Disaster and Disaster Risk: Basic 2.
Man-made Disasters
Concept, Risk Factors and Effects
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.
Disaster
-A sudden calamitous event bringing great
damage, loss, or destruction (Merriam
Webster)
-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. (FOA 2008)
-Disasters are often a result of the
combination of the exposure to hazard
(conditions of vulnerability that are present)
and insufficient capacity or measures to
reduce or cope with the potential negative
consequences.
-A disaster happens when the probable
destructive agent (the hazard) hits a
vulnerable populated area.
Hazard vs. Disaster
 A hazard is a dangerous situation or event
that carries a threat to humans. A disaster is
an event that harms humans and disrupts the
operations of society. Hazards can only be
considered disasters once it affected humans.
If a disaster happened in an unpopulated
area, it is still a hazard.
Classifications of Disaster
1. Natural Disasters
A natural phenomenon is caused by natural
forces, such as earthquakes, typhoon, volcanic
eruptions, hurricanes, fires, tornados, and extreme
temperatures.
TYPES OF NATURAL DISASTER
 Geophysical - earthquakes, landslides,
tsunamis and volcanic activity
 Hydrological - avalanches and floods
 Climatological - extreme temperatures,
drought and wildfires
 Meteorological - cyclones and storms/wave
surges
 Biological – disease epidemics and
insect/animal plagues
Caused by man are those in which major direct
causes are identifiable intentional or non-intentional
human actions.
Subdivision of Man-made Disaster
1. Technological/Industrial disasters - Unregulated
industrialization and inadequate safety standards
increase the risk for industrial disasters.
EXAMPLE: leaks of hazardous materials; accidental
explosions; bridge or road collapses, or vehicle collisions;
Power cuts
2. Terrorism/Violence - the threat of terrorism has
also increased due to the spread of technologies
involving nuclear, biological, and chemical agents
used to develop weapons of mass destruction.
EXAMPLE: bombs or explosions; release of chemical
materials; release of biological agents; release of
radioactive agents; multiple or massive shootings; mutinies
3. Complex humanitarian emergencies - used to
describe the humanitarian emergency resulting from
an international or civil war. In such situations, large
numbers of people are displaced from their homes
due to the lack of personal safety and the disruption
of basic infrastructure including food distribution,
water, electricity, and sanitation, or communities are
left stranded and isolated in their own homes unable
to access assistance.
EXAMPLE: conflicts or wars and Genocide (deliberate killing
of a large group of people especially those of a particular
ethnic group or nation)
Risk – is defined as “the combination of the
probability of an event and its negative consequences”
(UNISDR, 2009). It is the possibility that something
bad or unpleasant (such as an injury or a loss) will
happen (Merriam-Webster). It is also defined as “the
combination of the probability of an event and its
negative consequences” (UNISDR, 2009)
Disaster Risk - is the probability of a harmful
consequences or expected losses (deaths, injuries,
livelihood, assets and services) resulting from the
interactions between natural or human-induced
hazards and vulnerable conditions.
- Potential disaster losses, in lives, health status,
livelihoods, assets, and services which could occur in a
community or society over some specified future time
period. When more people encroach (INTRUDE) on
hazardous areas and urban centers continue to grow
along the path of hazard events, the magnitude of
disaster is expected to increase.It is the product of the
possible damage caused by a hazard) in lives, health
status, livelihoods, assets, and services which could
occur in a community or society over some specified
future time period
ELEMENTS OF DISASTER RISK
Disaster risk can also be determined with the
presence of three elements
1. Hazard – a potentially dangerous physical
occurrence, phenomenon or human activity
that may result in loss of life or injury,
property damage, social and economic
disruption, or environmental degradation.
2. Vulnerability – the state of being at risk;
susceptibility to damage.
-is defined as the characteristics and
circumstances of a community, system or
resource that make it susceptible to the
damaging effects of a hazard.
(RA No. 10121 Philippine Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Act of 2010)
3. Exposure – refers to the degree to which a
community is likely to experience hazard
events of different magnitude.
- they are the elements at risk (human
population, physical structure like buildings,
houses)
Ex: People living in the areas that gets flooded
easily during typhoons; People living at the
foot of the mountains where landslides are a
common thing
Capacity (in the Context of DRRM)
Is the capability and coping ability of schools,
households and communities to manage when
disaster hits.
Disaster Risk Equation
RISK ASSESSMENT:
VULNERABILITY – negative effects
X -Altering the frequency and intensity of
EXPOSURE – elements at risk
X -Changing exposure pattern
HAZARD – presence of a threat
= 
RISK
HOW CAN DISASTERS BE MINIMIZED?
