Disaster and Its

Effect
A Closer Look: When a Disaster Strikes
A Closer Look: When a Disaster
Strikes
 The Philippines will never be free form
hazards due to its location
 Being located in the tropics and within the
“Pacific Ring of Fire” means that the
Philippines constantly faces seismic, volcanic
and hydrometeorological hazards
 Even as the population increases, only few
are informed
Concept of Disaster

 A disaster, as defined by the United Nations

Office for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), 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.
Concept of Disaster

 Asian Disaster Preparedness

Center – ADPC (2012) defined
disaster as “a sudden, calamitous
event, bringing great damage, loss,
destruction and devastation to life
and property”
Concept of Disaster

 its origin can be natural

(earthquakes, floods, and
hurricanes)
 Or it can be of human origin
(explosions, nuclear accidents and
terrorist acts)
Concept of Disaster

 Disaster may also be viewed

as the struggles and
challenges they face in
getting their lives back to
normal.
Concept of Disaster

 When communities are

situated in places where they
cannot protect themselves
with the resources they have,
they become VULNERABLE
 Effects of Natural
Disasters on Human
Life
Displaced Population

 Most immediate effect

 When a certain place is ravaged by
earthquake or other powerful forces
of nature like floods and super
typhoons, many people have to
abandon their homes and seek
shelter in other regions
Health Risks

 Aside from the obvious immediate danger

that natural disasters present, the secondary
effects can be as damaging.
 Severe flooding can result in stagnant
water that allows breeding of water
borne bacteria and dengue-causing
mosquitos
Food Scarcity

 After natural disasters, food often becomes

scarce
 Thousands of people around the world go
hungry as a result of destroyed crops and loss
of agricultural supplies.
 As a result, food prices rise, reducing families’
purchasing power and increasing the risk of
severe malnutrition
Emotional Aftershocks

 Natural disasters can be particularly traumatic for

young children
 Confronted with scenes from destruction and the
deaths of friends and loved ones, many children
develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
 PTSD is a serious psychological condition resulting
from extreme trauma
 Left untreated, children suffering from PTSD can be
prone to lasting psychological damage and emotional
distress.