Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction (Video Notes)

Five Important DRRR Terms

  • Disaster: A serious disruption of society, causing widespread human, material, or environmental losses that exceed local coping capacity.

  • Disaster Risk: The probability of a community being damaged or disrupted by the impact of a particular hazard, considering its nature, construction, and proximity.

    • Conceptual form: R \approx f(H, E, V) \quad \text{or} \quad R = P(D \mid H, E, V)

  • Vulnerability: Characteristics making a community, system, or asset susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard.

  • Hazard: A potential source of harm (e.g., drought, tsunami, war).

  • Exposure: The presence of people, livelihoods, infrastructure, or assets in places that could be adversely affected by physical events.

Examples of Disasters

  • Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) (Nov 2013): Strength 290 km/h; devastating storm surge flattened Tacloban, >7,000 perished.

  • Wowowee Stampede (Feb 2006): Stampede at ULTRA stadium; 73 killed, nearly 400 injured; show dissolved.

  • Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) (Sept 2009): Torrential rains caused widespread floods in Metro Manila; hundreds perished, power/water cut off for weeks.

Lessons in Preparedness and Response

  • Post-disaster learning has evolved due to multi-partner efforts.

  • Constant innovation in disaster resilience is critical against climate change and rising inequality.

Types of Disaster

  • Natural Disaster: Originate from natural forces (e.g., earthquakes, typhoons).

  • Man-made Disaster: Originate from human actions or failures (e.g., industrial accidents, terrorism).

The Philippines' Vulnerability

  • High vulnerability due to geographic position in Southeast Asia.

  • Faces typhoons, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, landslides.

  • Located within the "Ring of Fire," increasing seismic and volcanic risk.

Effects of Disaster

  • Displaced Populations: Disrupts access to basic necessities (healthcare, food, water).

  • Health Risks: Stagnant water from floods can cause waterborne diseases and spread malaria/dengue.

  • Food Scarcity: Leads to shortages, rising prices, and increased malnutrition risk.

  • Emotional Aftershocks: Can cause PTSD, especially in children, leading to lasting psychological damage.

Areas Exposed to Hazards

  • Natural Hazards: Coastlines, riverbanks, valleys, mountains, faultline zones.

  • Man-made Hazards: Urban/industrial zones, unsafe buildings, power plants, oil depots, mining areas.

Practical Implications & DRR Strategies

  • Disaster risk encompasses both natural events and community preparedness.

  • Risk Reduction Involves:

    • Hazard prevention/mitigation.

    • Reducing exposure.

    • Reducing vulnerability.

  • For the Philippines, integrated DRR planning, early warning systems, and resilient infrastructure are crucial.

  • Ethical considerations include equitable relief and prioritizing vulnerable populations.

  • Connects to climate change adaptation and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).