IMPACT OF DISASTERS

1. What is Disaster? Disaster could be termed as a loss both in man and material which is sudden
in nature and its impact on the affected community is such that it jeopardizes the normal functioning of
the daily life. The occurred losses are such that additional resources and efforts are required to normalize
the life. As per International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Disaster is defined as
“ A disaster is a sudden, calamitous event that seriously disrupts the functioning of a community or
society and causes human, material, and economic or environmental losses that exceed the
community’s or society’s ability to cope using its own resources. Though often caused by nature,
disasters can have human origins”i

Before discussing the impacts of Disasters, it is necessarily that we should narrow down the factors
which affect our life and result in a Disaster. As per the definition given above, A natural phenomenon
which may or not be caused by human interference and short time restricted but result in heavy losses
in terms of economy and environmental could only be called as a disaster if rehabilitation and
recovery is beyond the capacity/capability of community. For example Japan is highly prone to Earth
Quakes but seldom one odd Earth quake is called as a disastrous only because of the reason that
community has been structured and infrastructure has been built to offset the impacts of damage and
losses whereas same magnitude earthquake coming in an area which is not developed or not
configured to withstand the impacts would result in heavy losses and destruction.

2. Disaster affects our life in many ways. The affect it makes can also be termed as Impacts of
Disasters. Impact of Disaster could be :-
a. Impact on Human Life

b. Impact on Economy

c. Impact on Ecology and Environment

d. Psychological Impacts

e. Social Impacts

f. Health Impacts

Impact of Disasters

3. Impact on human Life. No activity of loss and damage can be termed as disaster unless it has a
direct impact on humans. The most fragile community on earth is mankind which is susceptible to all
kinds of danger and hazards. to offset and reduce the impact of these hazards, humans are evolving
themselves. Any loss whether it is of human life or of livestock, its loss of property it has direct bearing
on humans. Man is a social animal and cannot live alone. Small groups joined together to form
communities and communities grew to form cosmopolitan cities. Some of the impacts on human life
can further be listed as follow:-
a. Loss of Human Life. The worst damage of a disaster is the loss of

human life. All the property and households can be recouped with passage of time or
with assistance of other communities / donors but life is such a precious thing that its
replacement cannot be done. The loosing of a family member has far more lasting bad
memories and impacts as compare to any other loss. This leads to social and
psychological issues that affect the recovery phase and lengthens the rehabilitation phase.
 b. Loss of Livelihood including Households and Property. One of the immediate
impact indicators that define the severity of a disaster is the loss of livelihoods of the
inhabitants. The earnings of whole life is just washed away in few moments and it
affects badly on recovery phase too.
c. Displacement. Result of a disaster could be the temporary or permanent

displacement from the affected area to a new location where environment (socially and
economically) are not so favorable.
d. Education. Disaster means the complete destruction of not only personal

life routine but it also effect on the education badly. Either schools are destructed or if
not, these are used to house displaced people. in any case, continuity of education is
not there.

4. Impact on Economy. The term defines that any calamity which is beyond the capability of local
community. It means that sources of income are meager and new opportunities to invest and flourish the
business are remote. Rather focus is more on recovery than on prosperity. The economy indicators have
to be change and new indicators has to be placed. Though there is a vast requirement of everything but
priorities would make it difficult to divert resources on economic and business activities as foremost
requirement is to provide immediate relief assistance to the victims.

5. Impact on Ecology and Environment. The immediate affect a disaster makes is the change of
ecology and environment of the affected area. Some new geological features like lakes can be formed
which disturbs the ecological and environmental balance of the area. Destruction of roads, buildings and
other infrastructure has its impact on the ecology and environment beside economic impacts.

