Chapter 1: Disaster Risk Reduction

These vocabulary flashcards define the core concepts of Disaster Risk Reduction, including the PPRR framework, the types of hazards, and the relationship between risk, hazard, and vulnerability.

Disaster

A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.

Natural Hazard

A natural process or phenomenon 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.

Risk

A measure of expected losses due to a hazard event occurring in a given area over a specific time period, described by the interaction of hazards, communities, and environment: $\text{Risk} = \text{Hazard} \times \text{Vulnerability}$.

Vulnerability

The degree of loss expected to result from a damaging event, or the extent to which a community, structure, services, or geographic area is likely to be damaged or disrupted by the impact of a particular hazard.

Human Induced Hazards

Hazards categorized into technological hazards, biological hazards, and civil/political hazards.

Geological Hazards

Hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, landslides, dam bursts, and mine fires.

Water & Climate Hazards

Hazards including tropical cyclones, floods, droughts, landslides, and sea erosion.

Environmental Hazards

Hazards including biological factors, environmental pollution, deforestation, human/animal epidemics, pest attacks, desertification, and food poisoning.

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

A systematic approach to identifying, assessing, and reducing the risks of a disaster, aiming to minimize the effect of hazardous events through careful planning (prevention) and preparation (preparedness).

Sendai Framework

A global framework with aims to decrease global deaths, the number of people affected, economic loss, and impacts on infrastructure/services, while increasing DRR strategies, international cooperation, and early warning systems.

PPRR Model

A structured framework for managing hazards divided into four stages: Prevention (mitigation), Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.

Prevention (Mitigation)

The stage of identifying and minimizing risks through steps taken before an event to reduce vulnerability, such as building codes and zoning.

Passive Preventive Measures

Measures where authorities impose controls and penalties, including design codes, land use control, denying utilities to high-risk areas, and compulsory insurance.

Active Preventive Measures

Measures aimed at encouraging safety through training, education, economic assistance, subsidies on safety resources, and public information dissemination.

Preparedness

The stage of getting ready to cope by equipping leaders and the community, providing information, and developing plans such as warning systems and evacuation procedures.

Response

The stage when a disaster occurs, involving actions taken at the onset of an emergency to rescue people and provide urgently needed support like food, water, and shelter.

Recovery

The stage of returning to normal, consisting of two stages: Rehabilitation (immediate restoration) and Reconstruction (permanent rebuilding).

Rehabilitation

Immediate and possibly temporary measures taken during the recovery phase to restore normalcy to a community.

Reconstruction

More permanent measures taken during the recovery phase to rebuild facilities, such as replacing temporary structures with permanent school buildings.