MODULE 2: WHAT IS DISASTER

OBJECTIVE
At the end of the lesson, students can:
1. Explain the meaning of disaster;
2. Differentiate the risk factors underlying disasters;
3. Describe the effects of disasters on one’s life;
4. Explain how and when an event becomes a disaster;
5. Identify areas/locations exposed to hazards that may lead to disasters; and
6. Analyze disaster from the different perspectives (physical, psychological, socio-
cultural, economic, political, and biological).

LESSON/TOPICS:
1. Concept of Disaster, Risk, and Hazards
2. Types of Hazards
3. Disaster Prevention and Mitigation
4. Reducing Risks

ACTIVITY:
1. Discussion with Instructor
2. Reading on the lesson
3. Community Hazard Mapping

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RISK MANAGEMENT MODULE FOR COLLEGE DRRM

 Definition of Terms

Disasters are emergencies that cannot be handled by those affected without

outside assistance. They are caused by either natural or man-made events wherein
communities experience severe danger and incur loss of lives and properties causing
disruption to their social structures to all or some of the affected communities.

Risk is the probability of harmful consequences, or expected loss of lives,

people injured, livelihoods, disruption of economic activities and damages to the
environment as a result of interactions between natural or human induced hazards and
vulnerable / capable conditions.

Hazard is an event or occurrence that has the potential to cause harm to life
and damage property and the environment.

Vulnerability comprises conditions determined by physical, social, economic,

and environmental factors or processes, which increase the susceptibility of a
community, school, or certain area in a locality to the impact of hazards.

Capacities are those positive resources and abilities which are helpful to
individuals, families and community in mitigating, preparing for, responding to and
recovering from the hazard impact.

Types of Hazards

Natural Hazards
As we stated in the previous module, the Philippine is prone to all kinds of natural
hazards because of their geographical location and physical environment. The country
is strategically located in the path of turbulent and destructive cyclones in the Pacific,
and the “Ring of Fire”. And this situation has adverse effects, not only on the lives and
properties of the Filipino people, but also on the economy of the nation, as hazard
impacts may result in widespread environmental and property damages. Natural
hazards may cause danger to people, structures or economic assets, and may lead to a
disaster if they are not mitigated against and prepared for.

Phenomena that are atmospheric, hydro-meteorological or oceanographic and

geographical in nature may cause the loss of life or injury, property damage, social and
economic disruption and/or environmental degradation. Hydro-meteorological and
geographical hazards can be single, sequential or a combination in origin and effects. The
common

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RISK MANAGEMENT MODULE FOR COLLEGE DRRM

 hazards associated with these are heavy rains, strong winds, storm surge, floods and
landslides/ mud slide /mud flow.

Geological hazards are normal and their processes occur as irregular events with
direct interaction with the environment. They are capable of causing significant negative
impact on human well-being. The non-predictability of disaster occurrence makes it
difficult to us even with the use of modern technology.

Types of Natural Hazards

1. Hydro-Meteorological Phenomena and Hazard

a. Cyclone
b. Typhoon
c. Tornado
d. Thunderstorm
e. Flood
f. Storm Surge
g. Landslide
h. Global warming

2. Geological Phenomena and Hazard

a. Earthquake
b. Tsunami
c. Volcanic Eruption

Human-Induced Hazards
Before, the word man-made disaster was usually used to refer to the disasters
initiated by humans; but it is properly called as the human-induced hazards; these are
threats that have elements of human intent, negligence, error and involving a failure of a
system. Human-induced disasters are a result of inadequately managed human-
induced hazards such as:

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RISK MANAGEMENT MODULE FOR COLLEGE DRRM

 Technological Hazards

These dangers originate from industrial accidents, dangerous procedures,

infrastructure failures or certain human activities, which may cause the loss of life or
injury, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental degradation.
Technological hazards have little or no warning to precede the incident, utmost safety
and understanding on the possible risk must be enforced to prevent and preparation for
the possible dangers from technological hazards.

Example:
a. Structure collapse
b. Fire
c. Vehicular related accidents
d. Chemical Spill
e. Electrical blackout
f. Food poisoning

Environmental Hazards

Environmental hazards are events that pose a threat from the surrounding
environment encompassing the broad spectrum of acute and chronic effects of
industrial, agricultural and naturally occurring microorganisms, chemicals and radiation
in our soil, water, air, food, and wastes.

Example:
a. Water pollution
b. Red tide

Socio-Economic, Political, Security Hazards

These hazards are caused by criminal and human violence which pose threat to
the security of a great number of people, and may be motivated by political or economic
reasons.

Example:
a. Bomb threats/acts of terrorism
b. Kidnapping/Hostage Taking
c. Civil Disorder
d. Acts of Criminality (robbery, rape)

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RISK MANAGEMENT MODULE FOR COLLEGE DRRM

 Types of Exposure

 Acute Exposure - means a single dose or exposure.

 Chronic Exposure - means repeated exposure.

