Quarter 1 – Module 4:

General Classification of Hazards and Potential Earthquake Hazards

What I Need to Know

One important key to safely is understanding a particular incident or
phenomenon that may affect people’s life. An ordinary incident or natural
phenomenon may turn into a hazard once it becomes active and poses harm or
danger to life and property. This is the basic concept of hazard everyone should be
aware of.
One of the common hazards inflicting tremendous damage to human life and
material properties is an earthquake. It is a natural phenomenon that poses great
danger due to various hazards it may bring. Though its impeding occurrence can be
predicted the magnitude of its impact to a community and its people is unpredictable.
This makes earthquake one of the main foci of disaster preparedness and
emergency response activities of governments and different emergency agencies.
This module is about the discussion on general classification of hazards,
impacts of various hazards on different expose elements, and potential earthquake
hazards. It consists of the following lessons:
• Lesson 1 – General Classification of hazard
• Lesson 2 – Impacts of Various Hazards on Different Exposed
Elements
• Lesson 3 - Potential Earthquake Hazards

Learning Objectives
After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Define and cite examples of the types of hazards

2. Explain the impact of various hazards on different exposed
Elements
3. Identify various potential earthquake hazards.

What I Know

Multiple Choice Test. Choose the correct answer of your choice.

1. Natural phenomena like typhoons or earthquake are considered as

a. Risks b. Emergency c. Hazard d. Vulnerability

2. Among the components of DRR, where does the concept of “building

back better” belong?
a. Preparedness b. Mitigation
c. Response d. Recovery

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3. For the same number of people exposed to tropical cyclones,
mortality risk in low-income countries is approximately
a. the same as in high-income countries
b. lower than risks in high-income countries
c. higher than high-income countries
d. the different as with the high-income countries

4. Appropriate environmental management can reduce the risk of

disasters occurring by
a. improving coastal management and flood risk reduction
b. reducing risk of drought, sand storm and hazardous fires
c. regulating flood waters
d. all of the above

5. The ability to face and manage adverse conditions using available

resources and skills is
a. Responsiveness
b. Capacity
c. Risk Management
d. Awareness
6. It is a break in the Earth’s crust were significant movement
occurred.
a. Intensity b. focus c. crust d. fault
7. Intensity is expressed in _____________.
a. Roman numerals b. Hindu-arabic numerals
c. both a and b d. none of the above

8. It is an instrument used to measure the amount of energy released

by an earthquake.
a. seisnograph b. seismograph
c. microscope d. stenograph

9. As you go way from the focus, the intensity_____________.

a. increases b. decreases
c. both a and b d. does not change

10. People are interviewed and buildings are inspected to determine

______________.

a. intensity b. location of the focus

c. magnitude d. location of an active fault

11. Which movement, along a fault line, would most likely produce a
tsunami?

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 a. sideward b. vertical
c. horizontal d. none of the above

12. Juan was sitting peacefully in front of the television when he

suddenly felt an earthquake which vibration is like one passing of
a heavy truck, what intensity did Juan felt?

a. I b. VII c. IV d. V

13. Which is not a method of spotting an active fault?

a. checking historical backgrounds
b. observing the surroundings
c. studying vibrations
d. interviewing survivors

14. PHIVOLCS stand for ________________.

a. Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
b. Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seisnology
c. Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Sismology
d. Philippine Institution of Volcanology and Seismology

15. What intensity is capable of destroying all man-made structures?

a. I b. IX c. X d. VIII

16. It is the system used by PHIVOLCS in determining the intensity of

an earthquake.
a. PEIS b. PIES c. PSIE d. PIIS

17. Epicenter is found ____________.

a. directly above the focus b. below the focus
c. beside the focus d. near the focus

18. A vibration due to the rapid release of energy is known as

__________.
a. earthquake b. typhoon
c. tidal wave d. focus

19. The place where the fault begins to slip is called __________.
a. epicenter b. active fault
c. focus d. rocks

20. A big wave was produced by earthquakes that originate from

under the ocean is called _______________.
a. typhoon b. tsunami
c. flood d. storm surge

