LESSON 1-9
processes and human activities
DISASTER A sudden calamitous event,
bringing great damage, loss, destruction,
and devastation.
RING OF FIRE A path along the Pacific
Ocean characterized by active volcanoes
and frequent earthquakes.
CALAMITY An event causing great and
often sudden damage or distress.
EARTHQUAKE Shaking of earth caused
by waves moving on and below the earth's
surface.
VOLCANIC ERUPTION When lava and
gas are discharged from a volcanic vent.
HAZARD is a harmful condition,
substance, human behavior or condition
that can cause loss of life, injury or other
health effects, harm to property, loss of
livelihood and services, social and
economic disruption or damage to the
environment.
EXPOSURE is the presence of elements
at risk or chance of being harmed from a
natural or man-made hazard event.
VULNERABILITY means the
characteristics and circumstances of a
community, system, or asset, that make it
susceptible to the damaging effects of a
hazard and inability of a community to
prevent, mitigate, prepare for and respond
to hazardous events.
RISK implies the probability of possible
adverse effects. This results from the
interaction of social and environmental
systems, from the combination of physical
danger, and exposed item vulnerabilities.
DISASTER is a serious disruption to the
functioning of a community or society
which causes widespread human,
material, economic or environmental
losses that exceed the capacity of the
community or society concerned to cope
with the use of their own resources.
EXPOSURE AND VULNERABILITY, on
the other hand, are distinct. A certain
community can be exposed but it does not
mean that it is vulnerable.
NATURAL HAZARDS - arise from natural
processes in the environment.  protection means that people in poverty
QUASI-NATURAL HAZARDS- arise
through the interaction of natural
TECHNOLOGICAL (OR MAN-MADE)
HAZARDS- These arise directly as a
result of human activities.
POPULATION refers to the number of
individuals inhabiting in a particular space
at the same time.
FACTORS WHICH UNDERLIE DISASTER
1. CLIMATE CHANGE- 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. 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.
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.
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
are often forced to use their already
limited assets to buffer disaster losses,
which drives them into further poverty.
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.
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.
A) Unwillingness to assume their roles
and responsibilities in governing
disaster risk department- WEAK
GOVERNANCE
B) Rising sea levels- CLIMATE
CHANGE
C) Cities located in low-altitude
estuaries such as Marikina City,
Philippines are exposed to sea-level
rise and flooding- POORLY PLANNED
& MANEGED
D) Houses are built with lightweight
materials- POVERTY & INEQUALITY
E) Effects in developing countries-
GLOBALIZED ECONOMIC
HUMAN EFFECT OF NATURAK DISASTERS
1. DISPLACED POPULATIONS- One of
the most immediate effects of natural
disasters is population displacement.
When countries are ravaged by
earthquakes or other powerful forces
of nature, many people need to
abandon their homes and seek shelter
in other regions. A large influx of
refugees can disrupt accessibility of
health care and education, as well as
food supplies and clean water.
2. HELATH RISKS- Aside from the
obvious immediate danger that natural
disasters present, the secondary effect
can be just as damaging. Severe
flooding can result in stagnant water
that allows breeding of waterborne
bacteria and malaria-carrying
mosquitoes. Without emergency relief
from international aid organizations
and others, death tolls can rise even
after the immediate danger has
passed.
3. FOOD SCARCITY- The impacts of
hunger following an earthquake,
typhoon or hurricane can be
tremendous, causing lifelong damage
to children’s development.
4. EMOTIONAL AFTERSHOCKS-
Natural disasters can be particularly
traumatic for young children.
Confronted with scenes of destruction
and the deaths of friends and loved
ones, many children develop post-
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a
serious psychological condition
resulting from extreme trauma. Left
untreated, children suffering from
PTSD can be prone to lasting
psychological damage and emotional
distress.
THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES OF DISASTER
1. Physical perspective- Calamities are
phenomena that cause great physical
damage in a community infrastructure, its
people and their properties, e.g. houses
and environmental sources of living.
These cited effects of a disaster can be
easily measured and the most common.
2. Psychological Perspective-Victims of
disasters may suffer from Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other serious
mental health conditions, which are not
being given much attention to by the
authorities or even by the victims,
themselves.