 Sub-acute Exposure - means two or three

exposures at a level between acute and chronic.

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation

Prevention and mitigation are actions taken to make sure that the impact of a
hazard is lessened. We cannot stop natural hazards from happening but we can reduce
the damages if we institute prevention and mitigation measures. Taking measures in
order to avoid an event turning into a disaster is prevention, which includes planting
trees in order to prevent erosion, landslides and drought. On the other hand, measures
that reduce vulnerability to certain hazards is mitigation which includes for instance
improved building practices and standard designs to ensure that school buildings are
constructed in risk free school sites, houses and hospitals can withstand earthquake or
a typhoon.

Prevention and mitigation in community begins with:

 Knowing which hazards and risks the community is exposed to (hazard mapping);
 Meeting with all concerned members of community and making plans to
reduce those hazards and risks; and
 Implementing plans to reduce vulnerabilities.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RISK MANAGEMENT MODULE FOR COLLEGE DRRM

 Risk Reduction

Risk Reduction means to reduce the underlying risk factors. One of the ways to
reduce risks is by building local resilience in order to protect our home and community.
Everyone can build resilience to disasters by investing in simple, well-known measures
to reduce risk and vulnerability. For example:

 Locating / relocating structure away from hazard-prone areas, such as flood

plains, shorelines, earthquake fault lines, etc;
 Building house and facilities strong enough to withstand the impacts of all hazards;
 Encouraging planting of tress and protecting nature within community;
 Knowing and following the provisions of Clean Air Act and Waste
Segregation Scheme, Presidential Decree No. 856, Code on Sanitation of
the Philippines, Presidential Decree No. 1185, Fire Code of the Philippines;
and Presidential Decree No. 1096, Building Code of the Philippines.
 Encouraging participation in the disaster management training.

There are many government and non-government agencies that helps in the dissemination
of information with regards to the disaster risk reduction management, the following are the
government agencies that are tasked for this:

PAGASA
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration or PAGASA is one of the services of the
Department of Science & Technology (DOST) which is in charge
of the meteorological, hydrological, climatological and
astronomical services of the country. It is mandated to monitor
and tract weather and project the effects of climate change and
other astronomical variations which could affect this country. This
agency also collaborates with other international weather
bureaus and agencies for a more accurate tracking of any
weather disturbances within the region.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RISK MANAGEMENT MODULE FOR COLLEGE DRRM

 PHILVOCS
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology or
PHILVOCS is another Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) service agency mandated to mitigate
disasters that may arise from such volcanic eruptions,
earthquakes, seiches, tsunamis and other related
geotectonic events. This agency provides information as to
how to understand magnitude and intensity of earthquake in
graphic presentation; as to how to determine if the house is
safe; as well as other information and services primarily for
the protection of life, environment, property and corporate
entities.

PNP
Philippine National Police (PNP) is the national police of the
country under the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The PNP personnel are also ordered to respond to disasters and
emergencies such as assisting in floods. The PNP also has advisories
or bulletin regarding the common modus operandi of criminals.

Other Agencies
Other agencies of the government are also tapped in doing information drive and rescue
tasks:
 Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
 Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)
 Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)
 Department of Health (DOH)
 Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

PROJECT NOAH
The Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of
Hazards) is a unit of the Department of Science and Technology
(DOST) which provides accurate, integrated and responsive
programs on hazards profiling around the country. In terms of
disaster prevention and mitigation system, particularly in high-risk
areas in the country, this program aids the warning agencies to
provide a 6-hour lead-time warning to vulnerable communities
against impending floods, landslides and storm surges.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RISK MANAGEMENT MODULE FOR COLLEGE DRRM

 Private corporations, schools and church entities together with volunteer teams
are also encourage to consolidate their preparedness and response configurations
aligned to the government’s mandate which is the Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine
Disaster Reduction and Management Act.

In this law each community and private institutions mandated to create a

permanent DRRMO or Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office which will work for
prevention and mitigation, preparedness, emergency response, and recovery.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RISK MANAGEMENT MODULE FOR COLLEGE DRRM

 ACTIVITY 2: Barangay Map: danger and safe zones

Procedure: Make a map of your barangay and mark the following with corresponding
legends. You can use a printed screen of your community map using any online
application. Identify your residential area, the dangerous places that can be a possible
point of natural disaster or human-induced disaster; also identify the possible safe area for
you and your family members to stay on. Assigned and mark the possible family meeting
place and its respective route.

Home = your house/residence

Exit = exit points from your house in case of
emergency
= dangerous place

= safe place
ECP = evacuation center/point
FMP = family meeting place in case of emergency (must have at least 2 FMP)

Evaluation
1. For both the online and face-to-face classes, your output will be submitted on
the agreed date.
2. Your output in the Activity 2, will be evaluated based on the following:

Detailed information 5 points

Creativity 5 points
Clear and concise 5 points
Readability 5 points

TOTAL 20 points

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RISK MANAGEMENT MODULE FOR COLLEGE DRRM