Key to answers on page 16

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Lesson
1 General Classification of
Hazards
What’s In
Vulnerability is defined as “the characteristics and circumstances of a
community, system or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a
hazard”.
Exposure refers to the ‘elements at risk’ from a natural or man-made hazard
event. Elements at risk could include human beings, dwellings or households,
buildings and structures, public structures, transport system, agricultural
commodities, environmental assets, etc.
Vulnerability can be seen as a result of a process in which various different
things cause a population to be more vulnerable. These can be split into
demographic and socio-economic. They can also be discussed through the level of
community preparedness and the ability of a community to manage the after effects
of a hazard event.
There are many aspects of vulnerability, arising from various physical, social,
economic, and environmental factors.
The Philippines is known to be very vulnerable to different kinds of disasters,
hence there is a need for strategies to increase awareness, information campaign
and disaster preparedness level among the Filipinos.

What’s New
What is the difference between hazard and risk?

What is it
Definition of Hazards
Hazard are “those elements of the physical environment, to man and
caused by forces extraneous to him. (Burton, et al 1978).

Standards Australia (2000) defines a hazard as:

“A source of potential harm or a situation with a potential to cause loss.”

Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) describes hazard as:

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 “A natural event that has the potential to cause harm or loss.”
USGS Hazard terminologies defines hazard as “a phenomenon or situation, which
has the potential to cause the disruption or damage too people, their property, their
services, and their environment”. Most hazards are dormant or potential, with only a
theoretical risk of harm. However, once a hazard becomes “active”, it can create an
emergency. A hazardous situation that has come to pass is called an incident.
Hazard and possibility interact together to create risk.

General Classification of Hazard

There are many different ways of classifying hazards. One is to consider the extent
to which hazards are natural.
1. Natural hazards such as earthquakes or floods arise from purely natural
processes in the environment.
2. Quasi-natural hazards such as smog or desertification that arise through the
interaction of natural processes and human activities.
3. Technological (or human-made) hazards such as the toxicity of pesticides to
agricultural lands, accidental leaks of chemical laboratories or radiation from a
nuclear plant. These arise directly as a result of human activities.

Types of Hazards
Hewit and Burton (1971) provided a typology of hazards as follows.
1. ATMOSPHERIC
(Single element)
• Excess Rainfall
• Freezing Rain (Glaze)
• Hail
• Heavy Snow falls
• High Wind speeds
• Extreme temperature
ATMOSPHERIC
(Combined Elements\Events)
• Hurricanes
• ‘Glaze’ storm
• Thunderstorms
• Blizzards
• Tornadoes
• Heat\Cold Stress
2. HYDROLOGIC
• Floods-river and coastal area

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 • Wave action
• Drought
• Rapid glacier advance

3. GEOLOGIC
• Mass movement
Landslides
Mudslides
Avalanches
• Earthquake
• Volcanic Eruption
• Rapid sediment movement

4. BIOLOGIC
• Epidemic in humans
• Epidemic in plants
• Epidemic in animals
• Locusts

5. TECHNOLOGIC
• Transportation accident
• Industrial explosions and fire
• Accidental release of toxic element
• Nuclear accidents
• Collapse of public buildings
• Cyber terrorism

What’s More
Classify the following hazards according to their types:

Earthquakes - ___________________
Cyclones - _______________________
Flash Floods - ___________________
Thunderstorms - ________________
Typhoons - ______________________
Storm Surge - ___________________
Tsunami - _______________________
Volcanic Eruption - ______________
Forest Fires - ____________________
Epidemics - _____________________
Nuclear Leaks - _________________
Cyber Terrorism - _______________

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What I Have Learned
Give at least 5 examples of the following:
1. natural hazards
2. quasi-natural hazards
3. Technological or human-made hazards

What I Can Do
From the three (3) classifications of hazards, what type of hazard can be
prevented and can be anticipated and why?

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Lesson
2 Elements at Risk and Exposed to
Hazards
What’s In
Hazard is defined as a phenomenon or situation, which has the
potential to cause the disruption or damage to people, their property, their services,
and their environment.
Hazards are generally classified as natural, quasi-natural and human
made.