-Through reduction of exposure and vulnerability
-Mitigation & preparedness measures
MAGNITUDE OF THE DISASTER DEPENDS ON:
1. Severity of the natural event
2. Quantity of exposure of the elements at risk
(lives & properties)
3. Vulnerability level or Quality of Exposure
RISK FACTORS UNDERLYING DISASTER
Risk factors that increases the risk for
disaster:
1. Severity of exposure - measures
those who experience disaster first-
hand has the highest risk: who is
more exposed to the hazard
Example: Covid-19
1st Hand – the patient with covid and its
family
2nd Hand – medical people
2. Gender and Family - the female
gender suffers more adverse effects.
This worsens when children are
present at home. Marital
relationships are placed under strain.
Example: How big is the family? How
many olds and children are there in the
family? Seniors and Children are prone to
diseases.
3. Age - adults in the age range of 40-60
are more stressed after disasters but
in general, children exhibit more
stress after disasters than adults do.
4. Economic status of country -
evidence indicates that severe mental
problems resulting from disasters are
more prevalent in developing
countries like the Philippines.
Furthermore, it has been observed
that natural disasters tend to have
more adverse effects in developing
countries than do man-caused
disasters in developed countries.
Other Factors may cause disasters
 Climate Change
hazard
Ex: Drought, Frequent and stronger typhoons
Environmental Degradation
-Changes to the environment can influence
the frequency and intensity of hazards, as well
as our exposure and vulnerability to these
hazards.
Ex: Deforestation, Removal of Mangroves
 Globalized Economic Development results in
an increased division between the rich and
poor on a global scale. When the country is
poor and can’t support measure for mitigating
ways for possibility of disaster, they have
more chances that they will be affected.

 Poverty & inequality
-Poor people are more likely to live in hazard-
exposed areas and are less able to invest in
risk-reducing measures. People, poverty, and
disaster risks are increasingly concentrated in
cities. The growing rate of urbanization and
the increase in population density (in cities)
can lead to creation of risk, especially when
urbanization is rapid, poorly planned and
occurring in a context of widespread poverty.
 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.
Disaster risk is disproportionately
concentrated in lower-income countries with
weak governance.
Disaster Risk Factors
are variables that either worsen or lessen the
effects of hazards, affecting the degree of
scope of the disaster.
1. Physical factors would pertain to
tangible objects or infrastructure, like the
availability of fire exits, or the sturdiness of
the building, or the presence or absence of
objects that can harm you or help you, etc.
2. Psychological factors include state of
mental capacity and health
3. Socio-cultural factors include religion,
social status, traditions, perception by society,
etc.
4. Economic factors include assets and
liabilities, income, economic class, etc.
5. Political factors include government
structure, diplomatic issues, LGU, etc.
6. Biological factors include flora and
fauna in environment, health, diseases, etc.
Disaster Risk Reduction can be Minimized
through:
 Reduction of Exposure
 Mitigation
 Prepareness measures
Effects of Natural and Man-Made Disasters:
 Displaced populations
 Health Risks
 Food Scarcity
 Emotional aftershocks
Different Perspectives of Disaster,
Vulnerability & Vulnerability in Disaster
1. Physical perspective
-Natural disasters generally affect the physical
infrastructural facilities, agricultural
productivity and even lead to loss of life and
cause damage to property.
Factors influence the effects of a
disaster
1. Magnitude of the disaster
2. Geography of the area affected
3. The recovery efforts directed towards
reducing the immediate effects of a
disaster
Effects:
• Physical infrastructural facilities
• Agricultural productivity
• Loss of life
• Damage to property
2. Psychological perspective
-Disasters are mostly unpredictable, which
leave the victims in a state of shock. They may
suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD) and other serious mental health
conditions.
-Factors which lead to the psychological
vulnerabilities: Displacement of the family,
death of a loved one, socio-economic loss,
environmental loss, and lack of mental
preparedness for disaster, disruption in the
family bond, lack of social support and
negative coping skills
3. Socio-cultural perspective
-Filipinos are generally known as “matiisin”,
resourceful, helpful, optimistic, and prayerful.
These characteristics are manifested in the
country’s recent fight against COVID19.Due to
the National Health Emergency, Enhanced
Community Quarantine (ECQ) prevailed in the
whole country. A lot of people temporarily
lost their jobs, some people stranded in
different regions, repatriated OFWs were held
in different quarantine facilities in Metro
Manila, and all people were restricted to go
out of their homes for months. As a result,
most Filipino families would rely on
government’s help for them to get by.
However, limited resources and aids from the
government make people find possible ways
to survive amid the pandemic.
Socio-Cultural Effect of Disasters
• Change in individual roles
• Disruption of social relationships and
personal connections

4. Economic perspective
-Disasters affect the economic condition of a
community because they reduce local and
international trade. It can also partially or
totally paralyze a country’s transportation
system, just like what happened in the
COVID19 pandemic. Implementation of a
partial and total shut down of local business
operations result to a lot of people losing
means of living.
