Basic Concepts of Disaster and Disaster Risk

Disaster and the Risk Factors Underlying It

Disaster and the Risk Factors Underlying It The Philippines is an archipelago in Southeast Asia
surrounded by the Philippine Sea and Pacific Ocean in the east and the South China Sea in the west.
With a land area of 300,001 sq km and an estimated population of 101, 991,000 (Worldometer, August
4, 2015).

Philippines is also one of the countries that belongs to what they call the Pacific Ring of Fire where two
major tectonic plates of the world meet, the Eurasian Plate and the Pacific Plate (See Figure 2). It sounds
scary, isn’t it? cannot escape from. It is the reason of the occurrences of most earthquakes which
resulted to tsunamis. Many active volcanoes are also found because their eruptions have been found in
historical records.

According to the report of the United Nation University Institute for Environmental & Human Security
and the German Alliance Development Works, the Philippines belongs to the top ten countries facing
the highest risk next to Vanuatu and Tonga. Philippines ranks third on the list of most vulnerable
countries to climate change with a 24.32 % disaster risk. However, this percentage can be lessened if all
the Filipinos are well informed and knowledgeable enough on disaster preparedness and prevention. In
the previous years, you have learned about the effects of being situated in the Ring of Fire. It makes the
country prone to land shaking or earthquake and volcanic Eruptions resulting to tsunami which greatly
affect ones’ lives and properties

Aside from being situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire, it is also located along the Typhoon Belt on the
Western North Pacific Basin where more or less 66 percent of tropical cyclones enter or originate. It is
visited with an average of 20 events of Typhoons per year in which more or less six of these typhoons
can be rather destructive. Its eastern seaboard is highly exposed to typhoons with winds speed greater
than 150 kilometers in every hour.

A disaster is a sudden, calamitous event that seriously disrupts the functioning of a community or
society and causes human, material, and economic or environmental losses that exceed the
community’s or society’s ability to cope using its own resources. Though often caused by nature,
disasters can have human origins. Disasters are increasing nowadays and it cannot be avoided.
Accordingly, “disasters are the final exam for a community when they have not taken the course”. So,
the best way is to get ready and be prepared. The best way to get prepared is to be proactive. Do we
really need to study disaster? The answer is a big YES for us to be prepared! Disaster preparedness
refers to the measures taken to prepare for and reduce the effects of disasters. That is, to predict and,
where possible, prevent disasters, mitigate their impact on vulnerable populations, and respond to and
effectively cope with their consequences (IFRC). That is why a new law or the Republic Act No. 10121 or
the Philippines Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (DRRM) transforms the
Philippines’ disaster management system towards Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). One of its purposes is
to reduce the risk brought about by any calamities or hazards which put ones’ lives in danger and loss of
many properties.
 Hazard, Exposure, Vulnerability,
Capacity
Disasters are inevitable. They are caused by unsustainable development that has not taken account of
possible hazard impacts in that certain location. This module is all about the basic factors of disaster and
disaster risk. After studying and working on all activities in this module, you will be able to determine
the underlying factors that directly influence disaster.

Disaster is different from hazard. A hazard may or may not result to a disaster. Suppose there is a very
strong typhoon. When it hits a particular area and leave no damages, then there is no disaster happened
but if it leaves great damages to lives and properties, then that is what we call a “disaster” Look at the
figure below suppose you are along the hillside. On top, there is a very big rock that is likely to fall and
by the time it happens, it will hit you. In this case, the rock on top is a hazard and you are vulnerable of
it. When we say “vulnerable” that the rock falls down and hit you causing you damage or injury then
that is what we call disaster

By just looking at the relationship between disaster risk, and the factors hazard, exposure, vulnerability
and capacity, what can you say about it? This means that disaster risk would be greater if the factors
(hazard, exposure and vulnerability) are higher even though capacity is also higher, however, disaster
risk can be reduced or lessen if we will decrease the hazard, exposure and vulnerability with an increase
of capacity. As observed, the symbols become smaller or reduced. This means that we can reduce the
risk brought about by any event or disaster by reducing the hazard, exposure and vulnerability of the
people or properties while increasing the CAPACITY of the community (answers may vary). People differ
in their exposure to risk as a result of their social group, gender, ethnic or other identity, age and other
factors. Vulnerability may also vary in its forms: poverty, for example, may mean that housing is unable
to withstand an earthquake or a very strong typhoon, or lack of awareness and preparedness may result
in a slower response to a disaster, leading to greater loss of life and properties or prolonged suffering of
the victims. Capacity on the other hand, can be described as the resources available to individuals,
households and communities to cope with a threat or to resist the impact of a particular hazard. Such
resources can be physical or material, but they can also be found in the way a community is organized or
in the skills or attributes of individuals and/or organizations in the community.

