Introduction to Disaster Concepts

Learning Competencies
• Explain the meaning of disaster;
• Differentiate the risk factors underlying disasters;
• Describe the effects of disasters on one’s life;
• Explain how and when an event becomes a disaster;
• Identify areas/locations exposed to hazards that may lead to disasters; and
• Analyze disaster from the different perspectives (physical, psychological, socio-cultural, economic,
political, and biological).

Trivia
Did you know that?!
“Earthquake proof” Palawan is allegedly the safest part in the
Philippines when ‘The Big One’ earthquake hits.

According to an article published by website, Kami, the province is “earthquake proof” as it is said to be the
“most stable island” in the country.
The article noted that the province stands at 30-kilometer continental rocks. Apparently, Palawan has no active
volcanoes, neither active fault lines nor deep trenches.
OUR WORLD IS AT RISK
 FLOODS
 SEVERE WINDSTORMS
 EARTHQUAKES
 TSUNAMIS
 DROUGHTS
 VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS
 LANDSLIDES
 WILDFIRES
ASIA’S HAZARDS
 FLOODS
 EARTHQUAKES
 TSUNAMIS
 CYCLONES/TYPHOONS
 VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS
 LANDSLIDES
 DROUGHTS
 ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
Key terms
• Hazard – a dangerous phenomenon, substance, human activity or condition that may cause loss of life,
injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and economic
disruption, or environmental damage.
• Disaster – a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread
human, material, economic, or environmental losses and impacts which exceeds the ability of the
affected community or society to cope using its own resources.
• Risk – the possibility that something bad or unpleasant will happen.

Classifying Phenomena according to Hazards

 Ground shaking  Typhoon
 Tornado  Forest fire
 Landslide  Liquefaction
 Flood  Storm surge
 Indoor fire  Tsunami
 Lava flow  Extreme rainfall
 Industrial pollution
 BIOLOGICAL GEOLOGICAL HYDROMETEORO-
HAZARD HAZARD LOGICAL
HAZARD
GREEK (“bios” - life) (“ge” - Earth) (“hydor” - water)
ETYMOLOGY (“meteoros” - sky)
DEFINITION Process or phenomenon Geological Process or
on of organic origin or process or phenomenon of
Disaster phenomenon
conveyed by biological atmospheric,
Risk vectors/ agents, including hydrological or
Reduction)
exposure to pathogenic oceanographic nature
micro- organisms, toxins
and bioactive substances

SAMPLE Natural, usually from Natural Natural process, but Man-

RESPONSES living sources process, involved with the made
originates from atmosphere and/or
the solid earth- hydrosphere
geosphere

EXAMPLE Ebola Virus, flu Ballistic projectiles (Rocks from Tornado, flood, Oil and chemical
virus, rabies an erupting volcano), ground typhoon, forest spill, forest fire,
shaking, landslide, lava flow, fire, tsunami industrial pollution
liquefaction, tsunami
Biological hazard
Examples of biological hazards include outbreaks of epidemic diseases, plant or animal contagion, insect or
other animal plagues and infestations.
Geological hazard
Geological hazards include internal earth processes, such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and related
geophysical processes such as mass movements, landslides, rockslides, and debris or mudflows.
Hydrometeorological hazard
Hydrometeorological hazards include tropical cyclones (also known as
typhoons and hurricanes), thunderstorms, hailstorms, tornados, severe snowstorm, heavy snowfall, avalanches,
coastal storm surges, floods including flash floods, drought and heatwaves

Hydrometeorological conditions also can be a factor in other hazards such as landslides, wildland fires,
epidemics, and in the transport and dispersal of toxic substances and volcanic eruption material.
When is an event a disaster?
 At least 20% of the population emergency assistance or those destroyed.
 A great number or at least 40% of the means of livelihood such as bananas, fishing boats, vehicles and
the like are destroyed.
 Major roads and bridges are destroyed and impassable for at least a week, thus disrupting the flow of
transport and commerce.
 Widespread destruction of fishponds, crops, poultry and livestock, and other agricultural
products, and
 Epidemics

Human – Made and technological Types of

Disasters
 Hazardous material
 Power service and disruption and blackout
 Nuclear power plant and nuclear blast
 Chemical threat and biological weapons
 Cyber attacks
 Explosion
 Types of Disaster
Natural Disaster
 Agricultural disease and pests  Tsunamis
 Storm surge  Wildfires
 Drought and water shortage  Sinkholes
 Earthquakes  Emergency disease
 Hurricanes and tropical storm  Extreme heat
 Landslide and debris flow  Floods and flash floods
 Thunder storm and lightning  La Niña
 Tornadoes
Natural hazards
are naturally occurring physical phenomena caused either by rapid or slow onset events which can be
geophysical (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis and volcanic activity), hydrological (avalanches and
floods), climatological (extreme temperatures, drought and wildfires), meteorological (cyclones and
storms/wave surges) or biological (disease epidemics and insect/animal plagues).

Risk Factors Underlying Disasters

 Severity of Exposure –
The amount of exposure to the disaster is highly related to risk of future mental problems. At highest risk are
those that go through the disaster themselves. Next are those in close contact with victims. At lower risk of
lasting impact are those who only had indirect exposure, such as news of the severe damage.
EFFECTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS ON HUMAN LIFE
Perspective on Disaster