• Loss of life
• Unemployment
• Loss of property
• Loss of crops
• Loss of public infrastructure
5. Political perspective
-Agencies of government have a significant
role to play in directing disaster preparedness,
prevention and recovery, social systems
establish vulnerability to natural disasters and
governments are often considered to be
responsible for the disaster effects.
Political Effects of a Disaster
• People who have trust in political institution
will assess the government’s risk assessments
as credible and accept their hazard policies
• Low level of trust in public institutions
therefore means that citizens may ignore the
recommendations and disregard the
information provided by these institutions
• If individuals are confident that they will
receive sufficient aid from the government
when a disaster occurs, they might not be
motivated to take measures on their own
• The disturbing effects caused by a prevalent
kind of disease or virus in an epidemic or
pandemic level are known as biological
disaster.
(a) Epidemic Level: Biological disaster affects
large numbers of people within a given
community or area. Ex: Dengue.
(b) Pandemic Level: Biological disaster affects
a much large region, sometime spanning
entire continents or the globe. Ex. Swine Flue
6. Biological perspective
Effects of Biological Disasters
• Loss of lives
• Unemployment
• Public demobilization
• Hunger
Vulnerability
• State of being at risk
• Degree of loss to a given element at risk at a
certain severity level
• Situation specific
• Need to assess the vulnerability levels of
areas of the Philippines that are exposed to
Earthquake, Volcanic and
Hydrometeorological Hazard events
Why is there a need to assess vulnerability?
 To prepare for the hazard and the amount
and type of resources they have in order
prevent and manage it.
Factors affecting vulnerability of one’s
community
• Population Density
• Capacity & Efficiency of the community
Vulnerabilities of Different Elements,
Effects of Hazard, Exposure and
Vulnerability to Disaster Risks, Hazard & Its
Types
• What is vulnerability?
 The characteristics and circumstances
of a community, system or resource
that make it susceptible to the
damaging effects of a hazard.
 As indicated by UNISDR, “there are
many aspects of vulnerability arising
from various physical, social,
environmental and economic factors”.
• VULNERABILITIES OF DIFFERENT ELEMENTS
-Are determined due to its exposure to particular and
specific hazard.
1. PHYSICAL
2. SOCIAL
3. ECONOMIC
4. ENVIRONMENTAL
1. PHYSICAL - includes population density
levels, place of a settlement, the site
design, and materials used for
infrastructure and housing.
Ex:
-Decreased in population density in Baguio during the
1990 earthquake in North Luzon where a lot of people
were injured and died.
-UP Visayas buildings were totally destroyed during the
super typhoon Yolanda in 2008 leaving the structure
totally
 2. SOCIAL - happens due to inability of
people, organization, and societies to
withstand severe effects from hazards
because of the expected behavior in social
interactions, institutions, and system of
cultural values.
Ex:
-During typhoon, the line of communications were cut
off when cell sites shutdown or disruption of transport
system due to inability of small vehicles to pass through
the flooded areas or unpassable roads and bridges.
With some difficulties in the delivery of services such as
relief goods and medicines, a lot of problems occurred
like shortage of food and spread of infectious diseases.
Therefore, when social elements were
exposed to hazard, these may lead to
disruption of normal processes and activities
in the community.
3. ECONOMIC -based on the economic
status of individuals, communities, and
nations. The poorer the country the more
it is vulnerable.
Ex: Philippines is more vulnerable to an event such as
earthquake compared to Japan. Though both countries
are exposed to earthquake hazard because both are
located in the Pacific ring of fire, but due to differences
in economic status, Japan is more resilient because of
its ability to afford changes in architectural and
engineering designs of building and infrastructures to
make them less vulnerable to earthquake.
4. ENVIRONMENTAL - caused by natural
resources depletion and destruction.
Organisms like humans, animals, and plants are all
dependent on the environment for survival.
Human activities like deforestation, burning of
fossil fuels, and kaingin affect the natural abilities
of the environment to protect itself from any
natural hazard due to absence of trees which may
cause landslide and flashfloods. Sometimes the
effects are irreversible.
Why Philippines is vulnerable to natural
disaster?
• The Philippines lies in the typhoon belt (Ave.
20/yr)
• Rugged (Uneven) nature of landscape
(Landslide)
• Archipelagic country with many small islands
• Many areas are at below sea level (Flooding)
• One of the longest coastlines in the world
(Storm surge)
• Agricultural and Fishing economy (Affected
livelihood)
• Poor institutional and societal capacity to
manage , respond and recover from natural
hazard
• Volcanic Eruptions
VULNERABILITIES OF DIFFERENT ELEMENTS
Quantifying vulnerability - is used in
estimating how much mitigation and
preparedness measures will be applied.
Computation is based on the previous hazard
events and severity of their effects.
