Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction

Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600

Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph MATHEMATICS
LESSON ONE Basic Concept of Disaster and Disaster Risk

Outline:

• Concept of Disaster
• Concept of Disaster Risk
• Nature and Effects of Disaster
Learning Objectives:

• explain the meaning of disaster;

• differentiate the risk factors underlying disasters;
• describe the effects of disasters on one’s life;
• explain how and when an event becomes a disaster; and
• identify areas/locations exposed to hazards that may lead to disasters; and analyze disaster
from the different perspectives (physical, psychological, socio-cultural, economic, political,
and biological).

BASIC CONCEPT OF DISASTER AND DISASTER RISK

I. CONCEPT OF DISASTER

- 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 (IFRC).
- 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 up using its own resources.
- The occurrence of a disaster depends on the interplay between a natural phenomenon that
can turn into a hazard and the vulnerability of population exposed - exposure and vulnerability
(Cargullo, 2019).

WHEN DOES A NATURAL EVENT BECOME A HAZARD?

• A natural event such as a tsunami becomes a hazard if it poses a threat to people.

• A natural event can be likened to a weak concrete fence that could collapse even with just a
slight push. It does not pose a threat to anything or anybody if there is nothing or no one nearby.
• Once you park a car or stand right beside it, it becomes a hazard. The threat of damage, injury,
and even death now exists.

WHEN DOES A HAZARD BECOME A DISASTER?

• A disaster occurs when a hazard impacts on vulnerable people (IFRC).

• A disaster happens when the probable destructive agent, the hazard, hits a vulnerable
populated area (Cargullo, 2019).

A natural event like a volcanic eruption or tsunami which hits an uninhabited area does not
qualify as a disaster. It becomes a disaster only if it hits vulnerable population and properties – in short,
if there are victims.

II. CONCEPT OF DISASTER RISK

The risks associated with disasters can be estimated and can be expressed either
quantitatively or in relative terms. This provides a way of comparing past and future disasters.

THE ELEMENTS OF DISASTER RISK

When more people encroach on hazardous areas and urban centers continue to grow
along the path of hazard events, the magnitude of disasters is expected to increase. The risk of
losing lives or causing injury to people and of losing or damaging property due to a hazard
increases as the levels of vulnerability increase.

It refers to the expectation value of deaths, injuries and property losses that would be
caused by a hazard. Disaster risk is expressed as a function of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability
(Disaster Risk = function [Hazard, Exposure, Vulnerability]). It seeks not only to express the chance
of the disaster happening but also to quantify the impact.
 Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph MATHEMATICS
LESSON ONE Basic Concept of Disaster and Disaster Risk

HAZARD EXPOSUR
(Earthquakes, E Figure 1.2-1.
torrential
(People, Disaster risk is expressed as a
rains, storms, Disaster
etc.) Risk
property, function of hazard, exposure, and
etc.)
vulnerability.
VULNERABILI
TY Disaster Risk = function [Hazard,
(Resistance Exposure, Vulnerability]
against natural
hazards)

RISK ASSESSMENT

Risk assessment estimates the impact that a hazard would have on people, services,
facilities, and structures. A risk map tells you the hazards, effects (physical, social, and economic),
vulnerabilities of areas, and costs of damage. The magnitude of the disaster depends on:
1. The severity of the natural event
2. The quantity of exposure of the elements at risk which includes lives and properties
3. Vulnerability level or quality of exposure
The model can be expressed as: Disaster Risk = Hazard x Exposure x Vulnerability

If there is no hazard, then the risk is null (the same if population or vulnerability is null). The
occurrence of natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions cannot be prevented, but
reducing exposure and vulnerability can minimize their impact.

HAZARD EXPOSURE
Figure 1.2-2. Minimizing Disaster Risk Reduction
Disaster through Reduction of Exposure and
Disaster Risk Vulnerability.
Risk
Mitigation and preparedness measures will
result in the reduction of vulnerability and thus,
in disaster risk. The area of overlap of hazard,
VULNERABILITY exposure, and vulnerability is smaller
compared with that in Figure 1.2-1.

The level of vulnerability and exposure can be reduced by keeping people and property away as
far as possible from hazards.

➢ Relocating people to reduce vulnerability and exposure, however, is not a simple matter of
imposing it to be followed blindly by those who are affected. Whenever possible, relocation
must come hand in hand with other mitigation and preparedness measures.
➢ People are resistive to relocation and it is quite a challenge uprooting and moving them to other
places. This would mean giving up their homes, land, and even jobs.
➢ The most vulnerable are the poor who are forced to live in unsafe places near volcanoes, flood-
prone sites, and steep hillsides.
➢ People tend to turn a blind eye as they are comforted by the fact that the risk of death is lower
compared with that from accidents.
➢ People remain in places previously hit by a disaster thinking that after a large magnitude event
occurs comes a period that is safe from another event, which is not always true. Some natural
events tend to cluster in time. Estimates of return periods give us a false notion that events are
cyclic in nature but in reality these are just averages.
➢ Often, people consider the risks more acceptable than facing the curse of starvation away from
the very productive fertile volcanic soils or river flood plains.
 Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph MATHEMATICS
LESSON ONE Basic Concept of Disaster and Disaster Risk

III. NATURE AND EFFECTS OF DISASTERS

A. Characteristics of Disasters

- Disasters are inherently unexpected or come quickly with little or no warning. As a result,
disasters cause widespread death, injury, and property damage.
- Disasters cannot be managed through normal means. These requires immediate and effective
intervention of both national government agencies (NGAs) and non-government organizations
(NGOs) to help meet the needs of the victims.
- Disasters create demands beyond the capacity of a government. During a disaster, the
situation is usually beyond the capabilities of local government units (LGUs) or national
government to respond and handle.
- When the President declares a state of emergency, response and recovery programs should
be formulated and implemented both by the public and non-government entities.

B. Impacts of Disasters

1. Medical Effects - Include traumatic injuries, emotional stress, epidemic diseases, and
indigenous diseases
2. Damage to critical facilities – widespread disasters can destroy or damage facilities (such as
communication installations, electrical generating and transmission facilities, hospitals, water
facilities - storage, purifications, and pumping, and other public and private buildings) that
may be critical not only in maintaining a safe environment and public order, but also in
responding to the disaster
3. Disruption of transportation – during the initial stages of a disaster, almost all surface means
of transportation within a community are disrupted by broken bridges and roads and streets
that are rendered impassable by landslides or floods. The restricted mobility of vehicles
makes rescue and other emergency operations doubly difficult.
4. Economic impact – normal business operations and other economic activities are curtailed.
People must also leave their jobs and devote their time to disaster-related activities, such as
search and rescue, or to caring for survivors.
5. Global environmental change – there is increasing evidence of global climatic change
brought about by both human activity and disasters. The changes could result in a wide
range of more hazards such as wildfires and mudslides, reduced productivity in the oceans,
and weakened immune systems of people and animals.
6. Social and political impact – when disasters happen, social and political inequities are
usually exposed, which may lead to major political and social changes.

References:

Rimando, R. E., Belen, J. G. (2016) Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction, Rex Bookstore, Inc.

Serapio, M. P. (2016) Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction, Mindshapers Co., Inc.
Cargullo, D. ( 2019) DRRR - Concept of Disaster and Disaster Risk.