Disaster Readiness

and Risk Reduction

I. Basic Concept of
Hazard
 HAZARD
Hazard is 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
Disaster is 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.
 What is the
difference between
HAZARD and
DISASTER?
“HAZARD is a THREAT
while DISASTER is an
EVENT”.
NATURAL HAZARD
Natural process or phenomenon
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.
TWO BROAD CATEGORIES:

1. Geophysical
2. Biological
EXAMPLE OF NATURAL
HAZARD
 Earthquakes
 Volcanic Eruption
 FLOODS/FLASHFLOODS
 LANDSLIDES
 AVALANCH
 DROUGHTS
EXAMPLE OF NATURAL
HAZARD
 Earthquakes
 Volcanic Eruption
 FLOODS/FLASHFLOODS
 LANDSLIDES
 AVALANCH
 DROUGHTS
EXAMPLE OF NATURAL
HAZARD
 DISEASE
 INFECTION
 INFESTATION
 INVASIVE SPECIES
 TECHNOLOGICAL
HAZARDS
Technological hazard originating from
technological or industrial conditions,
including accidents, dangerous
procedures, infrastructure failures or
specific human activities, that may cause
loss of life, injury, illness or other health
impacts, property damage, loss of
livelihoods and services, social and
economic disruption, or environmental
damage.
 EXAMPLE:
 industrial
pollution
 nuclear radiation
 toxic wastes
 factory explosions
 fires and chemical spills
BIOLOGICAL HAZARD
Process or phenomenon of organic origin or
conveyed by biological vectors, including
exposure to pathogenic micro-organisms,
toxins and bioactive substances that may
cause loss of life, injury, illness or other
health impacts, property damage, loss of
livelihoods and services, social and
economic disruption, or environmental
damage.
 EXAMPLE:
 outbreak of epidemic disease
 plant or animal contagion
 insect or animal plagues and
infections
 GEOLOGICAL
HAZARD
Geological hazard is an
extreme natural events in
the crust of the earth that
pose a threat to life and
property.
 EXAMPLE:
 earthquakes
 volcanic eruption
 tsunamis
 landslides
 avalanch
 droughts
HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL
HAZARD
Process or phenomenon of
atmospheric, hydrological or
oceanographic nature 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.
 EXAMPLE:

 typhoons
 hurricanes
 thunderstorms
 tornados
 blizzards
 coastal and storm surge
 heat waves and cold spells