Senior High School

Disaster Readiness and

Risk Reduction
Quarter 1 - Module 1
Basic Concept of Disaster and
Disaster Risk and Risk Factors Underlying
Disaster
Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction - Grade 11/12
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1
First Edition, 2021

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Published by the Department of Education – Division of Bohol

Schools Division Superintendent: Bianito A. Dagatan, EdD, CESO V
Education Program Supervisor: Felix C. Galacio PhD

Development Team of the Module

Author(s) : Module 1 – Juliville H. Salinas

Module 2 – Juliville H. Salinas
Module 3 – Juliville H. Salinas
Module 4 – Jewel P. Rojero
Module 5 – Jewel P. Rojero
Module 6 – Jewel P. Rojero
Module 7 – Esther S. Inting
Module 8 – Esther S. Inting
Reviewer(s) : Teresa A. Limocon
Marvin P. Plaza
Management Team
Chairperson : Bianito A. Dagatan EdD, CESO V
Schools Division Superintendent
Co-Chairpersons : Faustino N. Toradio PhD
Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
: Danilo G. Gudelosao PhD
Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
Members : Carmela M. Restificar PhD, Chief-CID
Josephine D. Eronico PhD, EPS-LRMDS
Felix C. Galacio PhD, EPS-Science
Jocelyn Rotersos, Division Librarian

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Department of Education – Division of Bohol
Office Address: 0050 Lino Chatto Drive, Brgy. Cogon, Tagbilaran City, Bohol
Telephone Nos.: (038) 412-4938; (038) 411-2544; (038) 501-7550
Telefax: (038) 501-7550
E-mail Address: deped.bohol@deped.gov.ph
What This Module is About
Introductory Message

Welcome to the Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction – 11/12 Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM)
Module on Basic Concept of Disaster and Disaster Risk and Risk Factors Underlying Disaster.

This module was collaboratively designed, developed, and reviewed by educators from public
schools to assist the teacher or facilitator, the parents, and the learners, in helping them meet the
standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum while overcoming their personal, social, and economic constraints
in schooling.

For the facilitator:

As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module. You also need to
keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to manage their own learning. Furthermore, you
are expected to encourage and assist the learners as they do the tasks included in this module.

For the parents:

As vital partners in education, your support to your children’s learning at home is a great factor to
ensure that they will become successful in what they do. As a parent, you are expected to monitor your
child’s progress while they are accomplishing the tasks in this module, at the same time, ensuring that they
learn independently.

The objectives set for this learning material will be certainly accomplished with your steadfast
guidance and support.

For the learner:

This learning resource hopes to engage you into guided and independent learning activities at your
own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help you acquire the needed 21st century skills while
taking into consideration your needs and circumstances.

Furthermore, it is our objective that you will have fun while going through this material. Take charge
of your learning pace and in no time, you will successfully meet the targets and objectives set in this
module which are intended for your ultimate development as a learner and as a person.

How to Learn from this Module

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

This part contains learning objectives that are

What I Need to Know
set for you to learn as you go along the module.
This is an assessment as to your level of
What I Know knowledge to the subject matter at hand, meant
specifically to gauge prior related knowledge.

This part connects previous lesson with that of

What’s In
the current one.

This part is an introduction of the new lesson

What’s New through various activities, before it will be
presented to you.
These are discussions of the activities as a way
What is It
to deepen your discovery and understanding of
 the concept.

These are follow-up activities that are intended

What’s More for you to practice further in order to master the
competencies.

These are activities designed to process what

What I Have Learned
you have learned from the lesson.

These are tasks that are designed to showcase

What I Can Do your skills and knowledge gained, and applied
into real-life concerns and situations.
This is a task which aims to evaluate your level
Assessment of mastery in achieving the learning
competency.
In this portion, another activity will be given to
you to enrich your knowledge or skill of the
Additional Activities
lesson learned. This also tends retention of
learned concepts.
This contains answers to all activities in the
Answer Key
module.

The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of the module. Use a
separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities included in the module.
3. Read the instructions carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
7. If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not hesitate to consult your
teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are not alone.
8. We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and gain deep
understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it.

What I Need to Know

This module focuses on the discussion of the concept of disaster. It will also discuss the concept of
disaster risk. This module also tackles about the risk factors underlying disaster.

