CALAMITY AND

DISASTER
PREPAREDNESS
NSTP 1
 Introduction
A disaster is an event, natural or man-made, sudden or
progressive, which impacts with such severity, that the
affected community has respond by taking exceptional
measures.
It is a serious disruption of the functioning of a society
causing widespread human, material, financial, and
environmental losses which exceed the ability of the society
to cope using its own resources.
The Philippines is oftentimes subjected to different natural
disasters and calamities because we are surrounded by
water. It is considered as an Archipelago because our
country is composed of over 7,000 islands.
 Common Types of Disaster
• Earthquake
• Volcanic eruptions
• Tsunami
• Tropical cyclone
• Flood
• Landslide
• Bushfire
• Drought
• Epidemic
• Major accident
• Armed conflict and civil unrest
 General Effects of Disaster
• Loss of life
• Injury
• Damage to and destruction of property
• Damage to and destruction of subsistence and cash crops
• Disruption of production
• Disruption of lifestyles
• Loss of livelihood
• Disruption of essential services
• Damage to national infrastructure and disruption of
governmental systems
• National economic loss, and
• Sociological and psychological after-effects
 What is Disaster Preparedness?

This are measures, which enable government agencies,

organizations, communities, and individuals to respond
rapidly and effectively to disaster situations.
 General Disaster
Counter-Measures
• Development of possible warning indicators
• Land-use regulations
• Building regulations
• Relocations of communities
• Public awareness and education programs
• Evacuation plans and arrangements
• Fire prevention regulations
• International cooperation in information and technology
sharing
 Philippine Approaches to Disaster
Management

• Prevent/ mitigate
• Prepare
• Take adaptive action; and
• Take corrective action
 What are the Common Problems in
Disaster Management
• Lack of appreciation for the Disaster Preparedness
Program by local officials themselves;
• Lack of a strong and effective Disaster Coordinating
council installed in the LGU;
• Absence of Disaster Preparedness Planning;
• Lack of effective linkages for disaster operation;
• Absence of a functional Disaster Operation Center; and
• Erroneous disaster reporting and monitoring.
 Components of Disaster Management
• Prevention- these are actions designed to impede the
occurrence of a disaster or its harmful effects on
communities and key installations.
• Mitigation- these are programs intended to reduce the ill
effects of disaster.
• Preparedness- these are measures, which enable
governments, organizations, communities and individuals
to respond rapidly and effectively to disaster situations.
• Disaster Impact- this reminds us that the impact of
disasters can vary between different types of disaster.
• Response- these are measures taken immediately prior
to and following disaster impact.
• Recovery- this is a process by which communities and
organizations are assessed in returning to their proper
level of functioning following a disaster.
• Development- this provides the link between
disaster-related activities and national development.
 What can influence disaster
warning?
• The source and timing of the warning
• The warning message
• The warning transmission
• The recipient’s response
 Disaster Management Policies
• Self reliance through self-help and mutual assistance.
• Maximum utilization of resources in the affected areas.
• Planning and operation to be done on the barangay level,
in an interagency, multi-sectorial basis to optimize existing
resources.
• Documentation of plans of DOC members
• Local leadership to take charge at their respective levels
• National government to support local government efforts
• Exercise and periodic drills to be conducted, principally at
the barangay level, to ensure readiness by all concerned.
 Tasks of the National Disaster
Coordinating Council
• Advises the President on the status of disaster
preparedness programs, disaster operations and
rehabilitation efforts undertaken by the government and
the private sector.
• Establishes policy guidelines in emergency preparedness
and disaster operations involving rescue, relief and
rehabilitation.
• Establishes priorities in the allocation of funds, services,
disaster equipment and relief supplies.
• Advises the lower-level Disaster Coordinating Councils
through the Office of Civil Defense in accordance with the
guidelines on disaster management
• Recommends to the President the declaration of a state of
calamity in areas effectively damaged and submits
proposals to restore normalcy in the affected areas.
• Creates an Action Group composed of permanent
representatives from the member departments and other
government agencies with the Executive Officer as head;
and
• Utilizes the facilities and serves the Office of the Civil
Defense in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, in discharging
its function.