CHAPTER 1

Disaster &
Disaster Risk
WHAT IS A DISASTER?
WHAT IS A DISASTER RISK?
 HUMAN-MADE
NATURE OF DISASTERS
NATURAL
Disasters
Disasters
These disasters occur due to
These originate from people’s actions against
the different “forces” human, material and
of nature environment
 Geological Transport and Industrial
accidents
Meteorological
air and train crashes
Hydrometeorologic
Chemical spills
al and;
 TYPES OF DISASTERS (HEWITH AND BURTON, 1971)

NATURAL HUMAN-MADE
&
 Storm surge TECHNOLOGIC
• Hazardous materials
 Earthquakes AL
• Power service disruption and blackout
 Landslide
 Thunderstorms
• Nuclear power plant and nuclear blast
 Lightning • Radiological emergencies
 Tornadoes • Chemical threat and biological weapons
 Tsunamis • Cyber attacks
 Wildfires • Explosion
 Sinkholes • Civil unrest
 Flash floods
 Hurricanes
 Tropical storms
  The amount of exposure to disaster is highly
RISK
related to risk of future mental problems.
FACTORS
 Athighest risk are those that go through the
UNDERLYING disaster themselves. Next are those in close
DISASTERS contact with victims. At lower risk of lasting
impact are those who only had indirect
exposure, such as news of the severe damage.
A number of factors
which make it more 2. Gender and Family
likely that those  Almostalways, women or girls suffer more
affected will have negative effects than do men or boys.
more severe or
 Disasterrecovery is more stressful when
longer-lasting
children are present in the home. Having a
stress reactions
family member in the home who is extremely
after disasters
3. Age
 Adults who are in the age range of 40-60 are likely to be more
distressed after disaster. The thinking is that if one is in that age
range, he/she has more demands from job and family.
 In general, children show more severe distress after disasters
than do adults.
4. Developing countries
 Disasters in developing countries, like the Philippines, have more
severe mental health impact than do disasters in developed
countries.
5. Low or negative social support
 The support of others can be both a risk and a resilience factor.
Social support can weaken after disaster.
 This may be due to stress and the need for members of the
EFFECTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS ON HUMAN
LIFE
1. Displaced Populations
 One of the most immediate effects of natural disaster is population displacement. When countries are
ravaged by earthquakes many people ha or other powerful forces of nature like floods and super
typhoons, many people have to abandon their homes and seek shelter in other regions.

2. Health Risks
 Severe flooding can result in stagnant water that allows breeding of waterborne bacteria and malaria
carrying mosquitoes.

3. Food Scarcity
 Thousands of people around the world go hungry as a result of destroyed crops and loss of
agricultural supplies, whether it happens suddenly in a storm or gradually in a drought.

4. Emotional 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.
 When it is
sudden or
progressive,
HOW & WHEN AN causing
EVENT BECOMES A widespread
DISASTER? human,
material or
environmenta
ASSESSMENT:

1. Explain the meaning of disaster.

2. Differentiate the risk factors underlying
disaster
3. Describe the effects of disaster on human’s life
4. Explain how and when an event becomes a
disaster
OUTPUT:
A. Based on your understanding, identify some
areas in the Philippines that are exposed to
hazard. Using a table, indicate what potential
hazards these areas/locations are exposed to.

B. Read an account of Super Typhoon Yolanda

that struck Samar and Leyte in 2013. Analyse
its impacts from the different perspectives:
Physical, Psychological, Socio-cultural,
 END OF
CHAPTER 1