What is a hazard? What is a disaster?

How are they different?

UN Photo: Aftermath of tsunami in the

Indian Ocean, 2004

UN Photo: Tropical Storm Jeanne

floods Haiti, 2004
 What is a natural hazard vs a disaster?

A natural hazard is a natural phenomenon that can

potentially trigger a disaster
Examples include earthquakes, mud-slides,
floods, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, drought
These physical events need not necessarily result in
disaster
 A disaster is a serious disruption of the functioning
of a community or a society involving widespread
human, material, economic or environmental losses
and impacts, exceeding the ability of the community
to cope using own resources
 What is risk?

The product of hazards over which we have no

control. It combines:
 the likelihood or probability of a disaster
happening
 the negative effects that result if the disaster
happens
–these are increased by vulnerabilities
(characteristics/circumstances that make one
susceptible to damaging effects of a hazard)
–and decreased by capacities (combination of
strengths, attitudes and resources)
 Terminology
Prevention: outright avoidance of the adverse affects of
hazards / disasters
Mitigation: the process of lessoning or limiting the
adverse affects of hazards / disasters
Preparedness: knowledge and capacities to effectively
anticipate, respond to and recover from impacts of likely
hazard
Risk Reduction: practice of reducing risks through
systematic efforts to analyze and manage the causal
factors of disasters, including through reduced exposure,
lessened vulnerability, improved preparedness
Response: provision of emergency services to save
lives, meet needs
 Appropriate disaster
prevention, mitigation,
preparedness and
response builds on
people’s capacities and
tackles the causes of
vulnerability
 Education in every disaster response (+ preparedness)

• Education can be life-saving and life-sustaining during

disasters

• Education is a right, even in an emergency, and key to

life with dignity

• Education is what children/parents ask for during

disasters

• Quality, relevant education contributes to development,

economic growth, peace, stability and good governance