Module-1 General Perspectives of

Disaster
Dr. Hemant Khanolkar
 A region’s vulnerability to natural disasters depends on multiple
factors.
 The United Nations University calculates the World Risk Index using
four factors:
 1. exposure
 2. susceptibility
 [Link] capacities
 [Link] capacities.
 [Link]
 It is the geographic area that is exposed due to natural hazards.
 [Link]
 This refers damage done at three levels
 infrastructure, poverty, and nutrition.
 3. Coping capacity
 This is the ability to resist the impact of natural disasters through
disaster preparedness.
 4. Adaptive capacity
 This refers to the capacity to make structural changes to reduce the
impact of natural disasters in the future.
 Natural Disaster Facts and Statistics
 According to a 2020 report by the United Nations,,
 1. Large number of people (approximately more than 5 billion people)
have been affected by disasters, either lost their lives or suffered
economic losses.
 [Link] and undeveloped countries suffer disproportionately by
natural disasters.
 [Link] and children in developing countries are often large
sufferers in natural disasters.
Hazard vs. Disaster
 Earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and volcano eruptions are all
different types of natural hazards.
 But when do they become natural disasters?
 The difference is the events’ effects on people.
 When a typhoon strikes a populated island in the Philippines,
destroying homes and lives, it becomes a disaster.
 But same when strikes in one of the cities of US the effect can be
hazardous and may not necessarily disastrous.
 People living in poverty are more vulnerable to natural disasters
because of the lesser resources.
Why Are Developing Countries More Vulnerable to Natural
Disasters?
 Developed countries are better prepared to handle the impact of
disasters as well as the aftereffects.
 In developing nations, natural disasters trap people in a cycle of
poverty because they do not have the resources to rebuild their
homes and meet other basic needs.
 This makes them less able to recover in the long run.
 Certain factors present in poverty environments will turn a natural
hazard into a disaster:
 Poor infrastructure
 Poor facilities
 High density population
 Limited resources and funding
The Human Impact of Natural Disasters
 [Link] Populations
One of the most immediate effects of natural disasters is population
displacement.
 When a country is affected by earthquakes or other powerful forces
of nature, many people have to abandon their homes and seek
shelter in other regions.
 A large influx of refugees can disrupt accessibility of health care and
education, as well as food supplies and clean water and some basic
necessities.
The Human Impact of Natural Disasters
 [Link] Risks
The obvious and immediate danger of natural disasters are
spread of diseases.
 Temporary camps established to shelter the displaced can
increase the spread of diseases.
 The disease like dengue, malaria, typhoid spread very rapidly.
 Death tolls keep rising post event as no emergency relief from
local/state/ national/international organizations.
The Human Impact of Natural Disasters
 [Link] Scarcity
After natural disasters, food often becomes scarce.
 Thousands of people around the affected region go hungry due to
destroyed crops and loss of agricultural supplies, whether it
happens suddenly in a storm or gradually in a drought.
 This results in rise in food prices, reducing families’ purchasing
power and increasing the risk of severe malnutrition.
 The impacts of hunger following an earthquake, typhoon or
hurricane can be tremendous, causing lifelong damage to
children as they are in the their growing phases.
The Human Impact of Natural Disasters
 [Link] Aftershocks
Natural disasters can be particularly traumatic for young children.
 Confronted with scenes of destruction and the deaths of friends and
loved ones, many children develop post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD)
 a serious psychological condition resulting from extreme trauma.
 Left untreated, children suffer from PTSD for lifelong with
psychological damage and emotional distress.
Economic Impact of Disaster
 [Link] of Capital assets
 infrastructure such as housing, schools, factories and equipment,
roads, dams, bridges, railways, air ports, monuments, historical
places.

 Loss of Lives and Injuries: Medical costs and the economic value of
lives lost or injured.
Economic Impact of Disaster
 [Link] and Industries

indirect Costs
•Economic Disruption: Business interruptions, loss of
productivity, and decreased economic activity.
•Supply Chain Disruptions: Affecting industries dependent on
affected regions, causing ripple effects globally.
Economic Impact of Disaster
 [Link]-term Economic Impacts

• GDP Growth: Disasters can slow down the economic growth of a

region or country due to the loss of productive assets and decreased
investment.
• Fiscal Strain: Increased government expenditure on recovery efforts
and reduced tax revenues can lead to budget deficits and increased
public debt.
Economic Impact of Disaster
 [Link] and Financial Markets

• Insurance Payouts: Large-scale disasters lead to significant

insurance claims, affecting insurance companies' balance sheets.

