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DRRR

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Handout-1

DRRR

Uploaded by

nicolebalaong7
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Handout 1: IT’S A DISASTER

What is a disaster?
Disasters are serious disruptions to the functioning of a community that
exceed its capacity to cope using its own resources. Disasters can be caused by
natural, man-made and technological hazards, as well as various factors that
influence the exposure and vulnerability of a community.
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)
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.
Disaster = exposure to hazard x vulnerability
Coping capacity

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.
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.

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.
Disaster Risk = Exposure to natural or man-made hazards x
vulnerability
Activity 1: Understanding Disaster Risk
Directions: In this activity, you must identify the classification of disaster as well as
the risk of a given disaster situation to your family/community. Accomplish the
table below. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Disaster Classification of Disaster Risks (Effects)


Disaster (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. indoor fire

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