The module is divided into three lessons, namely:

 Lesson 1 – Concept of Disaster
 Lesson 2 – Concept of Disaster Risk
 Lesson 3 - Differentiating Risk Factors Underlying Disaster

After going through this module, you are expected to:

 explain the meaning of disaster (DRR11/12-Ia-b-1); and
 differentiate the risk factors underlying disasters (DRR11/12-Ia-b-2).
 What I Know

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper.
1. What is this inherently unexpected and happening that comes quickly without any
warning?
a. disaster c. phenomenon
b. hazard d. risk
2. A natural disaster is a(n) event.
a. expected c. scheduled
b. planned d. unexpected
3. It is also called as the Circum-Pacific belt, the zone of earthquakes surrounding the
Pacific Ocean where about 99% of the world’s earthquake occurs.
a. drought c. ring of fire
b. locust d. subsidence
4. All of the following show effect of disasters EXCEPT .
a. displacement of populations
b. damage to the ecological environment
c. destruction of a population’s homeland
d. sustained public attention during the recovery phase
5. Which of the following is an example of man-caused disaster?
a. flooded coastal areas c. oil spills from shipping boat
b. landslide on mining sites d. storm surges
6. Which of the following is an example of natural hazards?
a. chemical plants c. fault lines
b. factories d. mining sites
7. Which of the following is NOT a type of natural hazard that causes disaster?
a. car accident c. tornado
b. earthquake d. typhoon
8. It is defined as the source of danger and something that may cause injury or harm.
a. disaster c. phenomenon
b. hazard d. risk
9. Which of the following category is NOT part of man-made hazard?
a. complex humanitarian emergencies c. terrorism/violence
b. preventive and precautionary measures d. technological/industrial
10. Which of the following is useful to better establish priorities and response
activities, and systematize previous experiences?
a. categories of disaster c. effects of disaster
b. disaster risk d. phases of disaster
11. It involves the identification and mapping of the elements at risk and the
assessment of people, animals and plants that may be affected?
a. disaster risk c. risk assessment
b. exposure d. vulnerability
12. The potential disaster losses in lives, health statuses, livelihoods, assets, and
services, which could occur in a particular community or a society over some
specified future time period is called .
a. disaster risk c. disaster preparedness
b. disaster mitigation d. disaster prevention
13. Disaster has a great impact on .
a. buildings c. humanity
b. garden d. parks
14. Which of the following is a product of the massive damages to life and property
caused by a hazard due to the vulnerability within a community?
a. destruction c. disaster risk
b. disaster d. vulnerability
15. Disaster risk can be determined by the presence of the following elements of
Disaster EXCEPT .
a. coping capacity c. phenomenon
b. hazard (natural or man-made) d. vulnerability to a hazard
Lesson
Concept of Disaster
1

What’s New

The Philippines has experienced from an inexhaustible number of deadly earthquakes, volcano
eruptions, and other natural disasters. This is due to its location along the Ring of Fire, a large Pacific
Ocean region where many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.

Activity: “Count Me In”

Direction: Write five (5) disastrous events in the Philippines in the last five years that you could still recall.
Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

What is It
Disaster is "a sudden, calamitous occurrence that causes great harm, injury, destruction, and
devastation to life and property”. It disrupts the usual course of life, causing both physical and emotional
distress such as an intense feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. A preceding definition of disaster
stresses that two elements are affected – life (whether human or animal) and property. The effects vary –
it maybe a minor damage (like broken windows and doors), major damage (like torn rooftops, collapsed
walls), total destruction (like completely destroyed houses and structures rendering them useless and
inhabitable) and the worst scenario, it can lead to death. (Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, ADPC,
2012)

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2008), disaster is “a serious disruption
of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or
environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope
using its own resources”.

Any adverse episode or phenomenon can exploit a vulnerability in the affected population or
community to create damage and this awareness will form the basis for an adequate intervention.

Meanwhile, the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction defines disaster as a
serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human, material,
economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or
society to cope using its own resources.

Disasters are often a result of the combination of: the exposure to a hazard; the conditions of
vulnerability that are present; and insufficient capacity or measures to reduce or cope with the potential
negative consequences.

Its impacts may include loss of life, injury, disease and other negative effects on human physical,
mental, and social wellbeing, together with damage to properties, destruction of assets, loss of services,
social and economic disruptions, and environmental degradation.

Classification of Disasters:

Disasters can be divided into 2 large categories:

A. Natural Disasters – a natural phenomenon is caused by natural forces, such as earthquakes, typhoon,
volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, fires, tornados, and extreme temperatures. They can be classified as rapid
onset disasters and those with progressive onset, such as droughts that lead to famine. These events,
usually sudden, can have tremendous effects.
B. Man-made Disasters - caused by man are those in which major direct causes are identifiable
intentional or non-intentional human actions.