Disasters often follow natural hazards such as typhoon, earthquake flash flood and the like. Its severity
depends on how much impact a hazard has caused on society and the environment.

Terms Associated with Disaster

Capacity (Kapasidad) · It is the combination of all the strengths, attributes and resources available within
a community, society or organization that can be used to achieve agreed goals (RA 10121). Example:
üPermanent housing ü Local Knowledge ü Food Security
Disaster (Katalagman) · It 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 (RA 10121). · Natural or human-
made emergencies that cannot be handled by affected communities who experience severe danger and
incur loss of lives and properties causing disruption in its social structure and prevention of the
fulfilment of all or some of the affected community’s essentia(DisasterRisk Reduction Resource Manual).

Disaster Preparedness (Pagpangandam sa Katalagman) · A state in which individuals and groups of a

community have developed plans , allocated resources , and established procedures for an efficient and
effective implementation of the plans for the purpose of saving lives and preventing further damage to
property in the event of a disaster.

Disaster Risk Reduction (Pagpakunhod sa Risgo sa Katalagman) · It is the concept and practice of
reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts to analyze and reduce the causal factors of disasters.
Reducing exposure to hazards, lessening vulnerability of people and property, wise management of land
and the environment, and improving preparedness for adverse events are all examples of disaster risk
reduction (National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, 2010).

Disaster Risk (Risgo sa Katalagman) · It is the function of hazard, vulnerability, and capacity · The
potential disaster losses, in lives, health status, livelihoods, assets and services, which could occur to a
particular community or a society over some specified future time period. · It is the result from a
combination of hazards

Exposure (Pagkaladlad) · The degree to which the elements at risk are likely to experience hazard events
of different magnitudes (RA10121)

Vulnerability (Kahuyang) · It is the characteristics and circumstances of a community, system or asset

that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard. (RA 10121) Example: Poor location , House
made of light materials , Community conflict

Factors Underlying Disasters

The common reaction seen or felt after any type of disaster is stress reactions. These could be the effect
of a very traumatic experience during the event of disaster. Disaster can cause a full range of mental and
physical reactions. You may also react to problems that occur after the event, as well as to triggers or
reminders of the trauma. This module is all about the basic factors of disaster and disaster risk. After
studying and working on all activities in this module, you will be able to determine the underlying
factors that directly influence disaster.

Every year, both human-caused and natural disasters affect millions of people. It may be explosions,
earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, typhoons, or fires. In a disaster, you face the danger of death or
physical injury. You may also lose your home, possessions, and community. Such stressors place you at
risk for emotional and physical health problems. The common reactions seen or felt after any type of
disaster is stress reactions. These could be the effect of a very traumatic experience during the event of
disaster. Disasters can cause a full range of mental and physical reactions. You may also react to
problems that occur after the event, as well as to triggers or reminders of the trauma. Now, what are
the risk factors underlying disasters? Continue reading and try to internalize what you read

The following are several factors that make it more likely for someone to have more severe or longer-
lasting stress reactions after disasters:

