Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction - Quick Notes

Key Definitions

• Disaster

  • ADPC (2012): A sudden calamitous occurrence causing great harm, injury, destruction, and devastation to life and property; disrupts the usual course of life.

  • FAO (2008): A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or society involving widespread losses and impacts that exceed the affected community's ability to cope using its own resources.

  • UNISDR: A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread losses and impacts which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.

• Hazard

  • A process, phenomenon, or human activity that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, social and economic disruption, or environmental degradation.

• Exposure

  • The situation of people, infrastructure, housing, production capacities, and other tangible assets located in hazard-prone areas.

• Vulnerability

  • A condition determined by physical, social, economic, and environmental factors that increase susceptibility to the impacts of hazards.

• Capacity

  • The combination of strengths, attributes, and resources available within an organization, community, or society to manage and reduce disaster risks and strengthen resilience.

• Disaster Risk

  • The potential loss of life, injury, or damaged assets that could occur in a specific period, determined probabilistically as a function of hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and capacity.

  • Core relationship: Risk rises with hazard, exposure, and vulnerability and decreases with capacity.

• Natural Hazard vs Disaster

  • Hazard is a potential source of danger; disaster occurs when impacts exceed a community’s capacity to cope.

Disaster Risk Formula

• The disaster risk formula (commonly cited definitions):
  \text{Disaster Risk} = \frac{\text{Hazard} \times \text{Exposure} \times \text{Vulnerability}}{\text{Capacity}}.

• Key takeaways:

  • Increasing hazard, exposure, or vulnerability raises risk.

  • Increasing capacity reduces risk.

Core Concepts & Interrelationships

• Hazard: potential source of harm.

• Exposure: people/assets in harm's way.

• Vulnerability: susceptibility to harm.

• Capacity: resources/abilities to cope and adapt.

• Disaster risk is the interaction of these factors; mitigation focuses on reducing exposure, vulnerability, and hazard impact while increasing capacity.

Difference: Natural Hazards vs Disasters

• Natural hazards (e.g., earthquakes, typhoons, floods) may become disasters if they cause significant losses beyond community coping capacity.

• Disasters involve broader impacts on life, property, and societal functioning.

Disaster Risk Drivers

• Climate change – can amplify disaster risk and affect resilience.

• Poverty – higher risk impacts for the poor.

• Socio-economic inequality – limits capacity to manage risk.

• Population growth/density – increases vulnerability.

• Rapid/unplanned urbanization – raises disaster severity.

• Environmental degradation – reduces ecosystem services and resilience.

• Lack of awareness – lowers preparedness and response.

• Weak governance – hinders protection of rights and delivery of services.

Philippine Context: DRR Law (RA 10121)

• Republic Act No. 10121 (Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act) signed May 27, 2010.

• Purpose: strengthen the DRR system, national plan, funding, and multi-level coordination for disaster risk reduction and management.

• Calamity funds: LGUs can use up to 70\% for risk reduction measures and 30\% for quick response activities.

• Section 2 (National Plan): the state shall develop, promote, and implement a comprehensive plan to strengthen national and LGU capacity with partners to build disaster resilience, institutionalize measures for reducing disaster risks (including projected climate risks), and enhance preparedness and response at all levels.

Notable Disasters (Philippines) – Brief Examples

• Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), 2013

  • Wind speeds > 300\ \mathrm{km/h}; storm surges > 4\ \mathrm{m}; affected > 170 cities/municipalities across 14 provinces; thousands of deaths; widespread flooding and landslides.

• Great Luzon Earthquake, 1990

  • Magnitude 7.7; major damage in northern Luzon; Baguio hardest hit; shaking ~1 minute; collapses and injuries.

• Mt. Pinatubo Eruption, 1991

  • Major volcanic eruption with ash, pyroclastic flows, and lahars; long-term impacts on roofs, infrastructure, and livelihoods.

• Ozone Disco Fire, 1996

  • Worst nightclub fire in PH history; at least 162 deaths.

• COVID-19 Pandemic

  • Global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2; as of 2022-01-07: more than 3.00\times 10^8 cases and 5.47\times 10^6 deaths worldwide.

Quick Reference: Key Terms (from definitions and sources)

• Hazard: potential source of harm.

• Exposure: people/assets in harm's way.

• Vulnerability: susceptibility factors.

• Capacity: resources to prevent, cope, and recover.

• Disaster: a disruption exceeding a community's Coping Capacity, causing widespread losses.

• DRR: strategies to reduce disaster risk and build resilience (mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery).

End-of-Lesson Focus (12th Grade outcomes)

• Explain the meaning of disaster.

• Identify different kinds of disasters common to the Philippines.

• Observe surroundings and assess risks in real situations.

• Appreciate the significance of knowing disaster risks for life and safety.

Illustrative Population and Risk Context

• The Philippines is highly prone to natural hazards (frequent tropical cyclones, earthquakes, active volcanoes).

• Understanding DRR supports safer communities and informed decision-making.

References to Definitions & Formulations cited in the course

• ADPC (2012) – disaster definition.

• FAO (2008) – disaster definition.

• UNISDR – disaster definition.

• DRR formula and concepts – exposure, vulnerability, capacity, hazard.

• RA 10121 – law framework for DRR in the Philippines.