6. Psychological Impact. Disaster completely changes the way of looking at life. Loss of
human life and livelihoods, displacement from ancestors land, discontinuation of education, misery of
fellow ones and lack of economic opportunities are few factors which deepens the psychological impact
of a disaster. Disaster are known in history by the scale of destruction and losses it resulted.
7. Social Impacts. Disaster badly hampers the social life of the victims. Living in Temporarily
Displaced People (TDPs)/internally displaced Peoples (IDPs) camp has many social ills. Social fibre of
a family is shattered badly if someone from the family had been a loss coupled with sharing
accommodation with others. Upbringing in camps is always associated with some stigma and adjustment in
society and community in normal manner is very difficult for this segment.

8. Health Impacts. As basic infrastructure of healthcare is destroyed as a result of a disaster which

coupled with poor hygiene and lack of access to basic needs adversely affects the victims. More of the
deaths are reported after the immediate impact of a disaster due to health related issues. More precious
lives can be saved if immediate health attention is also given to the victims. Permanent injury or loss
of some limbs as results of disaster would also accentuate the problem.
 Hazardous Locations

Class I Locations
Class I locations are those in which flammable gases or vapors are or may be present in the air in
quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures. Class I locations are further subdivided
into two Divisions and three Zones.

Class I, Division 1: There are three different situations that could exist to classify an area as a Class I,
Division 1 location:
1. Ignitable concentrations of flammable gases or vapors may exist under normal operating conditions.
2. Ignitable concentrations of such gases or vapors may exist frequently because of repair or maintenance
operations or because of leakage.
3. Breakdown or faulty operation of equipment or processes might release ignitable concentrations of
flammable gases or vapors, and might also cause simultaneous failure of electric equipment.

Class I, Division 2: One of the following three situations must exist in order for an area to be considered
a Class I, Division 2 location:
1. Volatile flammable liquids or flammable gases are handled, processed or used, but the hazardous
liquids, vapors or gases will normally be confined within closed containers or closed systems from
which they can escape only in the event of accidental rupture or breakdown of such containers or
systems, or as a result of abnormal operation of equipment.
2. Ignitable concentrations of gases or vapors are normally prevented by positive mechanical ventilation,
and which might become hazardous through failure or abnormal operations of the ventilating
equipment.
3. Adjacent to a Class I, Division 1 location, and to which ignitable concentrations of gases or vapors
might occasionally be communicated unless such communication is prevented by adequate positive-
pressure ventilation from a source of clean air, and effective safeguards against ventilation failure are
provided.

Class I, Zone 0: One of the following two situations must exist in order for an area to be considered a
Class I, Zone 0 location:
1. Ignitable concentrations of flammable gases or vapors are present continuously.
2. Ignitable concentrations of flammable gases or vapors are present for long periods of time.

Class I, Zone 1: One of the following four situations must exist in order for an area to be considered a
Class I, Zone 1 location:
1. Ignitable concentrations of flammable gases or vapors are likely to exist under normal operating
conditions.
2. Ignitable concentrations of flammable gases or vapors may exist frequently because of repair or
maintenance operations or because of leakage.
3. Equipment is operated or processes are carried on of such a nature that equipment breakdown or faulty
operations could result in the release of ignitable concentrations of flammable gases or vapors and also
cause simultaneous failure of electric equipment in a manner that would cause the electric equipment
to become a source of ignition.
4. A location that is adjacent to a Class I, Zone 0 location from which ignitable concentrations of vapors
could be communicated, unless communication is prevented by adequate positive pressure ventilation
from a source of clean air and effective safeguards against ventilation failure are provided.

