disaster

and develop a firm grasp of a very crucial factor that has direct bearing on
disaster and disaster risk.

What’s In

Philippines: A Country Prone to Natural Disasters

The Philippines has experienced from an inexhaustible number of

deadly earthquakes, volcano eruptions, and other natural disasters. This is
due to its location along the Ring of Fire, a large Pacific Ocean region where
many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.

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Activity 1: “Count Me In”

Direction: Write five (5) disastrous events in the Philippines in the last five years
that you could still recall. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1.
2.

3.

4.

5.

What’s New

Activity 1.1 Understanding Disaster

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Instructions: Analyze the given images and answer the given questions
below:
1. In two to three sentences, describe the given images.

2. List down the disasters that you can identify from the images.

What is It

IT’S A DISASTER

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. A preceding definition of disaster
stresses that two elements are affected – life (whether human or animal) and
property. The effects vary – it maybe a minor damage (like broken windows and
doors), major damage (like torn rooftops, collapsed walls), total destruction (like
completely destroyed houses and structures rendering them useless and
inhabitable) and the worst scenario, it can lead to death. (Asian Disaster
Preparedness Center, ADPC, 2012)

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2008), disaster

is “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”.

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 Any adverse episode or phenomenon can exploit a vulnerability in the
affected population or community to create damage and this awareness will form
the basis for an adequate intervention.

Meanwhile, the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster

Reduction defines disaster as 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.

Disasters are often a result of the combination of: the exposure to a hazard;
the conditions of vulnerability that are present; and insufficient capacity or
measures to reduce or cope with the potential negative consequences.

Its impacts may include loss of life, injury, disease and other negative
effects on human physical, mental, and social wellbeing, together with damage
to properties, destruction of assets, loss of services, social and economic
disruptions, and environmental degradation.

Mahar, Patrick, et.al, “Disasters and their Effects on the Population: Key Concepts,” Accessed (01
June 2020), https://www.aap.org/en-us/Documents/disasters_dpac_PEDsModule1.pdf

Image 1. Different kinds of Natural Disasters

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Classification of Disasters:

Disasters can be divided into 2 large categories:

A. Natural Disasters – a natural phenomenon is caused by natural forces,

such as earthquakes, typhoon, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, fires, tornados,
and extreme temperatures. They can be classified as rapid onset disasters and
those with progressive onset, such as droughts that lead to famine. These
events, usually sudden, can have tremendous effects.
B. Man-made - Disasters caused by man are those in which major direct
causes are identifiable intentional or non-intentional human actions.

Subdivided into three categories:

1. Technological/industrial disasters - Unregulated industrialization and
inadequate safety standards increase the risk for industrial disasters.

EXAMPLE: leaks of hazardous materials; accidental explosions; bridge or

road collapses, or vehicle collisions; Power cuts

2. 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.

EXAMPLE : bombs or explosions; release of chemical materials; release of

biological agents; release of radioactive agents; multiple or massive
shootings; mutinies

3. Complex humanitarian emergencies - the term complex emergency is

usually used to describe the humanitarian emergency resulting from an
international or civil war. In such situations, large numbers of people are
displaced from their homes due to the lack of personal safety and the
disruption of basic infrastructure including food distribution, water,
electricity, and sanitation, or communities are left stranded and isolated
in their own homes unable to access assistance.

EXAMPLE: conflicts or wars and Genocide the deliberate killing of a large

group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation

“Disasters and their Effects on the Population: Key Concepts,”, Accessed on 02 June
2020, pages 7-10, https://www.aap.org/en-us/Documents/disasters_
dpac_PEDsModule1. pdf .

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 The damage caused by disaster cannot be measured. It also differs with
the kind of geographical location, climate, earth’s specific characteristics, and
level of vulnerability. These determining factors affect generally the
psychological, socio – economic, political, and ethnical state of the affected
area.

Risk and Disaster Risk

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” (UNISDR, 2009). The term risk is thus
multidisciplinary and is used in a variety of contexts. It is usually associated
with the degree to which humans cannot cope (lack of capacity) with a
situation (e.g. natural hazard).

The term 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 community or society over some specified future time period.

