The Nature Of Disasters And Disaster Risk
− are situations resulting from the primary
Hazard
− threat or harm
− Has the potential to cause damage.
− (e.g.) injury, environmental degradation, destruction
of properties
Types of Hazards:
These 2 differ greatly in terms of their causes, scope, and
effects on life, property, and the environment.
▪ Natural
▪ Man-made
-- Hazards do not always lead to disasters. --
Disaster
− Any event that causes widespread human, economic,
and environmental loses or impacts that seriously
disrupts the normal functioning of a community.
− If an event causes a significant number of dead or
missing people in the area.
− the level of severity of a disaster is determined based
on the following:
✓ number of human lives missing
✓ condition of the survivors
✓ assessed cost of rehabilitating the structures
and public infrastructure that have been
damaged/destroyed.
✓ amount of income lost from work, livelihood,
and other economic activities that have been
stopped due to the disaster.
Types of Disasters:
The types of disasters are classified according to the hazards
that caused them to happen.
▪ Natural Disaster
− are devastating outcome that result from
natural hazards.
− (e.g., collapse houses from landslides)
▪ Man-made Disaster
− also called technological disasters
− are destruction from man-made hazards.
− (e.g., bomb explosions, chemical spills, and
even war)
Effects of Disasters (severity = exposure)
The effects of the disasters vary, mostly depending on the
severity of the exposure of life, property, and the
environment to the hazard.
Although the severity becomes lower in nearby communities
of the affected community, the effects may still be felt and
may be significant.
According to measurable severity, the effects of disasters
are primary, secondary, or tertiary in nature.
▪ Primary Effect
− Direct situations from the disaster itself.
− Usually, a geographical zone can be mapped to
identify areas that are included among the
primary effects.
− (e.g.) Typhoon – flooding
▪ Secondary Effect
effects.
− (e.g.) Typhoon – damage to power and water
lines → destruction of electrical and water
services
▪ Tertiary Effect
− are those that are not experienced as a
disaster is taking place but can be felt some
time after the disaster has occurred.
− may develop from primary or secondary
effects that have become permanent and may
change a natural process in the community.
− These are felt some time after the disaster has
occurred.
− (e.g.) Typhoon – flooding – change of water
channels → causing the old water channel
location to dry up → lack of livelihood.
Disasters usually follow hazards that are not anticipated.
When a disaster occurs, community affected may lose its
ability to cope with the loss and damage using its own
resources. Hence, disasters may be prevented if proper and
effective disaster plans are in place.
Disaster Risk
− specific to a location or condition of a community.
− determines the tendency of a community to face
disasters.
− a vital consideration in defining the safety of the
people in that community.
− if certain hazards frequent in a specific location, it
puts the community in a dangerous position.
Ban Ki-moon
− Secretary General of the United Nations
− “We cannot eliminate disaster(hazard), but we can
mitigate the risk. We can reduce the damage and
save more lives.”
-- There is no way to escape hazards because they are part
of life. --
-- Every day, everywhere there is a hazard. --
Hazards can be identified but difficult to avoid. Because
hazards can be recognized, a community that is hazard-
prone may increase its disaster risk especially if it’s not
equipped or prepared for the possible disasters arising from
that hazard.
Affected Components:
The effects of the disaster can be complex, widespread,
depending on the damage done on those that are affected,
namely, the people, the buildings and infrastructure, the
economy, and the environment.
a) People
The loss of family members, friends, and other loved ones is
the most tragic effect of disasters on people.
The pain is exacerbated when loved ones remain missing
even years after the disaster.
− After a disaster takes place, the number of
casualties is assessed.
− Depending on the severity of a disaster, the actual
number cannot be achieved.
-- severity = # of people affected –
 − there may be: − With the delay of essential services, it hampered
missing people presumed dead. the operations of:
number of people injured. • Households
people who have gotten sick due to the • Businesses
disaster. • Companies
In post disaster assessments, the estimated number of • Schools
persons who have been evacuated or relocated is also
calculated. − The damage to public infrastructure disrupts the
operations of transport services which affects the
movement of:
b) Buildings and Infrastructure • People
• Goods
Homes, buildings, and infrastructure are important
• Services
components that are considered in the aftermath of a
disaster. All sectors of a community are interconnected.
Reestablishment of the homes, workplaces, commercial sites − when one sector is affected by a disaster, the entire
and similar structures is the priority for the people. community suffers, even its external network.
The damage to public infrastructure immobilizes the All these have serious implications on the economic life of a
community as its resident cannot easily move from point to community.
point.
Any building, field, ground that has lost its capacity to serve -- severity = loss in economy –
its designed purpose is tantamount to being useless and is
considered a loss.
Buildings that are considered affected by disasters are: d) Environment
• Damaged structurally or architecturally. Disasters can cause negative effects on the air, soil, and
ecosystem of a community.
• Have collapsed.
• Have been leveled to the ground and even buried. − Air quality is compromised when harmful particles
• Rendering them inhabitable. are released into the air during disasters such as:
Destruction or damage to public buildings such can affect • Volcanic eruptions
the devastated community: • Explosions
• Nuclear plant emissions
• Schools
• Hospitals − These particulates include:
• Churches • Ash
• Public infrastructure such as roads and bridges. • Dust
With damaged homes, the people of the affected community • Heavy metals
do not just lack shelter from the elements, but also: • Smoke
• They have also lost most of their properties. − The soil or land suffers other effects such as:
• And have to practically rebuild their lives as they • Erosion from flash flood
slowly replace what they’ve lost. • Landslides
-- severity = # of damaged buildings or infrastructure – • Cracks and fissures from earthquakes
• Changes in its quality due to its
absorption of chemicals
c) Economy − Disasters affect water in various aspects:
− is not a single entity that functions alone. • As groundwater
− It involves sectors of society such as: • In bodies of water
a) Business • In water containers such as swimming
b) Transportation pools and water tanks.
c) Communication − The water can be polluted by dust and other
− When a disaster strikes, its economy is among the particulates, and by decaying organic matter
first to be affected because of: brought about by the disasters.
• Loss of livelihood − The degradation of water quality can cause:
• Employment • Fish kills
• Tourism opportunities • Death to marine life
− Damage to buildings and public infrastructure • Disease and other health problems in
comes the loss or delay of essential services: people.
• Electrical power
• Fuel
• Sewerage
• Telecommunications
• Water
 ➢ Ecosystem
− a complex community involving interactions of:
• Animals
• Plants
• Microorganisms with the nonliving
components of that area.
− The natural balance of ecosystems is gravely
affected by disasters:
1. Ecosystem on a hillside on which cattle
graze can be damaged and may no
longer provide the grass and other
plants.
2. Animals may also be displaced by
disasters such as wildfires, which forces
them to find a new habitat.
3. Plant life is also heavily affected by
disasters that strike the areas in which
the plants are grown.
➢ Erosions
− the process by which soil is carried away by
wind, water, and other agents.
− as a natural process, this happens gradually or
over a long period of time.
− however, disasters such as floods and fires
hasten the process.

- severity = negative effects to the community’s ecosystem -