What’s New
From previously learned lesson, what do you think are impacts
of various hazards on different exposed elements?

What is it
Impacts of Various Hazards on Different Exposed Elements
According to the international center of integrated mountain development
(ICIMOD) the impacts of various hazards vary in severity and vary in regard to how
long they last.in many ways wealth and development assist in the way people
recover from hazards. A more economically developed country can prepare for and
predict hazards more effectively and they have more resources to support a faster
recovery. However, there is also a need for resilience. In many developing countries
people who experienced hardship can often recover more quickly from hazards.
It is further underscored that impacts of hazards are not so easy to classify as short
term and long term as these tend to vary for each individual event. However, there
are a number of common long-term impacts, which need longer period of recovery.
The following are common long-term impacts of natural hazards like earthquake,
typhoon, flashfloods, volcanic eruptions, fire, etc.:
Physical Impact
• Death of people
• Destructions and loss of vital infrastructures like transport system, roads,
bridges, power lines, and communication lines
• Widespread loss of housing
Psychological Impact

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 • Grief and psychological trauma-Post Traumatic Severe Disorder (PTSD)
• Marital Conflict
• Depression due to loss of loved ones and properties
• Chronic anxiety among children severely affected
Socio-Cultural Impact
• Displacement of populations
• Loss of cultural identity
• Force adoption of new sets of culture
• Ethnic conflict
Economic Impact
• Loss of job due to displacement
• Loss of harvest and livestock
• Loss of farms and fish cages, and other sources of living
• Loss of money and other valuables like jewelries, furniture and appliances
Environmental Impact
• Loss of forest due to forest fires
• Loss of fresh water due to salination- intrusion of salt water to fresh water
sources
• Disturbance of biodiversity
• Loss of natural rivers and other tributaries
Biological Impact
• Epidemic to people, flora and fauna
• Chronic and permanent illness due to nuclear radiation
• Mental disorders developed from consumptions of contaminated foods
• Proliferation of different viral and bacterial diseases

What’s More
By using a table, explain the impact of various hazards stated below on
different exposed elements.
1. Earthquakes
2. Cyclones
3. Flash floods
4. Thunderstorms
5. Typhoons

What I have learned

Complete the statement based on what you learned from the lesson.

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I have learned that _________________________.

What I Can Do
List at least 3 hazards that had happened over the years and write the down
the common long-term impacts of these hazards.

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Lesson
3 Potential Earthquake Hazards

What’s In
In the previous lesson, we discussed about hazard, where it is any agent that
can cause harm or damage to humans, property, or the environment. Risk is defined
as the probability that exposure to a hazard will lead to a negative consequence, or
more simply, a hazard poses no risk if there is no exposure to that hazard.

What’s New
Directions: Describe what each person is doing to stay safe during an
earthquake at school and at home. Find safe places in every room. Practice how to
“drop, cover and hold on” with your family.

What is it
What is an earthquake?
An earthquake (also in the Earth’ known as a quake, tremor or
tremblor) is the perceptible shaking of the surface of the Earth, resulting from the
sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust that creates seismic waves. (US
Geological Science-USGS).

