SHS

DISASTER READINESS AND

RISK REDUCTION
Week 4: Module 6
Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction
Grade 11/12: Week 4: Module 6
First Edition, 2020

Copyright © 2020
La Union Schools Division
Region I

All rights reserved. No part of this module may be reproduced in any form
without written permission from the copyright owners.

Development Team of the Module

Author: Marivic F. Carolino, T - II

Editor: SDO La Union, Learning Resource Quality Assurance Team

Illustrator: Ernesto F. Ramos Jr., P II

Management Team:

ATTY. Donato D. Balderas, Jr.

Schools Division Superintendent

Vivian Luz S. Pagatpatan, PhD

Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

German E. Flora, PhD, CID Chief

Virgilio C. Boado, PhD, EPS in Charge of LRMS

Rominel S. Sobremonte, EdD, EPS in Charge of Science

Michael Jason D. Morales, PDO II

Claire P. Toluyen, Librarian II
Disaster Readiness
and Risk Reduction
Week 4: Module 6
 Target

Lack of awareness about the range of consequences of a hazard event is the

big reason why many take natural hazards for granted. People are not the only ones
who can be affected by hazards. Can you name other things which might be affected?
For some, this might not be an easy task as disasters do not happen every day. One
should however try to think in terms of who and what might be affected if something
goes wrong. There is no better place to start than at home. Familiarizing yourselves
with smaller elements that are exposed to hazard is no different from doing it with
bigger things exposed to bigger source of danger.

Elements at risk will be discussed in this module, need to be studied and

examined to know how safe we are in the environment that we are in.This module
will provide you with information and activities that will help you understand
vulnerabilities of different elements exposed to specific hazards.

After going through this module, you should be able to:

1. Recognize vulnerabilities of different elements exposed to specific hazards.

Before going through, let us have a quick check of how much you know about this
topic. Answer the following questions in a separate sheet of paper.

1. Make a list of those which might be affected by various man-made hazards at

home and in your neighborhood.
2. What can one do to get these out of harm’s way?
 Jumpstart

Activity 1: Inventory of Elements at Risk

Using the table below list down all exposed elements which can be affected by
any of the hazard in the community on which you live. The list is supposed to
be an inventory of all possible elements at risk in the community. The list
should include both tangible and intangible elements.

ELEMENTS AT WHAT IS THE CAN IT BE CAN IT BE

RISK EFFECT? MAPPED? QUANTIFIED?
Y/N Y/N
 Discover

Terms that I should familiarize and remember….

 Hazard - A dangerous phenomenon, substance, human activity or condition

that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage,
loss of livelihoods and services, social and economic disruption, or
environmental damage.

 Vulnerability - The characteristics and circumstances of a community, system

or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard.

 Exposure - People, property, systems, or other elements present in hazard

zones that are thereby subject to potential losses.

ELEMENTS AT RISK AND EXPOSURE

Elements at risk are the people, properties, economic activities, and public
and private services potentially threatened by a harmful event.

Risk assessment involves the identification and mapping of the elements at

risk and the assessment of vulnerability. In order to reduce risk, most of the focus is
on reducing vulnerability. Do you know the reason why? Understanding the elements
at risk exposed to each type of hazard is the first step in reducing vulnerability.

As the risk model (RISK = HAZARD x EXPOSURE x VULNERABILITY) shows,

risk is also a function of hazard. Hazard refers to the probability of occurrence at a
a given magnitude. In the next module, the concept of hazard will be discussed in
more detail. Exposed element can refer to the number of people or structures within
the exposed area. Figures for these two types of elements at risk are the most reliable
and least subjective. The combination of both hazard and exposed population
provides the physical exposure.

PhExp = Hazard x Exposure

Where:

PhP = physical exposure for the affected area

Hazard = probability of occurrence of an event at a given magnitude

Exposure = total population living in the affected area for each event
( Model and variable definition after Peduzzi et al., 2009)
 ELEMENTS AT RISK

1. Tangible elements at risk are those things that can be identified, localized,
mapped and quantified
2. Intangible elements are those things that are very difficult to quantify or map,
as they do not have a particular spatial dimension
3. Human beings
4. Dwellings or household and communities
5. Building and structures
6. Public facilities and infrastructure assets
7. Public and transport system.
8. Agricultural commodities
9. Environmental assets

PHYSICAL ELEMENTS EXPOSED TO HAZARD

1. Essential Facilities
• Educational facilities
• Medical and healthcare facilities
• Emergency response facilities
• Recreational or tourist facilities
• Places of worship
• Banks and financial centers
• Markets and shopping centers
• Cemeteries

2. Industrial and high potential loss facilities containing hazardous materials

• dams and ponds
• fuel reservoirs, pipelines, and pumps
• power generating plants and lines
• multi-purpose hydropower plants, water tanks, and lines
• food processing facilities

3. Transportation lifelines
• highways, bridges, railway tracks, and tunnels
• bus facilities
• port and harbor facilities
• airport facilities and runways
• utility lifelines
• potable water facilities, waste water facilities, pipelines, and distribution
lines
• oil and natural gas systems facilities, pipelines, and distribution lines
• electric power facilities and distribution lines
communication facilities and distribution lines
 DIMENSIONS OF EXPOSURE AND VULNERABILITY

Social

Environmental Economic

Social, Environmental, and Economic Dimensions of Exposure and

Vulnerability
.

