DISASTER READINESS

AND RISK REDUCTION

VAN BARRY D. PAR, MSc.
College of Arts and Sciences
BASIC CONCEPT OF
HAZARDS
• Hazard is a 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 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.
6.4 magnitude earthquake in the Southern Philippines
Tornado in Manila (2016)
Landslide in Davao City
Flooding in Manila
Indoor Fire in Sacred Heart College, Lucena City
Lava flow from Mayon Volcano
Industrial pollution in Pasig River
Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines
Forest Fire in Albay
Liquefaction in Northern Luzon
Storm surge in Manila Bay
Tsunami in Miyako City, Japan
Ground shaking Typhoon
Tornado Forest Fire
Landslide Liquefaction
Flood Storm Surge
Indoor fire Tsunami
Lava flow Extreme rainfall
Industrial pollution
 MAN-MADE AND
NATURAL HAZARDS TECHNOLOGICAL
HAZARDS

A hazard originating
from technological or
Naturally-occurring
industrial conditions,
physical phenomena
including accidents,
DEFINITION caused either by rapid
dangerous procedures,
or slow
infrastructure failures,
onset events
or specific human
Activities.
TYPES OF NATURAL
HAZARDS
BIOLOGICAL HAZARD
- process or phenomenon of organic origin or conveyed by
biological vectors/agents, including exposure to pathogenic
microorganisms, toxins and bioactive substances.
GEOLOGICAL HAZARD
- geological process or phenomenon.
HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL HAZARD
- process or phenomenon of atmospheric, hydrological or
oceanographic nature.
EXAMPLES OF HAZARDS
• Ebola Virus, flu virus, rabies

• Ballistic projectiles (Rocks from an erupting

volcano), ground shaking, landslide, lava flow,
liquefaction, tsunami

• Tornado, flood, typhoon, forest fire, tsunami

• Oil and chemical spill, forest fire, industrial

pollution
• Family in concrete house near
the highway far from river and
mountain
• Mountain climbers going up the
slope
• Exchange learners in a local
family home in the barrio near
the river
• Friends in an isolated beach
• Fishermen on the open sea
• Passengers in a jeep along a
road with moderate traffic
INTRODUCTION TO
DISASTER CONCEPTS
DISASTER AND
DISASTER RISK
• 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.

• Risk is the possibility that something bad or unpleasant (such as

injury or loss) will happen. Also, it is an interaction between
exposure to natural hazards including the adverse effects of
climate changes and the vulnerability of societies. (World Risk
Reportn, n.d.).
DISASTER RISK
FACTORS
These variables that either aggravate or mitigate the effects of hazards,
affecting the degree or scope of a disaster.
Physical factors would pertain to tangible objects or infrastructure, like the
availability of fire exits, or the sturdiness of the building, or the presence or
absence of objects that can harm you or help you, etc.
Psychological factors include state of mental capacity and health (e.g.
are we dealing with babies? Kids? Adults? People with special needs?),
perception of self (e.g. self-assessment of capability to respond to
disasters, fear), etc.
Socio-cultural factors include religion, social status, traditions, perception
by society, etc.
DISASTER RISK
FACTORS
Economic factors include assets and liabilities, income,
economic class, etc.
Political factors include government structure, diplomatic
issues, etc.
Biological factors include flora and fauna in environment,
health, diseases, etc.
Nature of Risk = Exposure (to
hazard) x Vulnerability /
Capacity to cope
Disasters are often described
as a result of the combination
of:
The exposure to a hazard;
The conditions of
vulnerability that are
present
Insufficient capacity or
measures to reduce or
cope with the potential
negative consequences.
 Rank 1 2 3
Country Vanuatu Tonga Philippines

160+ island nation in

80+ island nation in the south Pacific 7,100+ island nation in
Geography the south Pacific Ocean the west Pacific Ocean
Ocean

Total Area (Land and 300,000 sq km

Water) 12,189 sq km 747 sq km

272,264 106,501 100,998,376

Population urban population: urban population: urban population:
26.1% 23.7% 44.4%

Table 1: Top 3 Countries in terms of Disaster Risk (Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft, n.d.), Data on
geography, area, and population (Central Intelligence Agency, n,d.)
PHILIPPINES
TONGA
VANUATU
RISK FACTORS
UNDERLYING
DISASTERS
1. Severity of Exposure
The amount of exposure to the disaster is highly related to risk of
future mental problems.
At highest risks are those that go through the disaster themselves.
Next are those in close contact with victims.
At lower risk of lasting impact are those who only had indirect
exposure, such as news of the severe damage.
Injury and life threat are the factors that lead most often to
mental health problems.