WHAT IS A DISASTER?

LESSON 3 •“A disaster can be defined as any occurrence

that cause damage, ecological disruption,
UNDERSTANDING AND MITIGATING
NATURAL DISASTERS
loss of human life, deterioration of health
and health services on a scale, sufficient to
HOMER G. FUENTES, LPT warrant an extraordinary response from
FACULTY-IN-CHARGE outside the affected community or area”.
(W.H.O.)

WHAT IS PREVENTION? WHAT IS A DISASTER? (CONT’D)

•Defined as those actions taken to prevent a •Commonly encountered disasters:

natural phenomenon or potential hazard •Earthquakes
from having harmful effects on either people •Industrial accidents
or economic assets. •Oil-spills
•Forest-fires
•Terrorist activities

PREVENTION PLANNING IS BASED ON

T YPES OF DISASTER
T WO ISSUES:
• Natural Disaster
•HAZARD IDENTIFICATION • Occur as the result of action of the natural forces and tend to be accepted as
unfortunate, but inevitable
•Identifying the actual threats facing a community • Result from forces of climate and geology

•VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT • Primary Natural Disasters:

• Earthquake
•Evaluating the risk and capacity of a community • Volcanoes
• Floods
to handle the consequences of the disaster • Tornadoes
• Tsunami

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T YPES OF DISASTER (CONT’D)
•Technological or Manmade Disaster
• Result from some human activities explosions, fires,
the release of toxic chemicals or radioactive
materials, bridge or building collapse, nuclear
reactor accidents, gas, deforestation, war, etc.
• unpredictable, can spread across geographical
areas, may be unpreventable and may have limited
physical damage but long-term effect
OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS OF DISASTER
•Sudden-onset disaster
• Include floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical
storms, volcanic eruptions and landslides. Sudden-
onset disasters occur swiftly and often without any
warning.
OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS OF DISASTER
(CONT’D)
• Slow-onset disasters
• Include droughts, famine, environmental degradation,
deforestation and desertification.
• Industrial/Technological disasters
• Result from a society’s of industrial and technological
activities that lead to pollution, spillage, explosions, and
fire. They may occur because of poor planning and from
neglect of safety procedures
OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS OF DISASTER
(CONT’D)
•Complex emergencies
• Are usually man-made, with multiple contributing
factors. They often follow wars between states,
internal conflict and increasing terrorist acts.
•Epidemic diseases
• Are those diseases that normally do not occur in
stable communities but have the potential to spread
under certain conditions.
PHASES OF DISASTER
1. Pre-emergency phase - the period before the
disaster strikes may be used to assess how often a
particular community is exposed to different risks
and how good is their preparedness.
2. Impact and flight phase - when a disaster strikes.
The hazard (fire, earthquake, floods, etc.) may
trigger the displacement of large number of people
from their homes.
PHASES OF DISASTER (CONT’D)
3. Acute phase - begins immediately after the
impact of the disaster and marked by
intense, often reactive activities by many
humanitarian agencies responding to
media reports of very high death rate (may
be 5-60 times the normal death rate).
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 PHASES OF DISASTER (CONT’D)
4. Post Emergency phase - the population
movement usually slows down. This
enables critical services to be properly
established and maintained.
PHASES OF DISASTER (CONT’D)
5. Repatriation Phase - after the emergency situation
is over, displaced people are expected to return to
their place of origin either on their own or with the
help of relief agencies. Repatriation may be either
forced or voluntary.
6. Rehabilitation phase - once permanent solution is
obtained, the focus shifts from relief to
development. The aim is to help the affected
community become self-reliant.
PHASES OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT
•Disaster Preparedness
•Disaster Impact
•Disaster Response
•Rehabilitation
•Disaster Prevention
and Mitigation
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
•Evaluation from past experiences about risk
•Location of disaster prone areas
•Organization of communication, information
and warning system
•Ensuring coordination and response
mechanisms
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS (CONT’D)
•Development of public education programme
•Coordination with media
•National and International relations
•Keeping stock of foods, drug and other
essential commodities
DISASTER PREVENTION AND MITIGATION
•A function of emergency management
•Main purpose is to save lives, preserve the
environment and protect properties and
economy.
• Disaster prevention: Being prepared, providing
immediate response
• Mitigation: Provides critical foundation for
emergency
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 DISASTER PREVENTION
•Action which this segment is designed to
impede the occurrence of a disaster event
and/or prevent such an occurrence having
harmful effects on communities or key
installations.
MITIGATION
•Action within this segment usually takes the
form of specific programs intended to reduce
the effects of disaster on a nation or a
community.
MITIGATION (CONT’D)
•“Primary” Mitigation:
•Reducing the PRESENCE of the Hazard
•Reducing Vulnerability
•“Secondary” Mitigation:
•Reducing the EFFECTS of the Hazard
(Preparedness)
PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES OF MITIGATION
•“Save lives”
•Reduce economic disruption
•Decrease vulnerability/increase capacity
•Decrease chance/level of conflict
RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT
•Systematic process of using administrative
decisions, organization, operational skills
and capacities to implement policies,
strategies and coping capacities of the
society and communities.
•It involves the formulation of strategies and
Plans, Programs and Activities (PPAs)
THE PHILIPPINE DRRM
•Disaster legislation in the Philippines dates back
in 1978, primarily reactive approach to
disasters, focusing heavily on preparedness and
response.
•The Republic Act No. 10121 was approved on
May 27, 2010, and the Implementing Rules and
Regulations was crafted by the Task Force RA
10121 headed by the OCD.
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 REFERENCE

•Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction -

Pocholo T. Arabit.Publisher: Rex Book Store.
2023

THANK
YOU.