Disaster risk is the product of the possible damage caused by a hazard due
to the vulnerability within a community. It should be noted that the effect of a
hazard (of a particular magnitude) would affect communities differently (Von
Kotze, 1999:35).

It can also be determined by the presence of three variables: hazards

(natural or anthropogenic); vulnerability to a hazard; and coping capacity linked
to the reduction, mitigation, and resilience to the vulnerability of a community.

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 What’s More

Activity 1.2 FIX ME!!!

Instruction: Arranged the given jumbled letters to identify the correct
terminology. The definition will help you to derive the correct answer. Answering
this activity will develop your visual and analysis skills. Write your answer in
your answer sheet.

JUMBLED LETTERS DEFINITION

A sudden calamitous event, bringing great
1. RTAIESSD
damage, loss, destruction, and devastation.

A path along the Pacific Ocean characterized

2. GRNI FO IEFR
by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes.
An event causing great and often sudden
3. TALAYMIC
damage or distress.
Shaking of earth caused by waves moving on
4. AQRHTEKEAU
and below the earth's surface.
When lava and gas are discharged from a
5. ICNLOVAC IPREOUTN
volcanic vent.
Largest and deepest of Earth's oceanic
6. CFCPIAI NEAOC
divisions.
Type of tropical cyclone, or severe tropical
7. OOYNHPT
storm.
A natural event such as a flood, earthquake,
8. LTARUNA RTAIESDS or hurricane that causes great damage or loss
of life.
9. ETUTODSRCIN A sudden or great misfortune or failure.

Caused by man are those in which major

10. NMA EDMA RESTSAID direct causes are identifiable intentional or
non-intentional human actions.

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Activity 1.3 Understanding Natural and Man-Made Disaster
Direction: Identify the given set of images if it is Natural or Man Made. Put
your answer on the blank space below each picture.

Classifying Disaster
(Natural or Man-Made)

"Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines" by “Military convoy" by chelmonette is

ochacolombia is licensed under CC BY- licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
NC-ND 2.0

"File:Ezra Acayan Mayon pic.jpg" by "Toxic Metal Barrel" by azzajess is

Ezra Acayan, licensed under CC BY-SA licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
4.0

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 "Motor Vehicle Accident at Clinton and "6.0 Magnitude Earthquake in the City
Lafayette Ave" by cisc1970 is licensed of Napa" by Cal OES is licensed under
under CC BY-NC 2.0 CC BY-NC 2.0

Guide Question:
Based on the presented images, how will you differentiate natural from man-
made disasters? Explain your answer in 2-3 sentences. Write your answer
on a separate sheet of paper.

Given the table, give a natural disaster you experienced within your locality
or you had heard from the news recently. What makes it a natural disaster?
1. Give a man-made disaster you experienced within your locality or you had
heard from the news recently.

Natural Disaster Man-made Disaster

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Activity 1.4 Understanding Disaster Risk
Direction: In this activity, you must identify the classification of disaster as
well as the disaster risk of a given disaster situations. Accomplish the table
below. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Classification of
Disaster Risks
Disasters Disaster
(Effects)
(Natural or Man-Made)
1. typhoon
2. war conflicts
3. volcanic eruption

4. chemical leakages
5. vehicular accident
6. earthquake
7. drought
8. thunderstorms
9. tuberculosis
10. rainfall-induced
landslide
11. floods in rivers
and coastal areas
12. avalanche
13. tsunami
14. bomb explosion
15. house

Stop and Reflect

Now review your previous Activity number 1.3 and 1.4. Do you think the
given ideas/concepts are clear for you to understand different kinds of
disasters that the country has experienced including its disaster risks?
Agree or Disagree?

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 What I Have Learned

What I Can Do

Now that you’ve already learned and understand the lesson focusing on
disaster and disaster risk, it’s time to work to demonstrate your learning. Are you
ready? Sure, you are!

Activity 1.5 Am I Ready?

Directions: Answer the given question. Write your answer on a separate sheet of
paper.

Do you think you are relatively well prepared when a disaster might affect
your community either natural or man-made as well as to its effects? List
down five (5) important things that you need to prepare in order to lessen the

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possible danger that you and your family might encounter when a disaster
strike. Explain your answers briefly and write it on your answer sheet.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Assessment

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet
of paper.