Class I, Zone 2: One of the following four situations must exist in order for an area to be considered a
Class I, Zone 2 location:
1. Ignitable concentrations of flammable gases or vapors are not likely to occur in normal operation and if
they do occur will exist only for a short period.
2. Volatile flammable liquids, flammable gases or flammable vapors are handled, processed or used, but
in which the liquids, gases or vapors are normally confined within closed containers or closed systems
from which they can escape only as a result of accidental rupture or breakdown of the containers or
system or as the result of the abnormal operation of the equipment with which the liquids or gases are
handled, processed or used.
3. Ignitable concentrations of flammable gases or vapors normally are prevented by positive mechanical
ventilation, but which may become hazardous as the result of failure or abnormal operation of the
ventilation equipment.
4. A location that is adjacent to a Class I, Zone 1 location, from which ignitable concentrations of
flammable gases or vapors could be communicated, unless such communication is prevented by
 adequate positive-pressure ventilation from a source of clean air, and effective safeguards against
ventilation failure are provided.
The table below provides a comparison between the “Class, Division” System and the “Zone” System:

Hazardous Material Class, Division System Zone System

Division 1 Zone 0 and Zone 1

Gases or Vapors
Division 2 Zone 2

The frequency of occurrence determines the level of hazard for a location. The longer the material is
present, the greater the risk:

Frequency of Occurrence Class, Division System Zone System

Continuous Zone 0
Class 1, Division 1
Intermittent Periodically Zone 1

Abnormal Conditions Class 1, Division 2 Zone 2

Class II Locations
Class II hazardous locations are areas where combustible dust, rather than gases or liquids, may be
present in varying hazardous concentrations. Class II locations are further subdivided into two divisions.

Class II, Division 1: One of the following three situations must exist in order for an area to be
considered a Class II, Division 1 location:
1. Where combustible dust is present in the air under normal operating conditions in such a quantity as to
produce explosive or ignitable mixtures. This could be on a continuous, intermittent or periodic basis.
2. Where an ignitable and/or explosive mixture could be produced if a mechanical failure or abnormal
machinery operation occurs.
3. Where electrically conductive dusts in hazardous concentrations are present.

Class II, Division 2: One of following two situations must exist in order for an area to be considered a
Class II, Division 2 location:
1. Combustible dust will not normally be in suspension in the air in quantities sufficient to produce
explosive or ignitable mixtures, and dust accumulations will normally be insufficient to interfere with
the normal operation of electric equipment or other apparatus, but combustible dust may be in
suspension in the air as a result of infrequent malfunctioning of handling or processing equipment.
2. Resulting combustible dust accumulations on, in or in the vicinity of the electric equipment may be
sufficient to interfere with the safe dissipation of heat from electric equipment or may be ignitable by
abnormal operation or failure of electric equipment.

Class III Locations

Class III hazardous locations contain easily ignitable fibers or flying’s, but the concentration of these
fibers or flying’s are not suspended in the air in such quantities that would produce ignitable mixtures.
Class III locations are further subdivided into two divisions.

Class III, Division 1: Easily ignitable fibers or materials producing combustible flying’s are handled,
manufactured or used.

Class III, Division 2: Easily ignitable fibers are stored or handled, other than in the process of
manufacture.

Disaster Trends
Development and relief agencies have long recognized the important role played by data and
information in mitigating the impacts of disasters on vulnerable populations. Systematic collection and
analysis of these data provides invaluable information to governments and agencies in charge of relief
and recovery activities. It also aids the integration of health components in development and poverty
alleviation programs.

However, there is a lack of international consensus regarding best practices for collecting these data.
Together with the complexity of collecting reliable information, there remains huge variability in
definitions, methodologies, tools and sourcing.
Demographic
al Aspects
 Injuries
 Death
 Physical disability
 Burns
 Epidemic
 Weakness/uneasiness
 Physical illness
 Sanitation
 Miscarriage
 Reproductive health
 Fatigue, Loss of Sleep
 Loss of Appetite
 Loss of life
 Unemployment
 Loss of Livelihood
 Loss of property/Land
 Loss of household articles
 Loss of crops
 Loss of Public Infrastructure
 Change in individual’s role
 Disruption of social fabric
 Isolation
 Change in marital status
 Sexual abuse & domestic violence
 Orphans
 Single parent children
 Family & social disorganization
 Migration
 Life style changes
 Breakdown of traditional Social Status
 Distress
 Flash backs
 Intrusion/Avoidance
 Hatred/Revenge
 Dependence/Insecurity
 Grief/Withdrawn/Isolation
 Guilt feeling
 Hyper vigilance
 Lack of trust
 Helplessness
 Hopelessness
“A more vulnerable group is defined as
a group which has some special needs
in a disaster and cannot comfortably
or safely access; and use the
standard resources offered in disaster
preparedness, relief and recovery.”
 Includes but is not limited to :

