Disaster Essentials

Disaster: Key Definitions

• ADPC: sudden, calamitous event causing great harm to life & property; generates physical & emotional distress (helplessness, hopelessness)

• FAO: “serious disruption” creating widespread human, material, economic, environmental losses that exceed a community’s capacity to cope using its own resources

Impacts of Disasters

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• Possible outcomes: loss of life, injury, disease, mental-social distress

• Damage to property & assets, service interruption, socio-economic disruption, environmental degradation

Philippine DRRM Legal Framework (RA $10121$)

• Enacted $\text{May\ 27,\ 2010}$ to replace P.D. $1566$; shifts from reactive relief to proactive mitigation & preparedness

• Allows LGUs immediate access to calamity funds: $70\%$ for risk-reduction / preparedness, $30\%$ for quick response

• Mandates comprehensive, multi-level strategy to build community resilience & address projected climate risks

Classification of Disasters

• Natural disasters: driven by natural forces (e.g., earthquakes, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, extreme temperatures)
  • Rapid onset (earthquake) vs. progressive onset (drought → famine)

• Human-made / induced disasters: originate from human activity; largely preventable

Hazard Concept

• Hazard = source/condition with potential to harm humans, property, or environment

• Natural hazard: extreme natural event becomes hazardous when it affects humans

• Human-made hazard: stems from technological, industrial, social, or political actions

Types of Human-Made Hazards

• Technological / industrial: hazardous leaks, explosions, structural collapses, power cuts

• Terrorism / violence: bombs, chemical/biological/radiological releases, mass shootings, mutinies

• Complex humanitarian emergencies: conflicts or wars causing displacement, infrastructure breakdown, genocide

Disaster Trigger

• A disaster occurs when a hazard produces major disruption & damage to people and the environment