Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction: Foundations and Perspectives

Philippines: A Context of Local Hazard and Disaster Susceptibility

  • Status as a High-Risk Nation: The Philippines is classified as one of the most hazardous countries globally due to its geographical and geological positioning.

  • Natural Frequency of Events:

    • Tropical Cyclones: The country experiences more than 2020 tropical cyclones per year.

    • Seismic Activity: Earthquakes occur on a daily basis.

    • Volcanic Presence: There are more than 2020 active volcanoes distributed across the islands.

  • The Ring of Fire: The Philippines is located along the "Ring of Fire," a vast region in the Pacific Ocean characterized by frequent volcanic eruptions and seismic activity, leading to an "inexhaustible number" of deadly natural disasters.

Defining Disaster

  • General Definition: A disaster is a sudden, calamitous event that brings great damage, loss, destruction, and devastation to life and property.

  • Etymology:

    • Derived from the French word "DESATRE."

    • Origins in the Greek words "BAD ASTER" (Bad Star).

    • Ancient Roots: The term comes from an astrological theme where the destruction or "deconstruction" of a star was considered a disaster. Ancient peoples believed disasters occurred due to the unfavorable position of planets or as an "Act of God."

  • Variable Impact: The damage is immeasurable and varies based on geographical location, climate, and the degree of vulnerability of the Earth's surface.

  • Societal Influence: Disasters influence the mental, socio-economic, political, and cultural state of the affected area.

  • Institutional Definitions:

    • World Health Organization (WHO): Defines disaster as "Any occurrence that causes damage, ecological disruption, loss of human life, deterioration of health and health services, on a scale sufficient to warrant an extraordinary response from outside the affected community or area."

    • Red Cross: Defines it as an occurrence (e.g., hurricane, tornado, flood, earthquake, etc.) that causes human suffering or creates needs that victims cannot alleviate without assistance.

Classification of Disasters

1. Natural Disasters

  • Definition: Disasters caused by natural resources/forces.

  • Examples: Floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, volcanic eruptions, droughts, avalanches, and heat waves.

  • Onset Categories:

    • Rapid/Acute Onset: Sudden events such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and flash floods.

    • Progressive/Gradual Onset: Slow-moving events such as droughts that may eventually lead to famine.

2. Man-Made (Human-Induced) Disasters

  • Definition: Disasters caused by intentional or non-intentional human actions.

  • Subcategories:

    • Technological/Industrial Disasters: Result from unregulated industrialization and inadequate safety standards. Examples: Hazardous material leaks, accidental explosions, bridge/road collapses, vehicle collisions, and power cuts.

    • Terrorism/Violence: Increased threat due to technologies involving nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) agents. Examples: Bombs, release of radioactive agents, massive shootings, and mutinites.

    • Complex Humanitarian Emergencies: Result from international or civil war. Characterized by large-scale displacement, disruption of infrastructure (food, water, electricity), and isolation. This includes Genocide (deliberate killing of large ethnic/national groups).

Measurement of Disaster Impacts

  • Direct Loss: Physical effects including damage to buildings, infrastructure, and vehicles, as well as cleanup and disposal costs.

  • Indirect Loss: Community disruption affecting utility services and local businesses, loss of income, and increased expenses connected to the disaster.

  • Intangible Loss: Psychological situations caused by casualties and the reduction of an individual's ability to function.

Understanding Disaster Risk

  • Definition: The likelihood of loss of life, injury, or destruction and damage from a disaster in a given period of time.

  • UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR): Focuses on potential loss in lives, health, and livelihood which is often difficult to quantify.

  • Risk Categories:

    • Intensive Risks: Exposure of a large number of people in a specific area to extreme events; leads to high mortality and asset loss.

    • Extensive Risks: Exposure of dispersed populations to various hazards of low or moderate intensity.

Hazard vs. Disaster

  • Hazard: A dangerous situation that poses a threat to human life. It has less critical consequences compared to a disaster and is the "threat" itself.

  • Disaster: An event that has already caused damage to life and property. It is more catastrophic and often happens in a short timeframe with severe effects. A disaster is the result of a hazard meeting a vulnerable community.

Disaster Perspectives

  1. Physical Perspective: Focuses on damage to physical elements (buildings, roads, agriculture). Assessment asks: how many houses were washed out? How many bridges collapsed? What is the extent of crop loss?

  2. Psychological Perspective: Focuses on mental health consequences, primarily Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

    • Emotional: Shock, terror, anger, grief.

    • Cognitive: Impaired concentration, nightmares, confusion.

    • Physical: Fatigue, insomnia, pain.

    • Interpersonal: Social withdrawal, feeling abandoned.

  3. Socio-Cultural Perspective: How disaster response is mediated by social conditions (age, gender, wealth) and cultural settings (religion, traditions).

  4. Economic Perspective: Disasters as perturbations to the economic system impacting production, output, and consumption.

  5. Political Perspective: Politics determine who is at risk and who receives aid. Government interventions are categorized into: 1) Prevention, 2) Mitigation, 3) Preparedness, and 4) Recovery.

  6. Environmental Perspective: Disasters reveal and worsen underlying environmental problems, eroding development gains.

Vulnerability and Exposure

  • Vulnerability: Characteristics of a community that make it susceptible to hazards (e.g., poor building design, lack of awareness).

  • Factors Increasing Vulnerability:

    • Demographics: High population density, very old or very young populations (less mobile), and population distribution (e.g., elderly living on low floors).

    • Socio-Economic: Centralized government bureaucracy slow to react, and recent immigrants who do not understand the area.

    • Community Preparedness: Lack of building codes, absence of early warning systems, and poor communication networks.

    • After-Effects Management: Lack of insurance or inefficient/mismanaged foreign aid.

Hazard Exposure Mapping (Examples)

  • Coastal/Reclaimed Areas: Exposed to storm surges, tsunamis, and flooding.

  • Near Fault Lines: Exposed to earthquakes.

  • Denuded Mountains/River Banks: Exposed to mudslides and flash floods.

  • Near Industrial sites (Oil Depots/Chemical Plants): Exposed to toxic waste, pollution, and explosions.

Underlying Factors of Disaster Risk

  1. Climate Change: Alters frequency and intensity of events.

  2. Environmental Degradation: Increases hazard intensity.

  3. Globalized Economic Development: Increases polarization between rich and poor; increases asset exposure.

  4. Poverty and Inequality: Poor people live in high-risk areas with no insurance.

  5. Poorly Planned Urbanization: Rapid growth in cities creates densely packed risk zones.

  6. Weak Governance: Public sectors unable or unwilling to protect rights or provide services.

  7. Geographical Location: Proximity to trenches (Manila Trench) and the Ring of Fire.

Questions & Discussion

  • Recall Question: What disastrous events in the Philippines in the last ten years can you recall?

  • Critical Thinking Questions:

    1. What is a disaster?

    2. What is a hazard?

    3. What are the differences between a disaster and a hazard?

  • Identification Exercise (Natural vs. Man-made):

    1. Hailstorm (Natural)

    2. Earthquake (Natural)

    3. Oil Spill (Man-made)

    4. Terrorism (Man-made)

    5. Chemical Waste (Man-made)

    6. Sinkhole (Natural)

    7. Storm surge (Natural)

    8. Factory waste (Man-made)

    9. Tsunami (Natural)

    10. Pollution (Man-made)

  • Self-Reflection (3-2-1):

    • Identify three things learned.

    • Identify two interesting things.

    • Identify one remaining question.