Introduction to

Disaster
Readiness and
Risk Reduction
SCI104 - Module 1
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The learners must be able to:

• Explain the meaning of disaster

• Differentiate the risk factors underlying
disasters
• Describe the effects of disasters on one’s life
Why do we need to study Disaster
Readiness and Risk Reduction?
Philippine's
Disaster Risk
Profile
Source: UNDRR (2019). Disaster Risk Reduction in the
Philippines: Status Report 2019
 Philippines ranked third among all
of the countries with the highest
risks worldwide.

At least 60% of the country’s total

land area is exposed to multiple
hazards, and 74% of the population is
Philippine's susceptible to their impact.

Disaster Risk The country's location poses coastal,

Profile
Source: UNDRR (2019). Disaster Risk Reduction in the
Philippines: Status Report 2019
hydrometeorological, geological, and
climate hazards. Of these, 80% of the
natural disasters experienced in the
country are hydrometeorological.
Goals of Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction
• raise awareness
• limit the effect of natural hazards
(mitigation)
• conduct effective disaster response
• reduce risks of disasters to re-occur
Definition of Terms

What is a Disaster?
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.
Is the COVID-19 pandemic a disaster?
A 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.
Definition of Terms

Hazards
A ‘hazard’ can be defined as 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

Threat
A ‘threat’ can be defined as a person or thing
that is regarded as dangerous or likely to inflict
pain or misery.
 Classification of Disasters
Natural
Naturally-occurring physical
phenomena caused either by
rapid or slow onset events
A. Geological
B. Hydrometeorological
C. Fire
D. Biological
Man-Made
Also called "human-induced",
these originate from
technological or industrial
conditions, including accidents,
dangerous procedures,
infrastructure failures, or specific
human activities
Natural disasters are rarely completely natural. It is important
to recognize the anthropogenic or human-induced factors
that had converted the natural hazard into a disaster.
 Beach houses are usually more expensive due to their aesthetic and
recreational value. However, homes and businesses in these locations are
exposed to coastal hazards.
 Types of Natural Disasters
1. Geological
These are caused by internal earth
processes, such as earthquakes, volcanic
activity and emissions, and related
geophysical processes such as mass
movements, landslides, rockslides, the
surface collapses, and debris or mudflows.
 Types of Natural Disasters
2. Hydrometeorological
These are phenomena of atmospheric,
hydrological or oceanographic nature;
include tropical cyclones (typhoons and
hurricanes), thunderstorms, tornadoes,
coastal storm surges, floods including flash
floods, drought, heatwaves and cold spells.
 Types of Natural Disasters
3. Biological
This type of disaster is caused by processes of
organic origin conveyed by biological vectors/
agents, including exposure to pathogenic
microorganisms, toxins, and bioactive
substances; includes outbreaks of epidemic
diseases, plant or animal contagion, insect or
other animal plagues and infestations.
Source: worldometers.info
 Types of Natural Disasters
4. Fire
Fire disasters may be either natural or human-
induced.

Natural wildfires can occur when vegetation

catches fire during dry and hot periods. These
can be caused by lightning strikes, sparks during
arid conditions, and volcanic eruptions.

Human-induced fire disasters may be caused by

accidents or deliberate arson.
Source: disastercharter.org
2020: World on Fire
• Australian Black Summer Fire: 19 million
hectares burned, destroying 3,000 homes and
killing 33 people.
• Indonesia: 1.64 million hectares burned across
seven Indonesian provinces
• Amazon Rainforest Fire: 13,000 sq km of the
Brazilian Amazon burned during the first seven
months of the forest fire
• Arctic Circle Peatlands Wildfire: released 244
megatonnes of carbon dioxide
Source: https://news.globallandscapesforum.org/47794/fires-2020-experts-explain-the-
global-wildfire-crisis/
"The more governments, UN agencies,
organizations, businesses, and civil society
understand risk and vulnerability, the
better equipped they will be to mitigate
disasters when they strike and save more
lives."

— Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-

General
 Disaster Risk
Disaster risk is expressed as the likelihood of loss of life, injury
or destruction, and damage from a disaster in a given period
of time. It is widely recognized as the consequence of the
interaction between a hazard and the characteristics that
make people and places vulnerable and exposed.
Source: NISDR Global Assessment Report 2015
World Risk Index Formula
The Philippines has improved from ranking third (2016) to ninth (2020).
 exposure to a hazard,

Disaster occurs the conditions of vulnerability

when there is a that are present,

combination of insufficient capacity or measures

to reduce or cope with the
potential negative consequences.
Underlying Disaster Risk Factors
Processes or conditions, often development-related, that
influence the level of disaster risk by increasing levels of
exposure and vulnerability or reducing capacity
Source: https://www.undrr.org/terminology/underlying-disaster-risk-drivers
What do you think are the underlying factors in this incident?

Paranaque, 2015.
Underlying Disaster Risk Factors
• Physical • Economic
• Psychological • Political
• Socio-cultural • Biological
Underlying Disaster Risk Factors

1. Physical
These are tangible objects or infrastructure.

Examples:
• Are fire exits available?
• Is the building sturdy?
• Are there emergency alarms?
• Is the house made of lightweight materials?
• Are there harmful or helpful objects nearby?
Underlying Disaster Risk Factors

2. Psychological
This factor includes the state of mental capacity,
mental health, perception of self, etc.

Examples:
• How old are the persons involved? Babies?
Kids? Adults? People with special needs?
• Are they capable of responding to disasters?
• Do they suffer from PTSD?
Underlying Disaster Risk Factors

3. Socio-cultural
This factor includes religion, social status,
traditions, perception by society, etc.

Examples:
• Is there inequality in society? Racism?
Discrmination?
• Are traditions exposing them to certain
hazards?
• How does religion impact their perception of
disaster?
Underlying Disaster Risk Factors

4. Economic
This factor includes assets and liabilities,
income, economic class, etc.

Examples:
• Are those involved poor, middle class, or
wealthy?
• Can they afford to live in safe locations?
• Do they have insurance?
Underlying Disaster Risk Factors

5. Political
This factor includes government structure, laws,
policies, diplomatic issues, etc.

Examples:
• Is the country under a state of emergency?
• Is the country at war?
• Does the country enforce sustainable
urbanization?
• Is there investment towards disaster
reduction?
Underlying Disaster Risk Factors

6. Biological
This factor includes flora and fauna in the
environment, health, diseases, etc.

Examples:
• Are there vectors of diseases in the
environment?
• Are there communicable diseases in the
community?
• Is there a epidemic or a pandemic?
 What are the
underlying
disaster risk
factors in this
scenario?
What will happen if disaster
risk factors in a community
remain unidentified and
unmitigated?

What is its effect on the

community?
 EFFECTS OF DISASTER TO HUMAN LIFE
A. Displaced populations C. Food Scarcity
B. Health Risks D. Emotional Aftershocks
 Primary Effect - a direct result of
the hazard itself
The full Ex. Earthquake
effects of Secondary Effect - caused by the
any disaster primary effect
are difficult Ex. earthquake triggers a landslide,

to quantify. may trigger fires

Tertiary Effect - long term effects

that are set off by the primary effect
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The learners must be able to:

• Explain the meaning of disaster

• Differentiate the risk factors underlying
disasters
• Describe the effects of disasters on one’s life