Vulnerability can be expressed as: 0 = lowest
degree of vulnerability and 1 as the highest
degree. Vulnerability of people is the ratio of
casualties or injured to the total population.
Vulnerability of buildings is expressed as a repair
cost or degree of damage.
Hazards, Exposure, and Vulnerabilities
from Actual Situations
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.
Elements include the individuals, households or
communities, properties, buildings and structures,
agricultural commodities, livelihoods, and public
facilities, infrastructures and environmental assets
present in an area that are subject to potential
damage or even losses.
The more a community is exposed to hazard
factors, the higher is the disaster risk or higher
chance disaster occurrence.
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.
Exposure and vulnerability are distinct. A certain
community can be exposed but it does not mean
that it is vulnerable.
Ex: Buildings and structures in Japan are exposed to
earthquake, but they are not vulnerable since their
architectural and engineering designs are earthquake
proof or resistant. However, to become vulnerable, it
must be exposed to hazard first.
Exposure to hazard can make a community
vulnerable. But not all communities that are
exposed to hazard can be considered vulnerable.
Vulnerability depends on the preparedness and
readiness to a hazard of the community. It
depends mostly on how they mitigate, respond,
and recover. If a certain community has the ability
to reduce the vulnerability by reducing the risk,
the said community is already considered as less
vulnerable or resilient.
Disaster mitigation measures are those that
eliminate or reduce the impacts and risks of
hazards by means of proactive measures taken
before an emergency or disaster takes place.
Mitigation is the action of reducing something's
severity, seriousness, or painfulness.
Types of Hazard
1. Natural hazards
- arise from natural processes in the environment.
e.g. earthquakes, tsunami, landslides, volcanic
eruptions and floods
2. Quasi-Natural hazards
- arise through the interaction of natural
processes
and human activities
e.g. pollution or desertification, smog and fog
3. Technological hazards
- arise directly as a result of human activities.
e.g. accidental release of chemicals, toxic
substances and pesticides to flora and fauna
Different Impacts of Hazards
General Impact Themes
1. Danger to life which includes physical and
psychological harm and diseases
2. Denial of access like energy, water,
communication, and transport access
3. Damage to the physical environment like
buildings and land
1. Physical impact
- Physical injuries (bone fracture, wounds, bruises)
- Destruction and loss of vital infrastructure like
transportation system, roads, bridges, power lines
and communication lines.
- Wide-spread destruction of housing and
buildings
2. Psychological impact
- Grief and psychological illness
- Marital conflict
- Depression due to loss of loved ones and
properties
- Chronic anxiety
3. Socio - cultural impact
- Displacement of population
- Loss of cultural identity
- Forced of adoption of new sets of culture
- Ethnic conflicts
4. Economic impact
- Loss of job due to displacement
- Loss of harvest and livestock
- Loss of farms, fish cages and other source of
food
- Loss of money and other valuables
5. Environmental impact
- Loss of forest due to forest fires
- Loss of fresh water due to salination
- Disturbance of biodiversity
- Loss of natural rivers
6. Biological impact
- Epidemic to people, flora, and fauna
- Chronic and permanent illness caused by
biological agents
- Proliferation of different viral diseases
Identification of Hazards and Risk Assessment
Hazard identification is the process of
determining all physical and nonphysical agents in
the workplace or specific environment.
Risk assessment is a way to determine which
hazards and risks should prioritized by taking into
consideration the probability and severity of
impact.
Steps in Hazard Identification and Risk
Assessment
1. Identify the hazards
Use the following methods:
a. Observation - use your senses of sight, hearing,
smell and touch - combined with knowledge and
experience.
b. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) - obtain
them from manufacturers and suppliers. It gives
information on possible harm from hazardous
substances and precautions that need to be
taken.
c. Hazard and risk surveys - interview other
people about their safety concerns as far as the
workplace is concerned. Utmost consideration
should be given to children or visitors who could
be at risk.
d. Discussion groups - are useful for identifying
hazards and recommending solutions.
e. Safety audits – a committee must be assigned
to periodically check safety in the area.
Assess the Risk
Once a hazard has been identified, the likelihood
and possible severity of injury or harm will need
to be assessed before determining how best to
minimize the risk.
High-risk hazards need to be addressed more
urgently than low- risk ones.

2. Make the changes

Once risks are assessed, the next step is to make
decision for some necessary changes. These
changes include removing the hazard and
replacing it with something less hazardous,
engineering modifications, etc.

3. Checking the changes made

To make sure risk has been minimized, and a
further hazard has not been created, the new
safety measures may need to be carefully tested
before work begins again. Risk assessment
doesn’t end with making changes. It is essential
that these changes made are monitored and
checked. It must be monitored if the changes
done are being followed consistently and if these
changes contribute to the improvement of safety
management in the workplace.
This last step has to be done periodically to
accurately assess the effectiveness of the entire
process.