DISASTER READINESS AND RISK REDUCTION react Lesson 1: Basic Concept of Disaster & Disaster Risk S Overview: ‘* This lesson will demonstrate an understanding of the basic concept of disaster and disaster tisk, IL Objectives: * Explain the meaning of disaster Differentiate the risk factors underlying disasters Describe the effects of disasters on one’s life * Analyze disaster from the different perspectives (physical, psychological, socio-cultural, economic, political, and biological) TIL. Content Outlin * Please take time to read and understand this part because all graded activities and quizzes will be coming from these contents, Hazards, Disasters and Disaster Risk The term hazard, disaster, and disaster risk are often used interchangeably, but there are primary differences among them AT: a threat or harm that has the potential to cause damage (example: injury, destruction of properties, environmental degradation) to a community. There are two main types of hazards: natural and man-made. These two differ greatly in terms of their causes, scope, and effects on life, property, and the environment. AldiSaStEPis any event that causes widespread human, economic, and envir tal losses or impacts that seriously disrupt the normal functioning © of a community. When an event causes a significant ‘* number of-dead or mis it is a5 considered as Ses level of severity’ of the 7” disaster is determined based on the number of hum: survivors, An event is also considered as according to the assessed cost of repairing or ing fes_and public ture and destroyed. An event is also considered: sed on the amount of income lost _from work, livelihood, and other economic activities that have been stopped or slowed down due to the disaster. Disasters usually follow hazards that are not anticipated. When a disaster occurs, the community affected may lose its ability to cope with the loss and damage using its own resources. Hence, disasters may be prevented if proper and effective disaster plans are in place. ay fic to a location or condition of a community, Usually, if certain hazards frequent a specific location or if the present situation of a community puts it in a dangerous position, the disaster risk becomes a vital consideration in defining the safety of the people in that community. letermines the ten ‘[Link] face disasters. For example, the disaster risk of storm surges for a community living 100 kilometers away from the seashore is lower compared with that of a community that is 10 kilometers near the shorethe disaster risk of storm surges for a community living 100 kilometers away from the seashore is lower compared with that of a community that is 10 kilometers near the shore. 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, tomados, 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. 1 'Technotogical/industrial disasters - Unregulated industrialization and inadequate safety standards increase the risk for industrial disasters. 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, seestruction 3)/Compléx 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 ih 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, The effects of disasters vary, mostly depending on the severity of the exposure of life, property, and the environment to the hazard. Usually, the severity of the effects of a disaster is higher in the community directly affected by the hazard. Although the severity becomes lower in the nearby communities of the affected community, the effects may still be felt and may be significant According to measurable severity, the effects of disasters are primary, secondary, or tertiary in nature. peal ais otsng from the disaster itself Secd are situations resulting from the primary effects. Tertiary effects are those that are not experienced as a disaster is taking place but can be felt some time after the disaster has occurred.Indeed, the effects of disasters can be complex and widespread, depending on the damage done on those that are affected, namely, the people, the buildings and infrastructure, the economy, and the environment. People » After a disaster takes place, the number of casualties is assessed. In most cases ‘and depending on the severity of a disaster, the actual number cannot be achieved. There may be Ss 2 * 4 missing persons who may be presumed dead. The 2 Ae aioe EEE number of people injured or who have gotten sick due to the disaster is also considered. In post disaster assessment, the estimate T Of persons: who have been evacuated or relocated i also calculated, The loss of family members, friends, and other loved onies is the most tragic effects of disasters on people. The pain is exacerbated when loved ones remain missing even years after the disasters. Buildings and Infrastructure — Homes, buildings, and other infrastructure are important components that are considered in the aftermath of a disaster. For people who have been affected by a disaster, the reestablishment of their homes, workplaces, commercial sites, and similar structures is a priority. Buildings that are considered affected by disasters are those that have been damaged structurally or architecturally, have collapsed, or have been | ground and even buried, rendering them inhabitable. In like manner, the destruction [Link] to public buildings such as schools, hospitals, churches, and public infrastructure such as roads and bridges can significantly affect the devastated community. The damage to public infrastructures immobilizes the community as its residents cannot easily move from point to point. Any building, field, or ground that has lost its capacity to serve its designed purpose is tantamount to being useless and is considered loss. Economy — An economy is not a single entity that functions alone. It involves all sectors of society such as business, transportation, d_ communication. Hence, when a disaster strikes @ community, its economy ip a” a is among the first to be affected because of Wy oS the loss of livelihood, employment, and 8 g even __tourism__opportunities _for__the pee ry Community. For instance, the damage to : & é hy agricultural fields that have been scraped off by flash floods or mudslides may temporarily paralyze the local economy, especially if agriculture is the primary source of income in the community. Due to the damage