DRRM Notes 3.0

Natural Disasters

Result from naturally occurring hazards and processes of the Earth. While these hazards are natural, the severity of disasters depends largely on human vulnerability, exposure, and preparedness.

1. Earthquake disasters

2. Flood disasters

3. Volcanic eruptions

4. Tropical cyclones (hurricanes/typhoons)

5. Droughts

6. Tsunamis

Examples of Natural Disasters

Widespread damage to infrastructure, livelihoods, and ecosystems

Common impacts of Natural Disasters, particularly in areas with limited disaster preparedness and risk reduction measures

Human-Induced (Man-Made) Disasters

Arise from human activities, technological failures, negligence, or conflict. These disasters are largely preventable through proper regulation, planning, and safety practices.

1. Oil spills

2. Industrial and chemical explosions

3. Environmental pollution and toxic waste incidents

4. Deforestation leading to environmental degradation

5. Armed conflicts and war-related disasters

6. Nuclear accidents

Examples of Human-Induced (Man-Made) Disasters

Long-term environmental damage and severe socio-economic impacts

Common impacts of Human-Induced (Man-Made) Disasters

Hybrid or Complex Disasters

Occur when natural hazards and human activities interact, intensifying the scale and impact of the disaster. These disasters highlight the interconnected nature of environmental, social, and technological systems.

1. A tsunami triggering a nuclear meltdown (e.g., Japan)

2. Prolonged drought leading to famine, displacement, and civil conflict

3. Climate change–induced floods and intensified storms

4. Landslides caused by heavy rainfall worsened by deforestation

Examples of Hybrid or Complex Disasters

1. Climate change

2. rapid urbanization

3. environmental degradation

4. weak governance structures

Factors why Complex Disasters are increasingly common

Types of Hazards

Refer to the nature or origin of the hazard. This approach focuses on what causes the hazard and where it comes from.

1. Natural hazards

2. Human-made or technological hazards

3. Socio-natural or hybrid hazards

Common hazard types

Natural Hazards

Arise from natural processes and phenomena of the Earth and atmosphere. Although these hazards occur naturally, their impacts depend greatly on human exposure, vulnerability, and preparedness.

Geological Hazards

Are associated with the Earth’s internal processes and surface movements.

1. Earthquakes

2. Volcanic Eruptions

3. Landslides

4. Tsunamis

Examples of Geological Hazards

Meteorological Hazards

Are linked to short-term atmospheric and weather-related processes.

1. Tropical Cyclones (Hurricanes, Typhoons, Cyclones)

2. Tornadoes

Examples of Meteorological Hazards

Hydrological Hazards

Are associated with the movement, distribution, and quality of water.

1. Floods

2. Flash Floods

3. Storm Surges

Examples of Hydrological Hazards

Climatological Hazards

Result from long-term climate variability and change.

1. Droughts

2. Heatwaves

3. Wildfires

Examples of Climatological Hazards

Biological Hazards

Originate from exposure to living organisms or their toxins.

1. Epidemics and Pandemics

2. Insect Infestations

Examples of Biological Hazards

Human-Made (Anthropogenic) Hazards

Result from human activities, technological failures, negligence, or conflict.

1. Technological Hazards

2. Environmental Hazards

3. Conflict-Related Hazards

Types of Human-Made (Anthropogenic) Hazards

1. Dam/levee failure

2. transport failure

Examples of Technological Hazards

Environmental degradation

Example of Environmental Hazards under Human-Made Hazards

1. Terrorist act

2. cyber incident

Examples of Conflict-Related Hazards

1. Regulation

2. governance

3. safety management

Measures through which Human-Made Hazards are largely preventable

Hybrid or Socio-Natural Hazards

Occur when natural hazards are intensified by human activities, increasing disaster risk.

1. Climate change is leading to more intense storms, floods, and droughts

2. Urban flooding caused by heavy rainfall combined with poor drainage and land-use planning

3. Landslides aggravated by mining and deforestation

4. Desertification caused by overgrazing and land mismanagement

Examples of Hybrid or Socio-Natural Hazards

Development choices

Influence disaster risk and demonstrate that disaster risk is socially constructed

Hazard Types

Describe the nature or origin of hazards.

Hazard Classifications

Provide a systematic way to group hazards based on impact, context, or management application.

1. Risk assessment

2. planning

3. design

4. mitigation

Purposes supported by hazard classification in DRRM

1. Site selection

2. structural design

3. construction safety

4. infrastructure resilience

5. occupational risk management

Areas where hazard classification is essential for civil engineers

Classification by Origin

Focuses on the source of the hazard, which is critical in hazard mapping and design standards.

1. Natural Hazards

2. Human-Made (Anthropogenic) Hazards

3. Socio-Natural or Hybrid Hazards

Classifications of Hazards by Origin

Natural Hazards

Arise from natural environmental processes.

1. Typhoons

2. Earthquakes

3. Tsunamis

Examples of Natural Hazards under Classification by Origin

1. Industrial fires and explosions

2. Pollution incidents

3. Dam or structural failures

Examples of Human-Made (Anthropogenic) Hazards under Classification by Origin

Socio-Natural or Hybrid Hazards

Natural hazards whose impacts are amplified by human activities.

1. Flooding worsened by deforestation

2. Landslides intensified by mining or road construction

Examples of Socio-Natural or Hybrid Hazards under Classification by Origin

Classification by Disaster Risk Impact

Groups hazards based on what they affect, supporting impact-based planning and prioritization.

1. Life and Health Hazards

2. Environmental Hazards

3. Economic Hazards

4. Social Hazards

Classifications of Hazards by Disaster Risk Impact

Life and Health Hazards

Directly threaten human survival and well-being.