Potential Earthquake Hazards

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 Geologists explain that an earthquake is a type of hazard that depends
on the strength of seismic activity, along with such factors as local topographic and
built features, subsurface geology and groundwater. A large earthquake will always
be followed by a sequence of aftershocks that normally aggravates its effect on
human and material elements like buildings and infrastructure.
The following are different hazards that normally result from the
occurrence of an earthquakes.
1. Ground Shaking or Ground Motion
The earth shakes with the passage of earthquake waves, which radiate
energy that had been “stored” in stressed rocks, and were released when a fault
broke and the rocks slipped to relieve the pent-up stress. The strength of ground
shaking is measured in the velocity of ground motion, the acceleration of ground
motion, the frequency content of the shaking and how long the shaking continues
(the duration).
2. Ground or Surface Rupture
Surface rupture is an offset of the ground surface when fault rupture
extends to the Earth’s surface when fault rupture extends to the Earth’s surface. Any
structure built cross the fault is at risk of being torn apart as the two sides of the fault
slip past each other.
3. Liquefaction
Soil liquefaction is a phenomenon in which the strength and stiffness of
a soil is reduced by earthquake shaking or other rapid loading. It normally occurs in
saturated soils, that is, soils in which the space between individual particles is
completely filled with water.
4. Earthquake-induced ground subsidence and lateral spreading
Subsidence, or lowering of the ground surface, often occurs during
earthquakes. This may be due to downward vertical displacement on one side of a
fault, and can sometimes affect a huge area of land. Coastal areas can become
permanently flooded as a result. Subsidence can also occur as ground shaking
causes loose sediments to “settle” and to lose their load bearing strength or to slump
down sloping ground.
Lateral spreading occurs where sloping ground starts to move downhill,
causing cracks to open up, that are often seen along hill crests and river banks.
5. Tsunami
A tsunami, also known as a seismic sea wave, is a series of waves in a
water body caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an
ocean or a large lake. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater
explosions (including detonations of underwater nuclear devices), landslides, glacier
cavings, meteorite impacts and other disturbances above or below water all have the
potential to generate a tsunami.

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 6. Earthquake-induced landslides
Landslides are frequently triggered by strong ground motions. They are
important secondary earthquake hazard. The term landslide includes a wide range of
ground movement, such as rock falls, deep failure of slopes, and shallow debris
flows. However, gravity acting on a steep slope is the primary reason for all
landslides.

What’s More
Identify various potential earthquake hazards.

What I Have Learned

What can people do to protect themselves and stay safe during an
earthquake?

What I Can Do
What to do before, during, and after the earthquake happens?

Assessment
1. Which of the following factors affect the intensity of ground shaking?
a. the magnitude of the earthquake
b. the distance from the epicenter
c. the angle between the fault and the maximum principal stress
direction
d. the local geological conditions

2. What kind of material amplify ground shaking?

a. hard rocks
b. plutonic rocks
c. soft soils and sediments
d. metamorphosed sedimentary rocks

3. What is a large ocean wave that results from an underwater earthquake,

landslide, or volcanic eruption?

a. aftershock b. liquefaction
c. seismic gap d. tsunami

4. Which of the following factors must be in place before liquefaction can occur?
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 a. Loose, granular sediment and/or soil must be present
b. there must be enough ground water present to saturate sediment
and/or soils
c. ground shaking must be sufficiently intense that grains within
water saturated sediment and/or soil lose contact with each other
d. fractures within hard rock must be filled with ground water

5. Which of the following is not a secondary hazard cause by earthquakes?

a. loss of lives b. tsunami
c. landslide d. liquefaction

6. Which community will be least affected by an earthquake?

a. a community that is within 1km radius of the epicenter.
b. a densely populated community that has earthquake preparedness
measures in place.
c. a community that experiences an earthquake with a depth of focus
of 100 km.
d. a community that experiences an earthquake of magnitude 7.5.

7. Which secondary hazard of earthquakes is described as: collapse of buildings

caused by earthquake vibrating water-saturated fill or unconsolidated soil?
a. tsunami b. landslide
c. liquefaction d. lateral spreading

8. What is the temporary state in which loose soil and rock materials take
on the property of a liquid?
a. aftershock b. liquefaction
c. seismic gap d. tsunami

9. It is an offset of the ground surface when fault rupture extends to the

Earth’s surface.
a. ground shaking b. Ground Rupture
c. Liquefaction d. Tsunami

10. It is the perceptible shaking of the surface of the Earth, resulting from
the sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust that creates seismic
waves.
a. Cyclone b. Earthquake
c. Volcanic Eruptions d. Typhoons

Key to answers on page 16

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Additional Activities
Read the following account and give reactions afterward. Based from the
account you read about the Baguio Killer Quake, list down the different earthquake
hazards you had identified, and provide your analysis of the different effects of these
hazards.

