Subject DISASTER READINESS AND RISK REDUCTION

Topic 1 Concept, Importance and Key principles of DRR

Date

Module 4 Concept of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management (DRRM)

Module Description
This course focuses on the application of scientific knowledge and the solution of practical
problems in a physical environment. It is designed to bridge the gap between theoretical science
and daily living.
Learning Outcome/s
In this module, you will be able to:
a. Describe the key concepts, principles, and elements of DRR;
b. Discuss the different community- based practices for managing disaster risk to specific
hazards
c. Develop community preparedness plan
To Do List

Good job on completing fourth virtual lesson for our Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction class!
Here are the things that you must complete in this module:

❖ Assessment
❖ Reading
❖ Watch Video
❖ Take Quiz
❖ Accomplish the output

Lectures

❖ Motivation
Before you proceed, check out this short activity to help you get started.
Directions: Watch the video using the link provided below. Identify and briefly discuss the 10
things you should know about disaster risk reduction.

Re: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y16aMLeh91Q

❖ Essential Readings
Here are the highlights of our discussion:
The Philippines, like some other countries in Asia is a disaster prone country. One of the reason
behind this fact is the geographic location of the country.
Disaster risk reduction (DRR) is a term used for reducing and preventing disaster risks. It is
founded on the principle that while hazards are inevitable, its adverse effects like lost lives and/or
destruction of property are not. There are steps that we can do to ensure reduction of risks. DRR
actions can be political, technical, social and economic.

Disaster is 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. Disasters are often
described as a result of the combination of several things: the exposure to a hazard; the
conditions of vulnerability that are present; and insufficient capacity or measures to reduce or
cope with the potential negative consequences. Disaster impacts may include loss of life, injury,
disease and other negative effects on human, physical, mental and social well-being, together
with damage to property, destruction of assets, loss of services, social and economic disruption
and environmental degradation.

Interaction between Risk, Hazard, Vulnerability and Capacity Hazards do not necessarily
constitute disaster. Disasters are usually described in terms of the effects which a hazard has on
lives, property, environment and the cost of recovery or rehabilitation.

 Risk- refers to the potential (not actual) disaster losses, in lives, health status, livelihoods,
assets and services, which could occur in a particular community or society over some
specified future time period.
 Hazard- 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”.
 Vulnerability- characteristics and circumstances of a community, system or asset that
make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard.
 Capacity- combination of all the strengths, attributes and resources available within a
community, society or organization that can be used to achieve agreed goals.
Basic Concepts of Disaster Risk Reduction:

 Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)- refers to the process of identifying, assessing and reducing
the risk of disaster. The aim of DRR is to reduce the impact of disaster to vulnerable
elements such as people, animals and structures.
 Disaster Management- aims at lessening the destructive effect of disaster. If could be done
by defining responsibilities of all personnel involved and organizing and managing
resources.
 Natural Disaster- this results from natural processes of the Earth which has devastating
impact to vulnerable elements because it is beyond the capacity of the elements to cope.
 tinyurl.com/2zc83753

Disaster risk reduction usually requires long-term planning across sectors and must be
integrated into general national and regional development strategies. DRR strategies
usually begin with plans for assessing (a) the hazards and risks that threaten the target
area, (b) the 237 extent of harm that would occur to communities and infrastructure, and
(c) the vulnerable people’s capacities to cope with and recover from possible disasters.

PRE- EVENT/ PRE- DISASTER

Prevention Prevention expresses the concept and intention to completely avoid potential adverse impacts
through action taken in advance. Can be in the form of proper land use or using suitable
engineering design.
Mitigation The lessening or limitation of the adverse impacts of hazards and related disasters. While the
adverse impacts of hazards often cannot be prevented fully, their scale or severity can be
substantially lessened by various strategies and actions.
Adaptation The adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or
their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities.
Preparedness The knowledge and capacities developed by governments, professional response and recovery
organizations, communities and individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from,
the impacts of likely, imminent or current hazard events or conditions. Preparedness action is
carried out within the context of disaster risk management and aims to build the capacities needed
to efficiently manage all types of emergencies and achieve orderly transitions from response
through to sustained recovery.
POST EVENT/ POST DISASTER
Response The provision of emergency services and public assistance during or immediately after a disaster in
order to save lives, reduce health impacts, ensure public safety and meet the basic subsistence
needs of the people affected. Disaster response is predominantly focused on immediate and short-
term needs and is sometimes called “disaster relief”.
Recovery The restoration, and improvement where appropriate, of facilities, livelihoods and living conditions
of disaster-affected communities, including efforts to reduce disaster risk factors. The recovery task
of rehabilitation and reconstruction begins soon after the emergency phase has ended, and should
be based on pre-existing strategies and policies that facilitate clear institutional responsibilities for
recovery action and enable public participation.

Importance of DRR

1. Disaster risk reduction is important for building a sustainable future. Disasters destroy life,
properties and hamper services. Because of disasters, services and development is barred. It is
therefore important for every country to prioritize disaster risk reduction.
 2. Disaster Risk reduction reduces the danger in the governmental goals. It must be understood
that disaster damage will cost a lot for the government to rehabilitate and to rebuild.

3. Emotional instability is reduced by disaster risk reduction.

4. Disaster risk reduction protects the rights of the people by guarding their interests for life and
property. It ensures that the basic needs of the people are sustained by protecting the people’s
investments like houses, works, business and others.

5. disaster risk reduction empowers the people by increasing their community participation for
community development.

Principles of Disaster Risk Reduction

1. Economic Development can either increase or decrease disaster risk. Well planned
urbanization can decrease disaster risk, on the other hand, it may also increase disaster risk if
waterways, bridges and creeks are already occupied by illegal settlers.

2. Disaster risk reduction policy must be implemented by communities in order to save lives. We
have numerous laws, but its implementation is only “ningas cogon”

3. the community must be empowered in disaster risk reduction as they are those directly
affected by disasters. They should be the prime mover of disaster risk management.

4. Disaster risk reduction

Activities

❖ Output
Go to the Output tab on the VSmart Main Menu then click on “OUTPUT1” to begin. Good
luck!
A. Directions: Answer the following questions.

A. What do the following acronyms stand for? Explain their roles in disaster risk reduction.

1. UNISDR

2. DOE

3. DTI

4. GHG

5. HFA

B. Why is it important to check the energy rating of an appliance being purchased? What is the
implication of the rating to the disaster risk reduction?

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C. Global warming is a natural climate change process. It occurs when there is an observable
rise in the climate of the Earth’s system. Discuss how it affects efforts to reduce the risk of
disasters.
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D. How would passing RA 10121 help in the country’s efforts to reduce disaster risk?

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B. Directions: Watch the video using the link provided below. Answer the questions that follow.
Re: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izpDdnaSxN0

1. What is Sendai Framework of Disaster Risk Reduction?

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2. What are the goals and priorities of Sendai Framework of Disaster Risk Reduction?

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3. If you were given a chance to implement this plan in the Philippines, would you do it or not?
Why?

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For you to prepare for our next meeting, here are the topics you might want to read on in
advance:
Conclusion
Job well done, class! May this topic serve as your guide and motivation for the rest of our
lessons in this semester. This lesson may serve as your foundation for our upcoming topics so
make sure you have clearly understood what we have discussed.
That’s all for now, class, until next time!
References
Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction by Marietta M. De Leon and Archivsld Mel F.
Cordero pages 215- 230
Disasters: What should you know and what should you do by Desire G. Estrada Ph. D page
176- 183