Disaster from

Different
Perspective
 A disaster is a result of a vast
ecological breakdown in the relation between
humans and their environment; a serious or
sudden event on such a scale that the stricken
community needs extraordinary efforts to
cope with it, often with outside help or
international aid.
Disaster is analyzed from
different perspective as
follows:
 PHYSICAL
From PERSPECTIVE
this view disaster is defined as a
phenomenon that can cause damage to
physical elements such as buildings,
infrastructures, including people and their
properties, e.g. houses and environment
sources of living.
Physical effects are most visible and
quantifiable effects of a
disaster.
In assessing the aftermath of a
disaster, physical damages are
essentially considered in data
recording.
 Assessment of disaster is
focused on the following common
questions:
How many families are
affected?
(displament, injury, death)
How many houses are damaged or washed out?
(in case of super typhoon)

How many roads, bridges, dams and other

infrastructures are damaged?
(in case of floods, lahar flows and earthquakes)

What is the extent of damage in agricultural

industry?
(crop losses, damaged fish cages, washed out rice field
 PSYCHOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVE
Psychological research has shown that disasters can
cause serious mental health consequences for victims.
These consequences take form of Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and a variety of other
disorders and symptoms which has been less
investigated. The more stress, defined in a variety of
ways, within the disaster, the more likely there are to be
emotional consequences.
 Psychological context disaster is regarded as an
occurrence involving an unexpected or uncontrollable
event rather than long-term experience. In other words,
a disaster is something that could happen within a
hazard rather than the hazard itself.
Hence, one very important component of the
recovery phase, aside from relief services is debriefing
or psychological support system.