1. Severity of exposure Risk of future mental problems is highly related to the amount of exposure
to the disaster. Those that go through the disaster themselves are in at the highest risk. At the
next level are those in close contact with victims while those who only had indirect exposure,
such as news of the severe damage are at the lowest risk of lasting impact. Death, life threat,
injury and loss of possessions are the factors that lead most often to mental health problems.
Accordingly, the survivors or the victims having suffered from distress or mental health
problems that need clinical care.
2. Gender and family According to the study, women or girls mostly suffer more negative effects
than do men or boys. When the children are in the home, disaster recovery is more stressful.
Women with spouses also experience more distress during recovery than those who are single.
Having a family member in the home who is extremely distressed is related to more stress for
everyone. After a disaster, marital stress has been found to increase. Conflicts between family
members or lack of support within the family make it harder to recover from disasters.
3. Age Adults who are in the age range of 40-60 are likely to be more distressed after disasters
because if you are in that age range, you have more demands from job and family. Research on
how children react to natural disasters is limited. In general, more severe distress after disasters
is seen in the children than adults. The worse recovery in children is related to higher stress in
the parents
4. 4. Other factors specific to the survivor There are several factors related to a survivor's
background and resources which are important for recovery from disaster. Recovery is worse if
the survivors:  were not prepared before the disaster;  first time to experience a disaster or
no experience at all in dealing with disasters;  after the disaster, they are dealing with other
stressors.  have low or poor self-esteem;  think that nobody cares for them or feeling left
alone;  think that they have little control over what happens to them; and  less capacity to
manage the stress by themselves. Other factors have also been found to predict worse
outcomes:  bereavement (death of someone close);  panic, horror, or feelings like that
during the disaster;  broken family or being separated from family (especially among youth);
and  being forced to leave home or displaced.
5. Developing countries If the disaster occurs in developing countries, risk factors can be made
worse. People living in these countries have more severe mental health impact than those who
are living in developed countries. This is true even with less disasters happened.
6. Low or negative social support The help and support extended by others can be both a risk and
a resilience factor. After a disaster, social support may become weak. It may be due to the need
for members of the support network to get on with their own lives or due to stress. Sometimes
others responses for support are negative. For example, even though you are a survivor and yet
someone may play down your problems, needs, or pain, or expect you to recover more quickly
than is realistic. This situation would result to a long-term distress in traumatized survivor.
7. Communicable Diseases Associated with Natural Disasters Natural disaster is usually followed by
several communicable diseases and most of the affected individuals are those who are
displaced. The risk for communicable disease transmission after disasters is associated primarily
with the size and characteristics of the displaced population, specifically the proximity of safe
water and functioning latrines, the nutritional status of the displaced population, the level of
immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, and the access to healthcare
services (From an article on Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2007). These diseases should be
considered when post disaster risk assessments are performed by the people in authorities.

The following are some of the communicable diseases associated with natural disasters: A. Water-
related Communicable Diseases - Natural disaster can jeopardize in accessing safe water.

A1. Diarrhea. An outbreak of diarrheal disease can occur after drinking water that has been
contaminated with flood water. Flooding is identified as a significant risk factor for diarrheal
illnesses. The risk for diarrheal disease is higher in developing countries than in industrialized
countries.

A2. Hepatitis A and E. Accordingly, hepatitis A and E are also transmitted by the fecal-oral route, in
association with lack of access to safe water and sanitation. Hepatitis A is endemic in most
developing countries, and most children are exposed and develop immunity at an early age. As a
result, the risk for large outbreaks is usually low in these settings. In hepatitis endemic areas,
outbreaks frequently follow heavy rains and floods; the illness is generally mild and self-limited, but
in pregnant women case-fatality rates can reach 25% (From an article on Emerging Infectious
Diseases. 2007).

A3. Leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is an epidemic-prone zoonotic bacterial disease that can be

transmitted by direct contact with contaminated water. Rodents or mice shed large amounts of
leptospires in their urine, and transmission occurs through contact of the skin and mucous
membranes with water, damp soil or vegetation (such as sugar cane), or mud contaminated with
rodent urine.

B. Crowding It cannot be denied that crowding is common in populations displaced by natural

disasters and this can facilitate hasten the transmission of many communicable diseases

B1. Measles. According to an article on Emerging Infectious Diseases in 2007, measles and the risk
for transmission after a natural disaster are dependent on baseline immunization coverage among
the affected population, and in particular among children below 15 years of age. Living in a very
crowded area facilitates the transmission of measles and necessitate even higher immunization
coverage levels to have outbreak prevention. Just like during the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991
where there were 18,000 cases involved in having measles and these people were those who were
displaced and overcrowding in a particular evacuation center.

After a traumatic event, social conflicts, even those that have been resolved, may again be seen.
Divisions may occur from social race, religion, and ethnicity. These divisions may recur because the
people of each group try to gain access to much-needed resources. Conflicts may arise in families as
well. These happen when each member went through different things in the disaster and sets up
different courses of recovery causing some members in the family not well understood among
family members and may also serve as distressing reminders to each other of the disaster. Although
millions of people have been directly affected by disasters, most of them do recover because by
nature, human is resilient, and most people have the ability to come back from a disaster.