The nature of

DISASTERS
and
Disaster RISK
 Natural Hazards
A hazard is a threat or harm that has the potential to cause
damag (e.g., 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.
 DISASTERS
A disaster is any event that causes widespread human,
economic, and environmental losses or impacts that
seriously disrupt the normal functioning of a community.
When an event causes a significant number of dead or
missing people in an area, it is considered a disaster.
The level of severity of the disaster is determined
based on the number of human lives missing or
lost and on the condition of the survivors. An
event is also considered a disaster according to
the assessed cost of repairing or rehabilitating
the structures and public infrastructure that have
been damaged or destroyed. An event is also
considered a disaster based 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 RISK
Disaster risk may be specific 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.
 Disaster risk determines the tendency of a community to
face disasters. For example, the disaster risk of storm
surges for a community living 100 kilometers (km) away
from the seashore is lower compared with that of a
community that is 10km near the shore.

Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations,

once said, "We cannot eliminate disaster (hazard), but we
can mitigate the risk. We can reduce damage and save
more lives." There is no way to escape hazards because they
are part of life. Every day everywhere, there is a hazard.
Hazards can be identified but difficult to avoid.
 Because hazards can be recognized, a
community that is hazard-prone may increase it's
disaster risk especially if it is not equipped or
prepared for the possible disaster arising from
that hazard.
Types of DISASTERS
The types of disasters are
classified according to the
hazards that caused them to
happen. There are two main
types of disasters: natural and
man-made.
 THE TWO MAIN TYPES OF
DISASTERS
Natural disasters are devastating outcomes that results from
natural hazards. Examples of these are collapse of houses from
landslides and incinerated grasslands from volcanin eruptions.
Man-made disasters, also called technological disasters, are
destructions from man-made hazards such as bomb explosions,
chemical spills, and even war.
Fig. 1.1. (Left) A natural disaster as demonstrated by
the Baguio Earthquake in 16 July 1990
(Right) A man-made disaster as shown in the World
Trade Center bombing on 11 September 2001.
 EFFECTS OF DISASTERS
The effects of disasters vary, mostly depending on the
severity of the exposure of life, property, and the
environment to the hazards. 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 nearby communities of the affected community,
the effects may still be felt and may be significant.
 PRIMARY EFFECTS
Primary effects redirect situations rising from the disaster
itself. For example, when a strong typhoon hits a village, it can
cause primary effect such as flooding, destruction of houses,
damage to property, and loss of life. Usually, a geographical
zone can be mapped to identify areas that are included among
the primary effects.
 SECONDARY EFFECTS
Secondary effects are situations resulting from the
primary effects. Among the secondary effects of a strong
typhoon that has hit a village is the disruption of electrical
and water services because of damage to power and
water lines.
Fig. 1.2. Strong winds of Typhoon Ondoy (international name: Ketsana)
toppled electrical poles.
 TERTIARY 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. They may
also develop from primary or secondary effects that have become
permanent and may change a natural process in the community. In the
same example of the ruined village, flooding is a primary effect that may
become a tertiary effect when the location of the village's river channel
changes as the result of flooding, leaving the old channel dry. This, in
turn, can give rise to other effects such as lack of water for crops grown in
the village and lack of livelihood due to the destruction of farmland.
Fig. 1.3. Typhoon Yolanda ( international name:
Haiyan) caused around P9.6 billion in damage to
infrastructure.
 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 missing persons who may be
presumed dead. The number of people injured or who
have gotten sick due to the disaster is also
considered. In post disaster assessments, the
estimated number of persons who have been
evacuated or relocated is also calculated.
The loss of family members,
friends, and other loved
ones is the most tragic
effect of disaster on people.
The pain is exacerbated
when loved ones remain
missing even years after the
disaster.
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 leveled to the ground and even buried, rendering
them uninhabitable. In like manner, the destruction or damage to public
buildings such as schools, hospitals, and churches, and public infrastructure
such as roads and bridges, can significantly affect the devastated community.
The damage to public infrastructure 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 a loss.
With the damage to their homes,
the people of the affected
community do not just lack
shelter from the elements; they
have also lost most of their
property, if not all, and have to
practically rebuild their lives as
they slowly replace what they
have lost.
AFFECTED COMPONENTS
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.
 Economy
Regardless of the severity of disaster, it affects on the economy fof the
affected community are definetly felt. An economy is not a single entity
that functions alone. It involves all sectors of society such as business ,
transportation and communication. Hence, when a disaster strike a
community, its economy is among the first to be affected because of
the loss livelihood, agricultural fields that have been scraped off by
flashfloods or mudslides may temporarly paralyze the local economy,
especially if agriculture is the primary sources of income in the
community, due to the damage fields,there are no crops and livestocks to
harvest and therefore no source of food income.
Fig 1.4 the natural balance of ecosystem can be disrupted by
disaster such and wildfire
 environment
Disasters can cause negative effects
on the air and soil , water and
ecosystem in a community . Air
quality is compromised when
harmful particules are released into
the air during disasters such as
volcanic eruptions, explosions, and
nuclear plant emissions.
Aside from aborting air particules from man made
disasters, the soil or land suffers other effects such
as erosion from flash floods and landslides, cracks
and fisures from eearthquakes and changes in its
quality due to its absorption of chemicals. Erosion is
the process by which soil is carried away by wind,
water and other agents. As natural process , this
happens gradually or over a long period of time .
however disasters such as floods and fires hasten
the proces
 types of
perspectives
 The physical perspective

