Lesson 1_The Concept of Disaster

Objectives of the Lesson

  • Define hazard and disaster.

  • Describe risk factors underlying disasters.

  • Utilize knowledge to avoid harm and assure safety.

  • Appreciate importance of understanding risk factors.

Hidden Words Activity

  • Identify and underline hidden words in a puzzle, such as:

    • Disaster

    • Ring of Fire

    • Calamity

    • Earthquake

    • Volcanic Eruption

    • Pacific Ocean

    • Typhoon

    • Tsunami

    • Natural Disaster

    • Man-made disaster

    • Destruction

    • Hazard

    • Injury

    • Threat

Types of Natural Disasters

  • Common Natural Disasters Include:

    • Volcano

    • Earthquake

    • Tsunami

    • Forest Fire

    • Hurricane

    • Drought

    • Flood

    • Snow Storm

    • Avalanche

    • Sand Storm

Man-made Disasters

  • Examples of Man-made Disasters:

    • Industrial Accidents:

      • Chemical spills

      • Explosions

      • Fires

    • Transportation Accidents:

      • Automobile collisions

      • Shipwrecks

      • Plane crashes

    • Structural Failures:

      • Dam breaches

      • Building collapses

      • Bridge failures

    • Environmental Pollution:

      • Greenhouse gases

      • Oil spills

      • Plastic debris

    • Terrorist Attacks:

      • September 11 attacks

      • London bombings

      • Paris attacks

    • Mass Gatherings and Stampedes:

      • Hajj stampedes

      • Love Parade stampede

      • Mawlid stampede

    • Urban Fires:

      • Great Fire of London

      • Chicago Fire

      • Grenfell Tower Fire

    • Oil Spills:

      • Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

      • Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

      • Prestige Oil Spill

Definition of Disaster

  • Disaster: A sudden, calamitous occurrence causing great harm, injury, destruction, and devastation to life and property.

Types of Disasters

  • Natural Disasters:

    • Caused by natural forces, can destroy communities instantly.

    • Examples: volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, earthquakes, typhoons.

  • Man-made Disasters:

    • Caused by human activity.

    • Examples: bomb explosions, terrorism, industrial accidents, pollution.

Categories of Man-made Disasters

  1. Technological/Industrial Disasters

    • Explosions, bridge collapses, power cuts.

  2. Terrorism/Violence

    • Includes nuclear, biological, chemical threats.

  3. Complex Humanitarian Emergencies

    • Resulting from war, conflicts, genocide.

Hazard Definition

  • Hazard: A harmful condition or substance that can cause loss of life, injury, environmental damage, and social disruption.

Safety Hazards

  • Types of Safety Hazards:

    • Biological Hazards: bacteria, viruses, animal droppings.

    • Chemical Hazards: unlabelled liquids, flammable substances, harmful gases.

    • Physical Hazards: slips, trips, falls, poor posture, extreme weather.

Hazard vs Disaster

  • Hazard: A dangerous event threatening lives, property, and livelihoods.

  • Disaster: An event that causes harm and disrupts society, requiring assistance.

Vulnerability and Capacity

  • Vulnerability: Characteristics making a community susceptible to hazards.

    • Examples: unsafe structures, poverty, low literacy.

  • Capacity: Strengths and resources to reduce disaster risk.

    • Examples: local knowledge, strong community support.

Disaster Risk Definition

  • Disaster Risk: Potential losses due to hazards, vulnerability, and capacity.

    • Formula: Risk = Hazard x Vulnerability / Capacity.

UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)

  • Established December 22, 1999.

  • Coordination agency for disaster risk reduction based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Phases of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

  1. Prevention & Mitigation:

    • Avoidance and limitation of disaster impacts.

    • Lead Agency: Department of Science and Technology.

  2. Preparedness:

    • Knowledge and capacities to respond to hazards.

    • Lead Agency: Department of Interior and Local Government.

  3. Response:

    • Emergency services after a disaster.

    • Lead Agency: Department of Social Welfare and Development.

  4. Recovery & Rehabilitation:

    • Restoration and improvement of living conditions.

    • Lead Agency: National Economic and Development Authority.

Disaster Preparedness Tips

  • Make a plan.

  • Build a kit.

  • Check for home hazards.

  • Identify safe places.

  • Educate family members.

  • Develop an emergency communication plan.

  • Involve and help your community.

Resilience Definition

  • Resilience: Ability to recover from hazards efficiently.

  • Building Back Better: Approach to recovery that reduces future vulnerabilities.