1. Pandemics

2. Toxic chemical spills

Examples of Life and Health Hazards

Environmental Hazards

Cause long-term damage to ecosystems and natural resources.

1. Oil spills

2. Erosion caused by deforestation

Examples of Environmental Hazards under Disaster Risk Impact

Economic Hazards

Disrupt livelihoods, production, and economic systems.

1. Cyclones damage roads, bridges, and utilities

2. Infrastructure-related economic shutdowns

Examples of Economic Hazards

Social Hazards

Undermine social stability and community functioning.

1. Armed conflict

2. forced displacement

3. refugee crises

Examples of Social Hazards

Classification by Workplace and Occupational Context

Is especially relevant to construction sites, facilities management, and engineering workplaces, aligning DRRM with occupational safety and health (OSH).

1. Physical Hazards

2. Chemical Hazards

3. Biological Hazards

4. Ergonomic Hazards

5. Psychosocial Hazards

Classifications of Hazards by Workplace and Occupational Context

Physical Hazards

Conditions that can cause immediate physical harm.

1. Slippery floors and uneven stairs

2. Excessive noise levels (above 85 dB)

3. Exposure to extreme heat or cold

Examples of Physical Hazards

Chemical Hazards

Exposure to harmful substances.

1. Toxic chemicals (cleaning agents, pesticides)

2. Flammable materials (fuel, solvents)

3. Inhalation of fumes (carbon monoxide)

Examples of Chemical Hazards

Biological Hazards

Exposure to living organisms or biological agents.

1. Viruses and bacteria (e.g., COVID-19)

2. Mold in damp or poorly ventilated structures

3. Insect or animal vectors

Examples of Biological Hazards under Workplace and Occupational Context

Ergonomic Hazards

Poor design of workspaces and equipment causes physical strain.

1. Improper workstation design

2. Repetitive tasks

3. Heavy lifting without mechanical support

4. poorly designed stairways cause repetitive stress

Examples of Ergonomic Hazards

Psychosocial Hazards

Workplace conditions affecting mental and emotional well-being.

1. High workloads and tight deadlines

2. Harassment or bullying

3. Stress caused by unsafe or poorly maintained facilities

Examples of Psychosocial Hazards

Built Environment

Supports social and economic development, but it can also contribute to environmental degradation and climate change.

Natural Environment

Provides essential resources but also generates natural hazards that threaten lives, infrastructure, and livelihoods.

Disaster

Occurs when extreme natural events interact with exposed and vulnerable people and assets, affecting public safety and the sustainability of the built environment.

Natural Hazard

A natural process or phenomenon that may cause loss of life, injury, health impacts, property damage, disruption of livelihoods and services, or environmental damage.

1. Geophysical hazards

2. Meteorological hazards

3. Hydrological hazards

4. Climatological hazards

Natural hazards are commonly classified as

1. Earthquakes

2. landslides

3. volcanic eruptions

4. tsunamis

Examples of Geophysical Hazards

1. Tropical storms

2. winter storms

3. severe weather events

4. hail

5. tornadoes

6. local storms

Examples of Meteorological Hazards under Public Safety and Protection of Assets

1. River floods

2. flash floods

3. storm surges

4. wet mass movements (landslides)

Examples of Hydrological Hazards under Public Safety and Protection of Assets

1. Heatwaves

2. cold waves wildfires

3. droughts

Examples of Climatological Hazards under Public Safety and Protection of Assets

Earthquake Occurrence

Is difficult to predict in spite of the advancement in research in seismology.

1. The Philippines

2. Haiti

3. Indonesia

4. Japan

5. The US

6. New Zealand

Countries identified where earthquakes are a major threat

Hydro-meteorological Events

Consist of floods, tropical cyclones, and landslides triggered by rain or floods.

1. Floods

2. tropical cyclones

3. landslides triggered by rain or floods

Examples of Hydro-meteorological Events

Human emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and deforestation

Have been linked to changes in climate variables (such as temperature and precipitation) and have resulted in climate-related hazards such as greater precipitation linked to floods and storms, and especially higher temperatures linked to droughts and heat waves.

1. Greater precipitation linked to floods and storms

2. higher temperatures linked to droughts and heat waves

Climate-related hazards associated with changes in temperature and precipitation

Increased concentrations of GHGs in the atmosphere

Trap more heat on Earth and lead to a gradual increase in global average temperatures.

0.8°C above its level in the 1750s, the pre-industrial age

Increase in global average temperatures stated in the notes

Mindanao in the Philippines

Example of a region where extreme hydro-meteorological hazards were described as extremely rare

Geophysical hazards and hydro-meteorological/climate-related hazards

Hazards commonly focused on in civil engineering hazard analysis

1. Urban infrastructure

2. human health and safety

3. vulnerable communities

Areas directly impacted by geophysical and hydro-meteorological/climate-related hazards

Earthquakes

Although less frequent, can cause catastrophic structural damage and loss of life, especially in densely populated areas.

1. Floods

2. storms

3. storm surges

Examples of Hydro-meteorological Hazards

Hydro-meteorological Hazards

Are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.

Exposure and vulnerability

Conditions that must be present for natural events to become disasters

1. Urban infrastructure

2. human health and safety

3. vulnerable communities/urban poor

4. economic activity

5. agriculture and ecosystem services

Crucial social systems and urban sectors affected by natural hazards

1. Urban infrastructure

2. human health and safety

3. vulnerable communities/urban poor

Impacts related to the safety of people and the sustainability of infrastructure