DRR Lesson 2

Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction

Lesson Overview

  • Experience the JOY in QUALITY Learning

  • A Yuchengco-Ayala Educational Partnership

Lesson Objectives

  1. Enumerate elements exposed to hazards

  2. Explain the concept of vulnerability

  3. Discuss why some sectors are more vulnerable to disasters

  4. Analyze structural vulnerabilities to specific hazards

  5. Determine specific elements exposed to hazards

  6. Recognize vulnerabilities across different elements

  7. Differentiate among hazards, exposure, and vulnerabilities with real examples

Types of Hazards

  • Natural Hazards: Earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, etc.

  • Man-made Hazards: Accidental release of chemicals, pollution, etc.

Vulnerability Definition

  • Represents community characteristics making them susceptible to hazards.

  • Influenced by physical, social, economic, and environmental factors.

Vulnerability Metrics

  • Defined by UNESCO/UNDRO as a degree of loss on a scale from 0 (no damage) to 1 (total loss).

  • Components of Vulnerability:

    • Exposure: At-risk population/property

    • Resistance: Measures to mitigate loss

    • Resilience: Recoverability after disaster

Types/Sectors of Vulnerability

  1. Physical Vulnerability

    • Potential physical impacts on the environment.

    • Determined by population density, infrastructure design.

  2. Economic Vulnerability

    • Impacts on economic assets (e.g., job loss, poverty).

    • Low economic resources make disaster impacts more severe for the poor.

  3. Social Vulnerability

    • Societal inability to withstand hazards due to social factors.

    • Vulnerable groups include children, elderly, and disabled during disasters.

  4. Environmental Vulnerability

    • Resource depletion and degradation.

    • E.g., sea-level rise affecting coastal populations in the Philippines.

Importance of Understanding Vulnerability

  • Disaster risk relies not just on hazard severity but also on the susceptibility of people and assets.

Vulnerability Reduction Approaches

  • Implement building codes

  • Provide insurance and social protection

  • Promote economic diversity and resilient livelihoods

  • Raise awareness and preparedness

Types of Hazards

  1. Natural Hazards: e.g., earthquakes, floods

  2. Quasi-Natural Hazards: e.g., pollution

  3. Technological Hazards: e.g., chemical spills

Hazard Signs and Symbols

  • Flammable Material: Warning of potential fire hazards.

  • Health Hazards: Risks related to chemical exposure.

  • Explosives: Signs indicating explosive materials.

  • Natural Disaster Warnings: e.g., tsunami, tornado warnings.

Impacts of Hazards

  1. Physical Impact: Injuries, destruction of infrastructure.

  2. Psychological Impact: Grief, anxiety, mental health issues.

  3. Economic Impact: Job losses, economic decline.

  4. Environmental Impact: Loss of resources, biodiversity disturbance.

  5. Biological Impact: Epidemics and illnesses caused by hazardous agents.