Study Notes on Disaster and Disaster Risk Concepts

BASIC CONCEPT OF DISASTER AND DISASTER RISK

CONCEPT OF DISASTER

  • The Philippines is recognized as one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries due to the frequent occurrence of natural events.

  • A disaster occurs as a result of the interaction between a natural phenomenon (which can potentially become a hazard) and the vulnerability of the exposed population.

WHEN DOES A NATURAL EVENT BECOME A HAZARD?

  • Natural events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are frequent in the Philippines because of its geological location within the “ring of fire” at the convergence of several dynamic tectonic plates.

  • The country also lies along the western edge of the Pacific Ocean, which serves as a natural path for some of the planet’s most powerful typhoons.

NATURE OF NATURAL EVENTS AND HAZARDS

  • Natural events do not inherently become hazards; they merely have the potential to be classified as such.

  • An analogy is made: A weak concrete fence symbolizes a natural event—though it may collapse with minimal force, it poses no risk if no one is nearby.

  • However, when an object, such as a car, is parked or a person is standing next to it, it turns into a hazard because it now presents a risk of damage, injury, or death.

CRITERIA FOR DISASTERS

  • A hazard only becomes a disaster when it impacts a vulnerable population because of their exposure to the hazard.

  • Vulnerability is defined by various factors—physical, social, economic, and environmental—that heighten susceptibility to a hazard's impact.

  • For example, a community with individuals unable to evacuate quickly from lahar flows (a volcanic hazard) is considered highly vulnerable.

  • Communities near coastal areas, lacking awareness of storm surges, will also struggle to respond to warnings effectively.

  • A reduction in vulnerability can be achieved through proactive information and education campaigns regarding hazards, such as storm surges.

DISASTER OCCURRENCE

  • A disaster transpires when a destructive agent (the hazard) affects a vulnerable population.

  • If a natural event occurs in an uninhabited area (e.g., a volcanic eruption affecting no people), it does not constitute a disaster; a disaster necessitates the presence of victims.

DISASTER RISK

  • It is emphasized that no two disasters are identical; while they may share similarities, understanding the differences in nature and magnitude of the triggering hazard, risk elements, and vulnerabilities is crucial for effective disaster management.

  • Disaster risks can be quantified and expressed either numerically or relatively, allowing comparisons between past and future disasters.

ELEMENTS OF DISASTER RISK

  • Formula: Disaster Risk = Hazard x Exposure x Vulnerability.

  • The magnitude of a disaster is influenced by:

    1. The severity of the natural event.

    2. The extent of exposure of elements at risk, including people and property.

    3. The level of vulnerability within the exposed population.

  • While natural disasters, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, cannot be prevented, it is possible to effect changes that minimize exposure and vulnerability, thereby decreasing their overall impact.

MINIMIZING DISASTER RISK

  • Strategies for Disaster Risk Reduction include:

    1. Keeping individuals and property away from potential hazards to reduce exposure.

    2. Relocating vulnerable populations to mitigate risk.

CHARACTERISTICS OF DISASTERS

  1. Disasters are largely unexpected; they can occur with little or no warning, resulting in significant loss of life, injury, and property damage.

    • This underscores the necessity for timely warnings and accurate hazard-related information from competent monitoring agencies.

  2. Disasters cannot be managed by standard procedures; they demand quick and effective action from both governmental and non-governmental organizations to meet victim needs.

  3. During disasters, demands often exceed the capabilities of local or national government responses.

  4. Disasters transcend political boundaries.

  5. They require the establishment of new response organizations.

  6. Disasters lead to increased demands for personnel involved in response efforts.

  7. Routine emergency equipment and facilities may become insufficient.

  8. Disasters can lead to confusion regarding the roles of organizations and individuals involved in response efforts.

  9. Lack of disaster planning, response capabilities, and coordination often hampers effective management.

IMPACTS OF DISASTERS

  1. Medical Effects:

    • Includes traumatic injuries, emotional distress, and the emergence of epidemic diseases (e.g., malaria).

  2. Damage to Critical Facilities:

    • Disasters can severely damage or destroy communication systems, electrical generation and transmission facilities, hospitals, and water supply infrastructures (storage, purification, pumping).

  3. Disruption of Transportation:

    • Initial disaster stages typically lead to disruptions in surface transportation due to broken bridges and impassable roads or streets resulting from landslides or flooding.

    • Restricted vehicle mobility complicates rescue and emergency operations.

  4. Economic Impact:

    • Disasters disrupt economies due to damage to infrastructure, particularly communication and transportation.

    • Many individuals are forced to abandon their jobs to engage in disaster-related activities, such as searching for survivors or providing care.

  5. Global Environmental Change:

    • There is increasing awareness of human-induced climatic changes heightened by disasters.

    • Predictable long-term effects may involve more intensive storms, increased frequency of floods and droughts, and the potential for desertification, leading to additional hazards like wildfires and mudslides, and negatively impacting ocean productivity and immune systems in both people and animals.

  6. Social and Political Impact:

    • Vulnerable populations, particularly the poor, are more susceptible to disasters due to their living conditions (e.g., unreinforced and poorly constructed structures often situated in hazardous areas).

    • Disasters can expose and exacerbate social and political inequities, leading to significant political changes, illustrated by the formation of Bangladesh from Pakistan following a cyclone and storm surge that highlighted disparities in governance and resource allocation.