1990 Baguio City Earthquake

(Source: www.cityofpines.com)

Looking back, it was exactly 4:26 p.m. on Monday, 16 July 1990, that a
killer earthquake unexpectedly hit and extensively devastated the City of Baguio. As
reported, the powerful tremblor measured 7.7 in the open-ended Richter scale and
lasted for 45 seconds. It was said to be the most destructive earthquake on record
within the Cordillera region. There were numerous aftershocks that followed and the
strongest, which occurred at 3:15 a.m. of July 18, lasted for eight seconds…and
measured 5.3 on the Richter scale.
Fearing of their lives, many of Baguio’s 120,000 people slept outdoors
on Monday night. The city suffered the most in terms of destruction to properties and
numerous deaths. Many commercial and government buildings, hotels, inns, and
residences were heavily damaged. The death toll continued to rise as rescuers
pulled more bodies from the rubbles. It was estimated that as many as 1,000 people
were trapped and killed in damaged buildings.
The five-star Hyatt Terraces Plaza sustained the worst damage when
its terraced front collapsed onto the lobby area, killing about 50 people. The Baguio
Park Hotel along Harrison Road was a total wreck. The luxurious Nevada Hotel
which is located right across from the main gate of Camp John Hay was ripped in
half by the quake, leaving a huge gash in the middle of the structure. The Saint
Vincent Catholic Church along Naguilian Road was spared by the strong quake,
however portion of its retaining wall and parking area was damaged and collapsed to
the road below. The church, which has withstood typhoons, bombings during the 2 nd
world war, and other disasters, suffered only minor damage.
At the University of Baguio (UB), it was initially reported that 23 people,
mostly students, were killed when the supporting structure of the commerce building
gave way. Nearby the FRB Building also crumbled to the ground. The FRB building
and UB are both owned by Fernando Bautista, Sr. and his family.
The Philippine Military Academy at Fort Del Pilar was also one of the
worst hit portions in the city. The parade ground mushroomed into tent city where

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cadets pitched tents after their barracks were destroyed. There were many other
buildings and familiar landmarks of Baguio which were damaged and classified as
hazards. These included the Skyworld Condominium and Commercial Center along
Session Road, The Royal Inn at Magsaysay Avenue, and the controversial Baguio
Hilltop whicj was structed oil behind the Baguio Public Market. Because of the
extensive devastation, Baguio City was described to be a virtual “war zone”. Also, it
was running low on water, fuel, food, and other miscellaneous basic necessities to
include much-needed medicines for the injured and sick people.
Rescue crews and relief supplies began to trickle into Baguio as hope
faded for hundreds of people believed trapped under collapsed buildings as a result
of Monday’s earthquake. Thousands of residents of the city huddled in tattered tents
and makeshift shelters in parks and streets. Drenched by daily rains, many
complained that they had no food, water, or medicine. Doctors working under
umbrellas and sheets of plastic had treated nearly 800 of the injured. The city’s three
hospitals were all damaged and without power. Aftershocks continued throughout
the day. Without electric power, rescue work at the Hyatt Terraces and Nevada
hotels stopped as daylight faded. Almost no rescue operations were evident at the
20 other hotels and at schools, office buildings and factories.
The three main access roads to Baguio were blocked by landslide hat
hundreds of motorists were stuck along the highways. The roads were totally
impassable to vehicular traffic. People desiring to leave the city had no other
alternative but to hike down Kennon Road, Marcos Highway, or Naguilian Road.
Different portions of Kennon Road were blocked by landslides. This condition also
made the delivery of critically needed aid to the city impossible. Loakan airport had
to be temporarily closed to commercial flights to allow food, supplies, equipment, and
rescue personnel to be transported by air using military and some privately-owned
aircraft.

Answers to Questions
Pre Test

1.C 11. B
2.D 12. C
3.A 13. D
4.D 14. A
5.B 15. D
6. D 16. A
7. A 17. A
8. B 18. A
9. B 19. A
10. A 20. B

Assessment

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 1. B 6. B
2. C 7. C
3. D 8. B
4. A 9. B -End of Module-
5. A 10. B

Reference

Quebral, Villamor S, 2016. Disaster Readiness & Risk Reduction. Quezon City, Metro Manila, Lorimar
Publishing Inc.

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