 Women
 Children
 Oldaged
 Physically and mentally challenged
 People with critical needs
 Deteoriation of health (lack
of food and nutrition)

 Restricted mobility
prevents from taking Early
Warnings and evacuation

 Greater stress

 Perceived to be victims
rather than responders
CHILDREN
 Health
Undernourishment, malnutrition, inadequate hygiene
and sanitation

 Psychological
Fear, anxiety, Childish or regressive behavior,
difficulty in sleeping and concentrating -
Play therapy ,story telling etc

 Education
Studies discontinued, schools being used as shelters
girl children dropouts
 Increased cases of
complications and
premature delivery amongst
women (children born are weak)
 feeding of infants (stress
interferes with the release of milk in mothers
and it weakens the immune system of child)

 Children born as a
consequence of gender
based violence
AGED POPULATION
 Vulnerable
Physical Impairments
 Natural aging process
• Impaired balance (balance
disorder)
• Decreased strength
• Poor exercise tolerance
• Deterioration of sight,
hearing, smell, taste, and
touch
• Unable to hear danger signals, alarms, etc.

• Difficulty in evacuation

• Difficulty in protection

• Difficulty in getting access to relief and

compensation money

• Difficulty locating avenues of escape

• Have to face the shock of losing all that they

had attained in life
 Home
 Family
 Security
 Visually challenged

 Hearing impaired

 Physically disabled

 Mentally challenged
 Dependent on life sustaining medications
such as with HIV/AIDS, on dialysis,
epileptic, diabetes, or are dependent on
medications to control conditions and
maintain quality of life such as pain
medications, seizure control medications
etc.
 Dependency upon health care facilities &
health care professionals
 In disasters, pre-existing medical
conditions inhibit ability to function and
are aggravated by
 loss of meds
 loss of health care venues (hospitals,
dialysis centers, pharmacies) and
 loss of power to access home for
nebulizers, oxygen therapy, suction
devices, injections etc.
 Establishmechanisms to support the
more vulnerable group to access their
entitlements

 Create opportunities for them to

participate in decision making.
 Location
 Consultation
 Needs Assessment
 Educate the special populations
specifically
Do’s and don'ts in a disaster
 Awareness Generation
Encouraging community to assist
vulnerable groups and involving them in
CBDRM process
What is climate change?
Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather
patterns when that change lasts for an extended period of time (i.e.,
decades to millions of years). Climate change may refer to a change in
average weather conditions.

3
Why Climate Changes
There are both natural and
•

anthropogenic reasons of climate

change .

•Anthropogenic activities the most

dominant with an ever increasing
trend since the industrial
revolution of 1940s.

•Population growth in developing

countries, which makes about 70%
of the comity of nations, has been
too high putting an increased
pressure on fixed natural resources
and the compensation of increased
demand for food and shelter
through better socio-economic
conditions.
Temperature records of meteorological observatories (1500-2900 masl)
located in northern mountains of Pakistan from 1961 to 2010. Last
decade has shown a sharp rise. (Source: PMD
 NATURAL ACTIVITIES

 Natural Factors which influence

Climate Change have remained
constant for centuries.
 Since 1750, the average amount of
energy coming from the sun either
remained constant or increased
slightly.
 If the warming were caused by a more
active sun, then scientists would
expect to see warmer temperatures in
all layers of the atmosphere. Instead,
they have observed a cooling in the
upper atmosphere, and a warming at
the surface and in the lower parts of
the atmosphere. That's because
greenhouse gasses are trapping heat in
the lower atmosphere.