• Market Volatility: Financial markets may experience volatility due

to uncertainties and losses related to disasters.
Economic Impact of Disaster
 5. Employment and Income

• Job Losses: Destruction of businesses and infrastructure can

lead to unemployment.

• Income Reduction: Loss of income for individuals and

communities affected by the disaster.
Economic Impact of Disaster
 6. Investment and Capital Flows

• Reduced Investment: Uncertainty and risk aversion may lead to

decreased investment in affected regions.

• Foreign Aid and Assistance: International aid can provide

significant financial resources for recovery but may also affect local
economies.
 7. Poverty and Inequality
• Increased Poverty: Disasters often disproportionately affect poorer
communities, exacerbating poverty and inequality.
• Resource Allocation: Post-disaster resource allocation can either
mitigate or exacerbate pre-existing inequalities.
 8. Environmental and Social Costs
• Environmental Degradation: Disasters can lead to long-term
environmental damage, affecting agriculture, fisheries, and
biodiversity.
• Social Displacement: Forced migration and displacement of
communities can create long-term social and economic challenges.
 9. Mitigation and Preparedness Costs
• Investment in Infrastructure: Costs associated with building
resilient infrastructure and systems.
• Emergency Preparedness: Spending on emergency services,
training, and disaster response systems.
 10. Recovery and Reconstruction
• Reconstruction Efforts: Significant resources are required for
rebuilding damaged infrastructure and communities.
• Economic Stimulus: Recovery efforts can sometimes act as an
economic stimulus, creating jobs and boosting economic activity in
the short term.
Social perspectives
 1. Social Vulnerability
• Inequality: Disasters often disproportionately impact marginalized
and disadvantaged groups, including the poor, elderly, disabled, and
minority communities.
• Access to Resources: Differences in access to resources such as
healthcare, housing, and financial aid can influence how different
social groups are affected and recover from disasters
 2. Community Impact
• Displacement: Disasters can force people to leave their homes,
leading to temporary or permanent displacement and the disruption
of social networks.
• Community Cohesion: The aftermath of a disaster can either
strengthen community bonds through shared experiences and
mutual aid or weaken them due to stress and resource competition.
 3. Health and Well-being
• Physical Health: Immediate injuries and long-term health impacts
due to exposure to hazardous conditions, lack of access to medical
care, and interrupted services.
• Mental Health: Increased incidence of mental health issues such as
PTSD, anxiety, and depression due to trauma, loss, and disruption of
daily life.
 4. Education
• School Disruptions: Destruction of school infrastructure and the
displacement of families can interrupt children's education, affecting
their long-term academic and social development.
• Educational Inequality: Disparities in the ability to resume
education post-disaster can widen the educational gap between
different social groups.
 5. Social Capital
• Mutual Aid: Community networks often play a crucial role in
disaster response and recovery, providing immediate support and
resources.
• Volunteerism and Solidarity: Disasters can spur volunteerism and
solidarity, with individuals and organizations coming together to
support affected communities.
 6. Cultural Impact
• Loss of Cultural Heritage: Damage to culturally significant sites
and practices can affect community identity and heritage.
• Cultural Practices: Traditional practices and knowledge can be
crucial in disaster response and recovery, offering culturally
appropriate solutions and support systems.
 7. Social Services and Infrastructure
• Public Services: Disruption of services such as healthcare,
transportation, and social services can have widespread social
impacts.
• Housing: Damage to housing infrastructure can lead to long-term
displacement, homelessness, and changes in housing markets.
Social perspectives
 [Link] mental health issues
 Alcohol misuse
 Domestic violence
 Chronic diseases
 Unemployment
Political perspectives
 1. Governance and Policy Frameworks
• Disaster Management Policies: The effectiveness of disaster
response and recovery is heavily influenced by existing policies and
frameworks at local, national, and international levels.
• Regulatory Environment: Building codes, land-use planning, and
environmental regulations play crucial roles in mitigating disaster
risks and impacts.
 2. Government Response and Capacity
• Preparedness and Response: The capacity and efficiency of
government agencies in planning for and responding to disasters can
significantly affect outcomes.
• Coordination: Effective disaster management requires coordination
among various levels of government, as well as between government
agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private
sector.
 3. Resource Allocation
• Funding and Resources: Allocation of resources for disaster
preparedness, response, and recovery is a key political decision. It
can determine the adequacy of emergency services, infrastructure
repair, and support for affected communities.
• Equity in Distribution: Ensuring that resources are distributed
equitably to all affected populations, including marginalized and
vulnerable groups, is a critical political challenge.
 4. Public Trust and Accountability
• Transparency and Accountability: Transparent decision-making
and accountability mechanisms are essential for maintaining public
trust in disaster management efforts.
• Corruption and Mismanagement: Corruption and mismanagement
of disaster funds and resources can undermine recovery efforts and
erode public confidence in institutions.
Political perspectives
[Link]
 No anticipated budgetary provisions
 The city or state is not prepared for disaster, the people of disaster
affected areas put pressure on ruling government for help for
economic and health related issues.
 stimulate intrastate conflict particularly in developing countries
leading to the competition for resources.
 State government looking forward to Central Government for
releasing emergency funds.
 Released grant not reaching to the common man.
Direct and Indirect effects of Disaster
 Direct Effects
 Social
 Fatalities
 Injuries
 Loss of Income
 Homelessness
 Physical
 Damage to buildings, bridges, roads, air ports, railway . .
. stations
 . Damage to communications
 . Loss of basic amenities food, education, business,
 Direct Effects
 Economic
 Loss of business
 Loss of resources available for the business
 Loss of productive workforce
 Loss of Income
 Loss of Capital

