Disaster Risk Reduction Lecture Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing core terms, definitions, and perspectives related to hazards, disasters, vulnerability, and exposure from the lecture notes.

Hazard

A threat or harm that has the potential to cause damage to people or communities.

Disaster

An event causing widespread human, economic, and environmental losses that seriously disrupt normal community functioning.

Disaster Risk

The likelihood that a community will experience a disaster, influenced by location and conditions.

Natural Disasters

Devastating outcomes resulting from natural hazards such as earthquakes or typhoons.

Man-made (Technological) Disasters

Destruction arising from human-caused hazards, e.g., bomb explosions or industrial accidents.

Primary Effects

Direct consequences of a disaster itself, e.g., flooding caused by a typhoon.

Secondary Effects

Situations resulting from primary effects, such as power and water outages after flooding.

Tertiary Effects

Long-term consequences felt sometime after a disaster, e.g., loss of livelihood due to ruined farmland.

Physical Perspective (on Disasters)

Focuses on altered or removed structures and changes to the landscape and accessibility of an area.

Psychological Perspective (on Disasters)

Examines emotional, cognitive, and interpersonal reactions to difficulties caused by a disaster.

Sociocultural Perspective (on Disasters)

Centers on how people—victims or not—respond to emergency situations.

Economic Perspective (on Disasters)

Concerns disruptions to economic activities and livelihoods.

Political Perspective (on Disasters)

Considers government actions to prevent, prepare for, and reduce disaster losses.

Biological Perspective (on Disasters)

Takes into account potential outbreaks of infectious diseases following a disaster.

Vulnerability (General)

Conditions that increase the susceptibility of individuals, communities, assets, or systems to hazard impacts.

Vulnerability (IFRC Definition)

The diminished capacity of an individual or group to anticipate, cope with, resist, and recover from a hazard’s impact.

Vulnerability (UNDRR Definition)

The characteristics and circumstances of a community, system, or asset that make it susceptible to hazard damage.

Key Factors in Assessing Vulnerability

Proximity to hazards, population density, capacity and efficiency to reduce risk, and adequacy of building codes and policies.

Exposure

The situation of people, infrastructure, housing, and other assets located in hazard-prone areas.

Measures of Exposure

Quantitative counts of people or assets in a hazard area, combined with vulnerability and capacity to estimate risk.

Physical Elements (Exposed to Hazards)

Tangible items such as landscapes, inhabitants, and buildings located in hazard zones.

Socioeconomic Elements (Exposed to Hazards)

Institutional and governmental systems that shape well-being and lifestyles, including communication and transportation networks.

Environmental Elements (Exposed to Hazards)

Ecosystems and natural processes that may be harmed by hazards; weakened by activities like deforestation or overgrazing.

Relationship of Vulnerability, Exposure, and Disaster Risk

Disaster risk arises from the combination of high vulnerability and high exposure to hazards.