The visible or tangible materials , wether the natural or man made

,which have been affected by disasters . The altered or removed
structures may change the landscape , zoning and accesability of
an area. For example, cracks or fissures on main roads may require
a detour a new access road. Hence changes in the frequency of
movementof people and vehicles in the area may eventually affect
zoning.
 Fig .1.5 The department of social welfare and
Development(DSWD) conducts stress debriefring
sessions to help disaster victims cope with trauma.
 The psychological perspective

Refers to the people emotional cognitive or intrapersonal

reaction to difficulties, catastrophic events that can cause
shock terror or trauma. For instance, a person who witnessed
a loved one struggling for survival or dying process during a
disaster may be traumatized. This traumatic event or situation
can cause long term depression.
 The sociocultural perspective

Centers on the response of the people, wether victims or not, to

emergency situations to the kind assistance they receive. The
characteristics of affected families such as their religions ,customs
,attitudes, beliefs and values can influence their approach to or
their recovery from the disaster. 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. This
belief may delay or impede relief efforts.
 The economic perspective

Focuses on the disruption of economic activities in the

community , disaster wether small or large scale bring about
serious economic consequences , disaster loss is usually
assessed in terms of injuries and casualties and destructions .
 The political perspective

Deals with how goverment sevices are used to reduce loss or

damage by preparing for and preventing disasters. This
perspective is critical because in some cases, there are exist
inquities in sociaties that create political prejudice in
developing plans for goverment to always consider poverty
reduction strategies in their platforms. Budget and reduction
only to realize that post disaster programs become more costly
because of miscalculation or negligence.
 Fig. 1.6(a) President benigni Aquino||| gives
donation of relief goods to flood victims in malabon
on august 9 2012
 The biological perspective
Takes into consideration the potential for infectious or
communicate diseases after a disaster takes place . In the
aftermath of a diaster, humans and animals that have been
injured become susceptible to infections. The entry of virulenty
organism in an unbalanced ecosystem becomes easier in
crowded area, especially in evacutation and distribution
centers where virus transmission happens through dispersal ,
direct contact and biological agents such as rodents. Where
medicals services, sanitation, facilities and recovery programs
are scarce or inadequate .
 Fig. 1.7 The remnants of the ozone disco club after the
fire happened in march 1996, since then,strict rules for
building permits have been implemented. As of
november 2014, nine were convicted in this incident,
which includes seven quezon city building officials