Achieving

sustainable
development
through disaster
risk
management

Topic 3.1
Key points

• What does disaster risk management refer to [prevention, reduction,

management]
• What are disaster risks and losses and how can they be categorised
• Why should you reduce disaster risk
What is Tectonic disaster risk?

• Potential damage to properties, injuries and loss of lives from a

disaster in a given period.
What is disaster risk management [DRM]?

• DRM strengthens resilience as it enables communities to resist,

adapt and recover from impacts in a timely and efficient manner
• Plans and actions that are put in place to:
i. Prevent disaster before the occurrences of tectonic hazards
[preparedness measures]
ii. Reduce disaster risk as tectonic hazard occurs [preparedness
measures during event]
iii. Manage disaster risk after the occurrences of tectonic hazards
[responses to event]
i. Prevent disaster before
the occurrences of
tectonic hazards

• Strategies include designing

hazard-resistant buildings

Example: Taipei 101

• Skyscraper built in an earthquake
prone zone
• Weighted damper near the top to
balance out ground shaking from
earthquakes
• Reduces the sway therefore
reducing threat of collapsing
Taipei 101: Structural design Explained
 • Strategies include tsunami warning systems and
ii. Reduce disaster risk as earthquake early monitoring and warning systems
tectonic hazard occurs • Help to allow timely evacuation and reduce potential
loss of lives
Tsunami Warning System
iii. Manage disaster risk after
the occurrences of tectonic
hazards

• Strategies include
insurance coverage
which offers financial
payouts to rebuild
damaged properties
• Brings quicker
recovery from impacts
 How do disaster risk and losses hinder
development

• There can be serious environmental, social and economic

consequences for both individuals and countries
• Such consequences may hinder the development of countries
➢Channeling of money from area of development to rebuilding efforts
can slow developments in other areas, especially LDCs where need for
development is highest and scarce funding
➢Poverty reduction progress may be affected as standard of living drops,
and they lose their source of income
Categorizing disaster risks and losses
consequences

Environmental Social Economic

consequences consequences consequences
 Environmental Consequences

• Tectonic hazards such as landslides caused by volcanic eruption or

can bury huge areas of forests and wetlands.
• Destroy ecosystems and causing biodiversity loss
• Debris may pollute rivers, killing aquatic lives
• Debris may block the river causing floods that can damage nearby
ecosystems.
 Social Consequences

• Tectonic hazards such as Tsunamis can result in injuries and loss of

lives
• Homeless people resort to temporary shelters which lacks
sanitation and has poor standards of living
• Water may be contaminated after sea water infiltrates inland water
supplies causing spread of diseases such as cholera
• Psychological trauma may exist from the loss of homes and loved
ones. Constant threat of losing lives or being harmed can affect
mental well-being
 Economic Consequences

• Tectonic hazards can cause destruction of properties and

infrastructure
• Cost to rebuild and repair can be highly costly
• Loss of incomes by businesses while rebuilding period
• Government to re-invest money from other areas of development to
rebuild damages
How do disaster risk and losses hinder
development
• Countries who are highly
dependent on tourism will also be
heavily affected
• The damage to their infrastructure,
facilities and amenities.
• Resulting in loss of revenue for the
people and government
“Tourist numbers were
stable at about 900,000
visitors a year prior to the
tsunami, down to slightly
over 250,000 visitors a
year in its aftermath’
- Source
International Journal of Disaster Risk
Science
Example: How disaster risk and losses can
hinder development growth
2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
• Aceh, Indonesia saw the proportion of
people living below poverty line
increase from 30% to 50%
• Loss house, income and jobs after
tsunami
E.g. contamination of water sources will
affect farmers and fisherman
“The Indonesian province of Aceh,
with a population of 4.2 million, had
an estimated 250,000 unemployed
people before the Tsunami hit the
island of Sumatra. After the disaster, it
is estimated that an additional 600,000
people lost their jobs.”
- International Labour Organisation,
2005
Why is it important to reduce disaster risks?

• Important for disaster-prone developing countries because

➢Consequences can be severe and hinder development
➢Often disproportionately affected by tectonic hazard as they lack
capacity and funding to adequately manage and reduce disaster risk
➢Include technological capabilities and skills / knowledge
Example: Haiti, 2010
[LDC]

• Mw 7.0
• Most of the city was destroyed
• Lacked finances to invest in
earthquake-resistant buildings
• Leading to many collapsed
buildings
• Death of over 220,000 people
Example: Tohuku,
Japan, 2011 [DC]

• Mw 9.0
• Lower death toll of 19,000
deaths
• Despite higher Mw than Haiti,
Japan had more earthquake-
resistant buildings
• While Tsunami caused the
most damaged, the financial
stability of Japan allowed for
them to recover better
Why is it important to reduce disaster risks?

• However, there are developing countries that manage to reduce

disaster risk through investment and planning
• Limiting disaster risk is cost-effective investment in prevention of
future losses – sustainable development
• These investment considered small VS the actual losses from a
tectonic hazard
• Less losses > money to rebuild is saved > development gain
achieved > sustainable development
Example: Chile, 2010

• Mw 8.8
• Resulted in lower casualty count of 500 and damage to buildings
• Compared to Haiti 2010, with Mw of 7.0
• Chile has modern earthquake-resistant building despite being a
developing country as well.
• Investments will help manage future losses > sustainable
development