to the fields, there are no crops and livestock to harvest, and therefore no source of food or income. Environment —Disasters can cause negative effects on the air, soil, water, and ecosystems in a community. Air quality is compromised when harmful particulates are released into the air during disasters such as volcanic eruptions, explosions and nuclear plant emissions. These particulates include ash, dist benymsae aloes Teo ae age deposited into the environment and can contaminate the ground, bodies of water, and even human, animal, and plant life. Aside from absorbing air particulates from man- made disasters, the soil or land suffers other effects such as erosion from flash floods and landslides, cracks, and fissures from earthquakes, and change in its quality d Of che irosion"is the process by which soil is carri away by wind, water, and other agents. As a natural process, this happens gradually or over a Tong period of time. However, disasters such as floods and fires fasten the process. Disasters affect water in its various aspects: as groundwater, in bodies of water, and in water containers such as swimming pools and water tanks. The water can by dust and other particulates, and by decaying organic matter brought about by the disasters. The degra: yf can cause fish kills, death to marine life, and disease and other health problem in people. An ‘ecosystem jis a fomples_ community involving the_inteection of animalg.-plan ants, and _ microorganisms with the non-living components of the area. The natural balance of the ecosystems ‘is gravely alfected by disasters. Most people would look at disasters in the same perspective. As humans, the first thing we notice in the aftermath of a disaster is its effects on fellow humans. However, to evaluate the overall results of a disaster, disaster experts examine them from different point of view ‘The physical perspective includes the visible or tangible materials, whether natural or man- made, which have been affected by a disaster. The altered or removed structures may change the landscape, zoning, and accessibility of an area The psychological perspective refers to the people’s emotional, cognitive or interpersonal reaction to difficulties, Catastrophic events can cause shock, terror, anxiety, disbelief, nightmares, fa, social withdrawal or alienation, or depression to victims. Any neglect to psychological support could impair efforts toward physical rehabilitation. This is why the DSWD becomes vital in post disaster management. This government agency empowers people, whether to improve their quality of life in the aftermath of the disaster. ‘The sociocultural perspective centers on the response of the people, whether victims or not, to emergency situations and to the _kind of assistance they receive, The characteristics of affected families such as their religions, attitudes, beliefs, and values can influence their approach to or their recovery from the disasters. For example, a group of people may believe that the disaster which struck their village is a punishment by Mother Nature for destroying the environment. Another important aspect of this perspective is the degree of cooperation among the community members. The level of social support may be made immediately sufficient and available if a ‘community is united or has a shared vision of recovery, The (economic perspective focuses on the disruption of economic activities in the community. Disasters, whether small or large-scale, brings about serious economic consequences. Disaster loss is usually assessed in terms of injuries and death, n_of fixed assets and infrastructur n in the flow of goods and services that can obviously af fect economic, (Ors such_as gross domestic products (GDP) growth rates, indebtedness levels, and fiscaldeficits. In addition to this is the demand for a considerable humanitarian assistance from various sectors, ‘The political perspective’deals with how government services are used to reduce loss or damage by preparing for and preventing disasters. This perspective is critical because in some cases, there exists inequities in societies that create political prejudice in developing plans and policies related to disaster risk reduction and recovery plans. This is why it is important for governments to always consider poverty reduction strategies in their platforms. The biological perspective; takes into consideration the potential for infectious or communicable diseases after a disaster takes place. In the aftermath of a disaster, humans and animals that have been injured become susceptible to infections. When medical services, sanitation facilities, and recovery programs are scarce or inadequate, deaths and losses may be inevitable, if contagion is not controlled, the productivity of the population is affected, which will then affect other aspects of the society. While there is very little or nothing that can be done to prevent natural hazards, some human actions worsen the risk of their occurrence, making the probable disaster more difficult to prevent or even anticipated. Most of the anthropogenic or man-made activities as part of human exploration and advancement compound the risks of disasters. ‘Housing and building developmént. In the pursuit of addressing the modern-day needs and wants of people, the environment is put at risk. For example, in order to develop a residential village, the land has to be clear ation, so excavation and leveling must be done. In joing these activities, the environment is affected, Presence of physical structures prone to disaster risks. Some disasters take place without anyone knowing them because the sites of disaster are void of any structure or community, For example, numerous disasters under the ocean but are not detected. In the same manner, many seismic activities that occur in caves and areas not inhabited by humans get undetected Therefore, the presence of these structures, which may house a significant number of people, is a serious consideration in disaster assessments. Institutional framework and system for risk reduction and preventions, Some disasters may not be predicted; they i hhus, standards on building codes, infrastructure planning and financing, emergency policies, and other protocols change drastically based on experiences from a serious disaster.