Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction Notes

Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction

Course Outline

  • Understanding Disaster and Disaster Risk

    • Definition of disaster and disaster risk.

    • Factors contributing to disasters incl. exposure and vulnerability.

  • Hazards and Types

    • Basic concepts: hazard, vulnerability, and capacity.

    • Types of hazards include:

    • Geological Hazards: Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides.

    • Hydrometeorological Hazards: Typhoons, floods, drought, and storms.

    • Biological Hazards: Pathogen-related risks.

  • Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

    • Role of citizens and government in disaster readiness.

Grading System

  • Written Works: 25%

  • Performance Task: 50%

  • Quarterly Assessment: 25%

Legal Basis

  • Republic Act 10121

    • Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010, including implementing rules and regulations.

Key Concepts

  • Disaster: Defined as a major disruption causing widespread human, material, or environmental losses exceeding people's capacity to cope.

  • Hazard: Any phenomenon (natural or man-made) that may cause loss of life or property damage.

  • Exposure: The presence of people and property in hazard-prone areas.

  • Vulnerability: Conditions that enhance susceptibility to hazards (e.g. socio-economic factors).

  • Capacity: The strengths/resources available to manage disaster risks and enhance resilience.

  • Disaster Risk: The probability of negative outcomes from hazards combined with exposure and vulnerability.

The Philippines' Disaster Profile

  • Prone to an average of 20 typhoons annually.

  • Vulnerable to landslides, mudflows, and other disasters due to geographical factors (archipelagic condition, low-lying areas).

Types of Natural Disasters

  • Natural:

    • Typhoons, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, drought, and other geological events.

  • Human-induced:

    • Activities leading to hazards such as pollution, civil disturbances, and technological incidents.

Factors Influencing Disaster Risk

  • Climate Change: Increases vulnerability due to population growth and urbanization.

  • Poverty: Forces people to live in hazard-prone areas, limiting access to resources and services.

  • Socio-Cultural Inequality: Vulnerable groups (children, elderly, etc.) often have limited capacity to recover from disasters.

  • Lack of Awareness: Communities may not have proper information, leading to inadequate disaster preparedness.

  • Weak Governance: Inefficient disaster management practices hinder effective response and recovery.

  • Environmental Degradation: Impacted by activities like illegal logging and unplanned urbanization, further increasing disaster risks.

Emergency Response Training

  • Essential skills include:

    • First aid for injuries: Cuts, burns, fractures.

    • CPR procedures and fire safety (e.g., using fire extinguishers).

    • Understanding how to coordinate disaster response effectively.

Ethical Decision-Making in Crises

  • Prioritizing help based on urgency and vulnerability during disasters (e.g., who receives aid first).

Conclusion

  • Quoting Ban Ki-moon: "We cannot eliminate disasters but we can mitigate risk. We can reduce damage and we can save lives."

  • The implications of disaster management require collaboration among all sectors to ensure safety and resilience in the face of disasters.