Subdivided into three categories:

1. Technological/industrial disasters - Unregulated industrialization and inadequate safety standards
increase the risk for industrial disasters.
EXAMPLE: leaks of hazardous materials; accidental explosions; bridge or road collapses, or vehicle
collisions; Power cuts

2. Terrorism/Violence - the threat of terrorism has also increased due to the spread of technologies
involving nuclear, biological, and chemical agents used to develop weapons of mass destruction.
EXAMPLE : bombs or explosions; release of chemical materials; release of biological agents; release of
radioactive agents; multiple or massive shootings; mutinies

3. Complex humanitarian emergencies - the term complex emergency is usually used to describe the
humanitarian emergency resulting from an international or civil war. In such situations, large numbers of
people are displaced from their homes due to the lack of personal safety and the disruption of basic
infrastructure including food distribution, water, electricity, and sanitation, or communities are left stranded
and isolated in their own homes unable to access assistance.
EXAMPLE: conflicts or wars and Genocide the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those
of a particular ethnic group or nation

“Disasters and their Effects on the Population: Key Concepts,”, Accessed on 02 June 2020, pages 7-10, https://www.aap.org/en-
us/Documents/disasters_
dpac_PEDsModule1. pdf .

The damage caused by disaster cannot be measured. It also differs with the kind of geographical
location, climate, earth’s specific characteristics, and level of vulnerability. These determining factors affect
generally the psychological, socio – economic, political, and ethnical state of the affected area.

What’s More

Direction: Arrange the given jumbled letters to identify the correct terminology. The definition will help you
to derive the correct answer. Write your answer in your answer sheet.

JUMBLED LETTERS DEFINITION

A sudden calamitous event, bringing great damage,
1. RTAIESSD
loss, destruction, and devastation.

A path along the Pacific Ocean characterized by

2. GRNI FO IEFR
active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes.
An event causing great and often sudden
3. TALAYMIC
damage or distress.
Shaking of earth caused by waves moving on and
4. AQRHTEKEAU
below the earth's surface.
When lava and gas are discharged from a
5. ICNLOVAC IPREOUTN
volcanic vent.
Largest and deepest of Earth's oceanic
6. CFCPIAI NEAOC
divisions.
Type of tropical cyclone, or severe tropical storm.
7. OOYNHPT
A natural event such as a flood, earthquake,
8. LTARUNA RTAIESDS or hurricane that causes great damage or loss of life.

9. ETUTODSRCIN A sudden or great misfortune or failure.

Caused by man are those in which major direct

10. NMA EDMA RESTSAID causes are identifiable intentional or non-intentional
human actions.
Lesson
Concept of Disaster Risk and Nature of Disaster
2

What’s In

In the previous lesson, you have learned about the meaning of disaster. Disasters are described as
a result of the combination of a) the exposure to a hazard; b) the conditions of vulnerability that are
present; and c) insufficient capacity or measures to reduce or cope with the potential negative
consequences.

What is It

Risk has various connotations within different disciplines. In general, risk is defined as “the
combination of the probability of an event and its negative consequences” (UNISDR, 2009). The term risk
is thus multidisciplinary and is used in a variety of contexts. It is usually associated with the degree to
which humans cannot cope (lack of capacity) with a situation (e.g. natural hazard).
The term disaster risk refers to the potential (not actual and realized) disaster losses, in lives,
health status, livelihoods, assets, and services which could occur in a community or society over some
specified future time period.
Disaster risk is the product of the possible damage caused by a hazard due to the vulnerability
within a community. It should be noted that the effect of a hazard (of a particular magnitude) would affect
communities differently (Von Kotze, 1999:35).
It can also be determined by the presence of three variables: hazards (natural or anthropogenic);
vulnerability to a hazard; and coping capacity linked to the reduction, mitigation, and resilience to the
vulnerability of a community.

What’s More
In this activity, you must identify the classification of disaster as well as the disaster risk of a
given disaster situations. Accomplish the table below. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
Classification of
Disasters Disaster Risks (Effects)
Disaster
(Natural or Man-
Made)
1. typhoon
2. war conflicts
3. volcanic eruption
4. chemical leakages
5. vehicular accident
6. earthquake
 What I Have Learned

Identify the given set of images if it is Natural or Man Made. Put your answer on your answer sheet.