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMIC

Migration Location Business interruptions

Social groups Built structures Loss of jobs and access

to work

Education Low-lying areas Loss of government

income

Culture Coastal regions Significant effect to GDP

Health and well being Mountainous areas

Culture

Institutions

Demography
 STEPS TO REDUCE EXPOSURE TO HAZARD

1. PREVENTION – steps that can be taken to eliminate hazard or exposure to the

hazard.

2. MITIGATION – steps that can be taken to reduce the hazard or exposure

and/or vulnerability of the elements exposed to the hazard.

3. ADAPTATION – modifications in the normal or natural behavior aimed at

reducing the exposure and/or vulnerability to the hazard.

Explore

Activity 2:

Make an inventory of the exposed element in your home using the table below.

ELEMENT AT WHAT IS THE CAN IT BE CAN IT BE

RISK EFFECT MAPPED QUNTIFIED
Y/N Y/N
 Deepen

Activity 1: At this point, on a piece of graphing paper or any piece of clean

paper do the following:

1. Draw a floor plan of your home showing all important features such as doors,
window, stairs and walls. Use symbols to help draw the floor plan.

2. Draw on the floor plan the exposed elements in the inventory that can be
mapped.

3. You can ask for the help of your parents/guardians to check the map.

Gauge

Direction:

1. Develop a home hazard exposure reduction plan. Do this together with

your family members.

2. Identify elements at risk and vulnerable to any type of hazard. If needed

review and revise your hazard exposure reduction action plan frequently for
addressing falling hazards at home together with your parents.

3.Indicate the preventive, mitigation or adaptive measures for each of the

identified elements at risk. You can use the following guide.
• What specific steps can you think of for preventing a hazard. Write
these steps under the heading PREVENTION.

• What specific steps can you think of for reducing the likelihood of a
hazard? Write these steps under the heading MITIGATION

• What changes to our normal behaviour can we adopt to prevent or

reduce the risk from hazard? Have the learners write these steps under
the heading ADAPTATION.

4. Propose corresponding corrective actions for family preparedness.

Rubric:

Category Does Not Meet Meets Exceed

Expectations Expectation Expectations
(3) (6) (10)
Organization
Originality/Creativity
Completeness
Neatness
Design/Features
KEY ANSWERS:

HAZARD • electrical fire • extreme heat and

combustion
EXPOSED ELEMENT Ex. Christmas lights • Any nearby furniture or
objects that are
combustible. People
(Physical well being,
psycho-social well
being) House and
contents; loss of place
to live; loss of place; loss
of economic and
sentimental value of
lost or damaged
possessions.

PREVENTION • Regularly maintain • Use Christmas Tree and

christmas lights. Check ornaments made from
for any exposed wires non-combustible
that may cause a short material.
circuit. • Locating Christmas
• Not using christmas Tree away from
lights on the christmas combustible furniture
tree. and objects.

MITIGATION • Buy only christmas • Install a fire alarm.

lights with ICC or PS
Certification.
• Use a timer on outlet to
turn christmas lights
off.
Regularly maintain fire
alarm so that it is
working properly.
• Place a fire extinguisher
near the Christmas
tree.

ADAPTATION • Do not overload • Locate Christmas tree

electrical socket. Do not outside the house
leave christmas lights (instead inside the
on for an extended house).
period of time.

PREVENTION, MITIGATION, AND ADAPTATION MEASURES/ STRATEGIES INSIDE THE HOUSE:

1. Secure to a nearby wall all large or tall appliances or pieces of furniture that may move around
or topple over during a strong earthquake.

2. Move any large or tall appliances away from where it may fall on people (such as sofa or beds)
or block an exit way during a strong earthquake.

3. Secure all lighting fixtures suspended from the ceiling or hanging from the walls which may fall
on people or pets.

4. Secure (normally using velcro) breakable objects on shelves.

5. Put ties on cabinets that may suddenly open during an earthquake.

References:

Printed Materials:

De Guzman, Suarez (2016). Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction. Manila,

Philippines,Vibal Group Inc.

Rimando, Rolly E.,Belen, Josefina G.(2016). Disaster Readiness and Risk

Reduction (pp 14-20), 1st Edition. Manila, Philippines, Rex Bookstore

Department of Education, Disaster Risk Resource Manual, Safer School

Resource Manual (pp 12-14)

Department of Education, Powerpoint presentations