DISASTER READINESS AND RISK REDUCTION REVIEWER.docx

Disaster

A sudden, catastrophic event that causes significant disruption, damage, and loss of life, occurring when a hazard interacts with exposure and vulnerability.

Hazard

A natural or human-made event that has the potential to cause harm, such as typhoons, earthquakes, or chemical spills.

Exposure

The people, property, and environment that are at risk of being affected by a hazard.

Vulnerability

The inability of a community or system to withstand or cope with a hazard.

Disaster Risk

The potential loss of lives, injuries, property, and economic damage due to a hazard.

Risk Assessment

A process to identify and analyze the potential impact of hazards on people, infrastructure, and the environment.

Factors Determining the Magnitude of a Disaster

Severity of the hazard, level of exposure, and degree of vulnerability.

Disaster Risk Formula

Disaster Risk = Hazard × Exposure × Vulnerability.

Physical Impact of Disasters

Includes deaths, injuries, and destruction of buildings and homes.

Social Exposure

Population density, health systems, and migration trends that can increase risk.

Economic Vulnerability

Lack of resources in poor households for disaster preparedness, leading to significant impacts during disasters.

Measuring Vulnerability

Expressed as a value between 0 and 1, representing the degree of vulnerability of a community or structure.

Essential Facilities at Risk

Includes hospitals, schools, and government offices that are critical for community safety and management during disasters.