Classifying Disaster
(Natural or Man-Made)

1. “Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines” by 2. “Military convoy" by chelmonette is

ochacolombia is licensed under CC BY- licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
NC-ND 2.0

3. "File:Ezra Acayan Mayon pic.jpg" by 4. “Toxic Metal Barrel” by azzajess is

Ezra Acayan, licensed under CC BY-SA licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
4.0

5. “Motor Vehicle Accident at Clinton and 6. "6.0 Magnitude Earthquake in the City of
Lafayette Ave” by cisc1970 is licensed under Napa" by Cal OES is licensed under CC BY-
CC BY-NC 2.0 NC 2.0

Guide Question:
Based on the presented images, how will you differentiate natural from man- made
disasters? Explain your answer in 2-3 sentences. Write your answer on a separate
sheet of paper.
Lesson Differentiating Risk Factors Underlying
3 Disaster

What’s In
Disaster can affect everyone. It does not discriminate between and among social
classes, gender, creed, race, and nationality. But certain risk factors put those affected in a
position where they will have graver or longer-lasting post-disaster stress reactions. These
aggravating factors contribute to evident differences in the stress reactions of certain individuals
with certain characteristics.

What is It
Risk Factors - are processes or conditions, often development-related, that influence the level
of disaster risk by increasing levels of exposure and vulnerability or reducing capacity.

FACTORS WHICH UNDERLIE DISASTERS:

1. Climate Change - can increase disaster risk in a variety of ways – by altering the frequency
and intensity of hazards events, affecting vulnerability to hazards, and changing exposure
patterns. For most people, the expression “climate change” means the alteration of the world’s
climate that we humans are causing such as burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and other
practices that increase the carbon footprint and concentration of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere. This is in line with the official definition by the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that climate change is the change that can be
attributed “directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global
atmosphere, and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable
time periods”

2. Environmental Degradation - changes to the environment can influence the frequency and
intensity of hazards, as well as our exposure and vulnerability to these hazards. For instance,
deforestation of slopes often leads to an increase in landslide hazard and removal of mangroves
can increase the damage caused by storm surges (UNISDR, 2009b). It is both a driver and
consequence of disasters, reducing the capacity of the environment to meet social and
ecological needs. Over consumption of natural resources results in environmental degradation,
reducing the effectiveness of essential ecosystem services, such as the mitigation of floods and
landslides. This leads to increased risk from disasters, and in turn, natural hazards can further
degrade the environment.

3. Globalized Economic Development - It results in an increased polarization between the rich

and poor on a global scale. Currently increasing the exposure of assets in hazard prone areas,
globalized economic development provides an opportunity to build resilience if effectively
managed. By participating in risk- sensitive development strategies such as investing in
protective infrastructure, environmental management, and upgrading informal settlements, risk
can be reduced. Dominance and increase of wealth in certain regions and cities are expected to
have increased hazard exposure (Gencer, 2013).

4. Poverty and Inequality - Impoverished people are more likely to live in hazard- exposed
areas and are less able to invest in risk-reducing measures. The lack of access to insurance
and social protection means that people in poverty are often forced to use their already limited
assets to buffer disaster losses, which drives them into further poverty. Poverty is therefore both
a cause and consequence of disaster risk (Wisner et al., 2004), particularly extensive risk, with
drought being the hazard most closely associated with poverty (Shepard et al., 2013). The
impact of disasters on the poor can, in addition to loss of life, injury and damage, cause a total
loss of livelihoods, displacement, poor health, food insecurity, among other consequences.
Vulnerability is not simply about poverty, but extensive research over the past 30 years has
revealed that it is generally the poor who tend to suffer worst from disasters (DFID, 2004; Twigg,
2004; Wisner et al., 2004; UNISDR, 2009b).

5. Poorly planned and Managed Urban Development - A new wave of urbanization is

unfolding in hazard-exposed countries and with it, new opportunities for resilient investment
emerge. People, poverty, and disaster risk are increasingly concentrated in cities. The growing
rate of urbanization and the increase in population density (in cities) can lead to creation of risk,
especially when urbanization is rapid, poorly planned and occurring in a context of widespread
poverty. Growing concentrations of people and economic activities in many cities are seen to
overlap with areas of high-risk exposure.

6. Weak Governance - weak governance zones are investment environments in which public
sector actors are unable or unwilling to assume their roles and responsibilities in protecting
rights, providing basic services and public services. Disaster risk is disproportionately
concentrated in lower-income countries with weak governance (UNISDR, 2015a). Disaster risk
governance refers to the specific arrangements that societies put in place to manage their
disaster risk (UNISDR, 2011a; UNDP, 2013a) within a broader context of risk governance
(Renn, 2008 in UNISDR, 2015a). This reflects how risk is valued against a backdrop of broader
social and economic concerns (Holley et al., 2011).