1. Which of the following is a sudden, calamitous event, bringing great

damage, loss, destruction, and devastation to life and property?
a. disaster
b. hazard
c. phenomenon
d. risk

2. A natural disaster can be a .

a. phenomenon
b. terrorism/Violence
c. technological/industrial issues
d. complex humanitarian emergencies

3. All of the following are the effects of disasters EXCEPT

a. can destroy health infrastructure
b. can cause an unexpected number of deaths
c. can have adverse effects on the environment
d. can cause the ability of every specie to reproduce

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4. It is also called as the Circum-Pacific belt, the zone of earthquakes
surrounding the Pacific Ocean where about 99% of the world’s earthquake
occurs.
a. drought
b. ring of fire
c. subsidence
d. Bermuda Triangle

5. Which of the following is NOT an example of man-caused hazard?

a. mutiny
b. genocide
c. earthquake
d. bombs or explosions

6. It is defined as the source of danger and something that may cause injury
or harm. It is also the uncertain course of events in a country.
a. disaster
b. hazard
c. risk
d. phenomenon

7. Which of the following category is a man-made hazard?

a. storm surges
b. flooded coastal areas
c. Landslide on Mining sites
d. Oil Spills from shipping boat

8. Which of the following is NOT included in the phases of disaster?

a. recovery phase
b. planning phase
c. emergency phase
d. preparedness phase

9. A natural disaster where sea waves of local or distant origin that results
from large-scale seafloor displacements associated with large earthquakes,
major submarine slides, or exploring volcanic hazards is called
a. earthquake
b. flood
c. tsunami
d. typhoon

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10. During the initial stage of a disaster, almost all surface means of
transportation within the community are disrupted by broken bridges, roads, and
streets that are rendered impassable by landslides or floods. The restricted mobility
of vehicles makes rescue and other emergency operations doubly difficult. What
is this impact/ effect of disaster?
a. economic impact
b. social and political impact
c. damage to critical facilities
d. disruption of transportation

11. Which of the following variables will NOT determine the elements in
identifying disaster risk?
a. coping capacity
b. population explosion
c. vulnerability to a hazard
d. hazard (natural or man-made)

12. There are many impacts of Disaster, on what impact it will fall if a person is
suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome?
a. physical wellbeing impact
b. mental wellbeing impact
c. social wellbeing impact
d. none of the above

13. Erica is outside the building. Which action should she do when she feels
the ground is shaking?
a. Stay away from trees, powerlines, post and concrete structures.
b. Move away from steep slopes which may be affected by landslides.
c. If near the shore and feel and earthquake, especially if it’s too strong,
move quickly to higher grounds.
d. All of the above.

14. The potential disaster losses in lives, health statuses, livelihoods, assets,
and services, which could occur in a particular community or a society over
some specified future time period is called .
a. disaster risk
b. disaster mitigation
c. disaster prevention
d. disaster preparedness

15. Disaster has a great impact on which of the following aspect?

a. Bacteria
b. Human
c. Invention
d. Technology

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 Additional Activities

Activity 1.6 The Search is Over

Direction: Search and encircle among the jumble of letters the key terms in
the definition of disaster according to the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center.
You should find nine (9) key terms.

Y N H E R M L B V C X A S T R A I C K Y
G Y R O S C O P I N N X I P L U C K Y S
O U R S I E B I L O S S E R O S A R I O
D E V A S T A T I O N O U O L A L M E N
S E E D L I N G F O R T E P L A A N K G
D I S E L I E G E V E N T E M E M R I T
Y A C T I E V T E N M I O R T A I N O U
X A N A R O U S F O R M U T O I T I O Z
C H A N E U R S E Y R O S Y O U O M I D
F U L L I A C A N N O T M O V E U P S Y
D R I V E N S T O W A R D E S T S W E T
H O S P I T A K I T S D A M A G E M E N
T S U D D E N D E O N T R K X U T O P Y
T Y N D A K O L Q I N U T T I E S D R O

Once your word hunt is complete, use the key terms to define Disaster. Your
definition should be a restatement/paraphrase of the definition by the Asian
Disaster Preparedness Center.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

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