 Environmental
 Sedimentation of debris created due to disaster.
 Destruction of ecological zones
 Loss of cultural heritage
 Fear for the endangering the species
 Indirect Effects
 Social
 Permanent disabilities
 Spread of communicable diseases
 Long term psychological impact
 Disruption in community linkages
 Forced migration causing development of the slums
 Physical
 Progressive loss of infrastructure
 . Slow damage to the buildings and structures which
were not attended after the disaster and remained unrepaired
 . Non recoverable losses to the institutions and .
. Industries.
 Indirect Effects
 Economic
 Disruption in short term and long term activities pertaining to .
. The business
 Weakened business market
 Immeasurable repair costs
 Processing of relief funds/ grants


 Environmental
 Loss of natural ecosystems.
 Loss of natural vegetation and agricultural activities
 Scarcity of food and good quality of the drinking water

Need for awareness regarding the disaster
 It is necessary for us to know about the natural disasters like
earthquakes, landslides, floods, droughts. Because. Disaster
awareness can be useful in better preparedness.
 The better we are prepared for the future it will help to reduce the
total losses of lives or property.
 When the causative agents or mechanism of the event is understood
one can plan better rescue operations.
 Awareness helps to distinctly identify dos and don’ts to be followed in
case of happening of the event.
Need for awareness regarding the disaster
 Awareness of preventive measures before, after and at the time of the
event helps to combat the disaster effectively.
 Education and awareness can help us save water through rainwater
harvesting that could help us in the event of less rainfall or face dry
summers effectively.
 Awareness tells us that the cutting of the forest up the hill can
cause landslides. While afforestation can help to prevent landslides,
soil erosion and better CO2 sink.
 It’s the awareness that we learn through the experiences across the
globe that deforestation is causative reason for global warming and it
will have long lasting effect on human life
Long term effects
 1. Loss of life and property
 2. Psychological effects of loss of lives, properties, employment
 3. Loss to the economy of the nation.
 4. Loss of infrastructure, industries causing large cope up time.
 5. High cost of resettlement and repairs
 6. Loss of ecological habitats and ecosystems
 7. Diversion of funds for relief operations, slowing scientific and military
growth and achievements.
 8. Loss of investments in trading & import –export
 Thank You