Certain factors are related to a survivor’s background and recovery is hampered if survivors
were not functioning well before the disaster; have no experience dealing with disasters; must
deal with other stressors after the disaster; have low self-esteem; feel uncared for by others;
think they exercise little control over what happens to them; and unable to manage stress. More
factors contributory to worse outcomes: death of someone close; injury to self or family member;
life threat; panic, horror, or similar feelings; separation from family; massive loss of property;
and displacement.

The following are also taken into consideration when risk factors underlying disaster are
involved:

Severity of exposure - which measures those who experience disaster first- hand which has
the highest risk of developing future mental problems, followed by those in contact with the
victims such as rescue workers and health care practitioners and the lowest risk are those most
distant like those who have awareness of the disaster only through news.

Gender and Family - the female gender suffers more adverse effects. This worsens when
children are present at home. Marital relationships are placed under strain.

Age - adults in the age range of 40-60 are more stressed after disasters but in general, children
exhibit more stress after disasters than adults do.

Economic status of country - evidence indicates that severe mental problems resulting from
disasters are more prevalent in developing countries like the Philippines. Furthermore, it has
been observed that natural disasters tend to have more adverse effects in developing countries
than do man- caused disasters in developed countries.

What’s More

Direction: Analyze the given situation by identifying the correct risk factor. Write only the letter
that corresponds to your answer. To facilitate your task, accomplish the given table below:

A. Climate Change
B. Environmental Degradation
C. Globalized Economic Development
D. Poverty and Inequality
E. Poorly planned and Managed Urban Development
F. Weak Governance
 Situation Factor Underlying
Disaster

1. unwillingness to assume their roles and responsibilities in

governing disaster risk department
2. rising sea levels
3. cities located in low-altitude estuaries such as Marikina
City, Philippines are exposed to sea-level rise and flooding.

4. houses are built with lightweight materials

5. effects in developing countries

6. deforestation that can lead to landslide

7. global Warming
8. garbage slide killed that over 200 people in an informal
settlement in Manila, the Philippines,
9. fragmented responsibilities for drought risk
management

What I Have Learned

Direction: Supply the missing letters to complete the word/s that

described the various effects of disaster. Statements are provided as
clues.

1. The elements at risk from a natural or man-made hazard event.

_X__S__E

2. These are processes or conditions, often development-related, that

influence the level of disaster risk by increasing levels of exposure and
vulnerability or reducing capacity.

D_S___E_R___

3. The conditions determined by physical, social, economic, and

environmental factors or processes, which increase the susceptibility of a
community to the impact of hazard.

_U_N__A__L__Y

4. Damage to both public and private infrastructures

I_F__S_R__T_R_ D__A_ E

5. Many people must abandon their homes and seek shelter in other
regions which may cause large influx of refugees that disrupt accessibility
of health care and education, as well as food supplies and clean water

P__E_T__L D_S__A__M_N_
References
Mahar, Patrick, et.al, “Disasters and their Effects on the Population: Key Concepts,” Accessed
(01 June 2020), https://www.aap.org/en- us/Documents/disasters_dpac_PEDsModule1.

“Disasters and their Effects on the Population: Key Concepts,”, Accessed on 02 June 2020, pp.
7-10, https://www.aap.org/en- us/Documents/disasters_dpac_PEDsModule1.

“Defining the Concepts”, Introduction to Disaster Risk Reduction, USAID from the American
people, pp.6-13, https://www.preventionweb. net/files/26081_kp1concepdisasterrisk1.

“National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan”, (NDRRMP), 2011‐

2028,pp. 14-32, http://www.ndrrmc.gov.ph/attachments/article
/41/NDRRM_Plan_2011-2028.pdf

Vergano, Dan, “5 Reasons the Philippines Is So Disaster Prone”, National

Geographic, November 11, 2013, https://www.nationalgeographic
.com/news/2013/11/131111-philippines-dangers-haiyan- yolanda-death-toll-rises/

Guidance Note on Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction in to the CCA and UNDAF, UNDG
p.107, https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in /bitstream/10603/97142/10/10_chapter%202.pdf

Prevention Web Editor, “Disaster Risk”, UNDRR Prevention Web, November

12, 2015, https://www.preventionweb.net/risk/disaster-risk

For inquiries and feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Division of Bohol

Office Address: 0050 Lino Chatto Drive, Brgy. Cogon, Tagbilaran City, Bohol
Telephone Nos.: (038) 412-4938; (038) 411-2544; (038) 501-7550
Telefax: (038) 501-7550
E-mail Address: deped.bohol@deped.gov.ph