Disaster- is "a sudden, calamitous occurrence Exposure and Vulnerability-A certain

that causes great harm, injury, destruction, and community can be exposed but it does not
devastation to life and property”.. mean that it is vulnerable.

2 CLASSIFICATIONS OF DISASTER Risk factors underlying disaster are involved:

Natural Disasters – a natural phenomenon is Severity of exposure - which measures those
caused by natural forces, such as earthquakes, who experience disaster first hand.
typhoon, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, Gender and Family - the female gender suffers
fires, tornados, and extreme temperatures. more adverse effects.
Man-made- caused by man are those in which Age - adults in the age range of 40-60 are more
major direct causes are identifiable intentional stressed after disasters but children exhibit
or non-intentional human actions more stress after disasters than adults do.
Economic status of country - evidence indicates
MAN MADE Subdivided into three categories: that severe mental problems resulting from
1. Technological/industrial disasters - disasters in countries like the Philippines
Unregulated industrialization and inadequate
safety standards Factors which underlie disasters
2. Terrorism/Violence - the threat/ used to 1. Climate change - means the alteration of the
develop weapons of mass destruction. world’s climate that we humans are causing
3. Complex humanitarian emergencies - the such as burning of fossil fuels.
term complex emergency is usually used to 2. Environmental Degradation - changes to the
describe the humanitarian emergency resulting environment can influence the frequency and
from an international or civil war. intensity of hazards, as well as our exposure and
vulnerability to these hazards.
Risk - refers to the potential for loss, damage or 3. Globalized Economic Development - It
destruction a hazard can cause results in an increased polarization between the
Disaster risk - refers to the disaster losses, in rich and poor on a global scale.
lives, health status, and services which could 4. Poverty and Inequality - Impoverished
occur in a community or society over some people are more likely to live in hazard exposed
specified future time period. areas and are less able to invest in risk-reducing
-is the product of the possible measures.
damage caused by a hazard due to the 5. Poorly planned and Managed Urban
vulnerability within a community. Development - unfolding in hazard-exposed
countries
RISK FACTORS 6. Weak Governance - weak governance zones
1. Exposure - the “elements at risk from a
natural or man-made hazard event The Human Effect of Natural and Man-Made
2. Hazard -a condition or a set of circumstances Disasters
that present a potential for harm. 1. Displaced Populations
3. Vulnerability - refers to the characteristics of 2. Health Risks
a community or system that make it susceptible 3. Food Scarcity
to the possible damaging effects of a hazard. 4. Emotional Aftershocks
 -Population refers to the number of individuals
inhabiting in a particular space at the same
time.
-Population density refers to the number of
individuals living in an area in relation to the
size of an area.
2. Capacity and efficiency to reduce Disaster
Risk.
-Community that is less vulnerable has the
The Different Perspectives of Disaster capacity to reduce disaster risk

1. Physical Perspective-phenomena that cause Vulnerabilities of Different

great physical damage in a community Elements Exposed to Hazards
infrastructure. Physical Vulnerability
2. Psychological Perspective-Victims of Social Vulnerability
disasters may suffer from PostTraumatic Stress Economic Vulnerability
Disorder (PTSD) Socioeconomic Vulnerability
3. Socio-cultural Perspective-Filipinos are Environmental Vulnerability
generally known as “matiisin”, resourceful, Quantifying Vulnerability
helpful, optimistic, and prayerful.
4. Economic Perspective- Disasters affect the Hazard and Its Types
economic condition of a community because Natural hazards - arise from natural processes
they reduce local and international trade. in the environment
5. Political Perspective- Quasi-natural hazards- arise through the
6. Biological Perspective- interaction of natural processes and human
(a) Epidemic Level: Biological disaster affects activities
large numbers of people within a given Technological (or man-made) hazards- These
community or area. Ex: Dengue. arise directly as a result of human activities.
(b) Pandemic Level: Biological disaster affects a
much large region, sometime spanning entire 6 Specific types of Hazard Impacts
continents or the globe 1. Physical Impact
ex. Swine Flue 2. Psychological Impact
3. Socio- cultural Impact
Vulnerability Defined 4. Economic impact
*Vulnerability is a state of being at risk. 5. Environmental impact
-susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard 6. Biological impact
*Vulnerability is also situation specific.
-specific province is prone to earthquake, it Hazard identification is the process of
does not mean that all localities on that determining all physical and nonphysical agents
province is vulnerable to it. in the workplace or specific environment.
Risk assessment
Factors affecting vulnerability of one’s is a way to determine which hazards and risks
community: should prioritized by taking into consideration
1. Population density near a hazard event. the probability and severity of impact.
1. Identify the hazards. Use the following
methods:
a.Observation - use your senses of sight,
hearing, smell and touch - combined with
knowledge and experience.
b.Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) - obtain
them from manufacturers and suppliers. It gives
information on possible harm from hazardous
substances and precautions that need to be
taken.
c.Hazard and risk surveys - interview other
people about their safety concerns as far as the
workplace is concerned. Utmost consideration
should be given to children or visitors who
could be at risk.
d.Discussion groups - are useful for identifying
hazards and recommending solutions.
e.Safety audits – a committee must be assigned
to periodically check safety in the area.

2. Assess the Risk.

-indigenous people
inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures
and ways of relating to people and the
environment.
-ground subsidence
sinking of the ground because of underground
material movement—
-Levees
an embankment, like a dam, constructed to
prevent the overflow of a body of water.
-Religious group
set of individuals whose identity as such is
distinctive in terms of common religious creed,
beliefs, doctrines, practices, or rituals; and.
-PAG-ASA
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and
Astronomical Services Administration.
-DOST
Department of Science and Technology