Risk Factors

Underlying Disasters
PREPARED BY: RUDY JAY C. BELL
Objectives:

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. identify the risk factors underlying disasters.
2. describe each Risk factors underlying disasters.
3. utilize the gained knowledge in real life situations to avoid harm
and assure safety.
4. appreciate the importance of understanding the risk factors
underlying disasters to mitigate the effects of disaster and
practice mitigation measures as early as necessary.
 At Risk…
Disaster can affect everyone. It does not discriminate
between and among social classes, gender, creed, race,
and nationality. But certain risk factors put those affected
in a position where they will have graver or longer-lasting
post-disaster stress reactions. These aggravating factors
contribute to evident differences in the stress reactions of
certain individuals with certain characteristics.
Activity 1.1:
Direction: Read the scenario below. Based on
your understanding of disaster from the previous
module, enumerate or list down the risks that are
reflected from the text.
Gina, an 18-year-old resident of Tacloban City, just got
laid off from her job as a sales clerk in a medium sized
hardware store. She and her siblings could barely survive
each day with their limited resources. Then Typhoon
Yolanda struck, it killed her 2 younger sisters. Their
home was destroyed by the storm surge. In her barangay
alone, 2000 residents were killed, including her
childhood friends and former playmates.
Identified Risks:
1. __________________________________
2. __________________________________
3. __________________________________
4. __________________________________
5. __________________________________
Activity 1.2 Identifying Risk Factors
Direction: Read the news article about an earthquake.
After you have read the article, answer the guide
questions.
6.4-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Southern Philippines
MANILA • A strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake shook the southern Philippines yesterday, sending
frightened residents fleeing from buildings, officials and eyewitnesses said. The quake struck off
the coast of the southern town of Manay at 3.16 pm at a depth of 14km, the Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said in a statement. While there were no immediate
reports of serious destruction, the institute said it expects the earthquake to have caused some
damage. A lot of people ran from their homes because a lot of items were falling inside," The
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) is a service institute of the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that is principally mandated to mitigate disasters
that may arise from volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunami and other related geotectonic
phenomena. PHIVOLCS science researcher John Deximo said. The Philippines lies on the so-
called Ring of Fire, a vast Pacific Ocean region where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
occur. At least two people were killed and scores injured when a 6.5-magnitude quake struck the
central Philippines in July last year. The most recent major quake to hit the Philippines was in
2013, when a 7.1- magnitude quake left more than 220 people dead and destroyed historic
churches in the central islands.
Guide Questions:
1. What risk/s can you identify from the news article?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
2. What do you think are the factors that affect the disaster risks from
the preceding article?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
RISK FACTORS

1. Exposure - the “elements at risk from a natural or man-made

hazard event
2. Hazard-a potentially dangerous physical occurrence, phenomenon
or human activity that may result in loss of life or injury, property
damage, social and economic disruption, or environmental
degradation.
3. Vulnerability - the condition determined by physical, social,
economic and environmental factors or processes, which increase
the susceptibility of a community to the impact of hazard
Reduction of the level of vulnerability and
exposure is possible by keeping people and
property as distant as possible from hazards.
We cannot avoid natural events from
occurring, but we can concentrate on
addressing the reduction of risk and exposure
by determining the factors causing disasters
 The following are also taken into consideration when risk
factors underlying disaster are involved:

1. Severity of exposure - which measures those who experience disaster firsthand

which has the highest risk of developing future mental problems, followed by
those in contact with the victims such as rescue workers and health care
practitioners and the lowest risk are those most distant like those who have
awareness of the disaster only through news.
2. Gender and Family - the female gender suffers more adverse effects. This
worsens when children are present at home.
3. Age - adults in the age range of 40-60 are more stressed after disasters but in
general, children exhibit more stress after disasters than adults do.
4. Economic status of country - evidence indicates that severe mental problems
resulting from disasters are more prevalent in developing countries like the
Philippines.
Factors which underlie disasters:
1. Climate Change - can increase disaster risk in a variety of ways – by
altering the frequency and intensity of hazards events, affecting vulnerability to
hazards, and changing exposure patterns.
2. Environmental Degradation - changes to the environment can influence
the frequency and intensity of hazards, as well as our exposure and
vulnerability to these hazards.
3. Globalized Economic Development - It results in an increased
polarization between the rich and poor on a global scale.
4. Poverty and Inequality - Impoverished people are more likely to live in
hazard exposed areas and are less able to invest in risk-reducing measures. The
lack of access to insurance and social protection means that people in poverty are often
forced to use their already limited assets to buffer disaster losses, which drives them into
further poverty. Poverty is therefore both a cause and consequence of disaster risk
5. Poorly planned and Managed Urban Development - A
new wave of urbanization is unfolding in hazard-exposed
countries and with it, new opportunities for resilient investment
emerge.
6. Weak Governance - weak governance zones are
investment environments in which public sector actors are
unable or unwilling to assume their roles and responsibilities in
protecting rights, providing basic services and public services.
Activity 1.3: What is the Risk Factor?
Direction: Analyze the given situation by identifying the correct risk factor. Write only the letter that corresponds to your answer. To facilitate your
task, accomplish the given table below:

A. Climate Change
B. B. Environmental Degradation
C. C. Globalized Economic Development
D. D. Poverty and Inequality
E. E. Poorly planned and Managed Urban Development
F. F. Weak Governance
Situation
1. unwillingness to assume their roles and responsibilities in
governing disaster risk department
2. Rising sea level
3. cities located in low-altitude estuaries such as Marikina City,
Philippines are exposed to sea-level rise and flooding.
4. houses are built with lightweight materials
5. effects in developing countries.
6. deforestation that can lead to landslide
7. global warming
8. garbage slide killed that over 200 people in an informal
settlement in Manila, the Philippines
9. fragmented responsibilities for drought risk
management
Activity 1.4 Fill Me!
Direction: Supply the missing letters to complete the word/s that described the various
effects of disaster. Statements are provided as clues.

1. The elements at risk from a natural or man-made hazard event.

_X__S__E
2. These are processes or conditions, often development-related, that influence the
level of disaster risk by increasing levels of exposure and vulnerability or reducing
capacity.
D_S___E_R___
3. The conditions determined by physical, social, economic, and environmental
factors or processes, which increase the susceptibility of a community to the impact of
hazard.
_ U_ N__A_ _ L_ _Y
4. Damage to both public and private infrastructures
I _ F_ _ S_R _ _T_ R _ D_ _A_ E
5. Many people must abandon their homes and seek shelter in other
regions which may cause large influx of refugees that disrupt
accessibility of health care and education, as well as food supplies and
clean water
P_ _ E _T_ _ LD _ S _ _A_ _ M _ N _
“Education is the most powerful weapon which
you can use to change the world.” — ...
Thank you 
Assignment:

Direction: Suppose you are invited by the SK Chairman in your

barangay as a resource speaker to your fellow age group during an
Environmental Awareness Activity and you were asked to give
emphasis on the risk factors underlying disasters so that young
people will be equipped with knowledge on how to mitigate the
effects of a disaster. Have a concept in mind of how you are going
to deliver the information. Write down what you want to deliver to
the audience. The given rubrics below will be used for scoring.