Basic Concept

of Disaster and
Disaster Risk
Concept of
Disaster
1
2
 What is Disaster?

Disaster is "a sudden, calamitous occurrence that causes great harm, injury,
destruction, and devastation to life and property”. It disrupts the usual course
of life, causing both physical and emotional distress such as an intense
feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. A preceding definition of disaster
stresses that two elements are affected – life (whether human or animal) and
property. The effects vary – it maybe a minor damage (like broken windows
and doors), major damage (like torn rooftops, collapsed walls), total
destruction (like completely destroyed houses and structures rendering them
useless and inhabitable) and the worst scenario, it can lead to death. (Asian
Disaster Preparedness Center, ADPC, 2012)

3
 What is Disaster?

Disasters are often a result of the combination of: 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.
Its impacts may include loss of life, injury, disease and other negative
effects on human physical, mental, and social wellbeing, together with
damage to properties, destruction of assets, loss of services, social and
economic disruptions, and environmental degradation.

4
 Republic Act 10121

Republic Act 10121 also known as “An Act Strengthening the

Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System,
Providing for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Plan, Appropriating Funds, Therefore and Other Purposes” was
passed and approved on May 27, 2010 after 21 years of revisions and
refiling in the two legislative bodies. This new law, unlike the
previous Presidential Decree P.D. 1566, is proactive in giving
importance to disaster mitigation and preparedness measures.

5
 Republic Act 10121

One of the law’s salient points is the immediate release of

calamity funds to local government units (LGUs) so they can
prepare for disaster mitigation and preparedness. This is a
welcome provision because local government units can utilize 70
percent of the total calamity fund to risk-reduction measures and
30 percent to quick response activities. In the old law, the LGU
can only use the calamity fund for quick response activities.

6
 Republic Act 10121

Section 2 of the RA 10121 states that the state shall “develop,

promote, and implement a comprehensive that aims to strengthen
the capacity of the national government and the LGUs, together
with partner stakeholders, to build the disaster resilience of
communities, and to institutionalize arrangements and measures
for reducing disaster risks, including projected climate risks, and
enhancing disaster preparedness and response capabilities at all
levels. http://drrknowledge.net/phillaws-drr/

7
8
 Natural Disasters

A natural phenomenon that is caused by natural

forces, such as earthquakes, typhoon, volcanic
eruptions, hurricanes, fires, tornados, and extreme
temperatures. They can be classified as rapid onset
disasters and those with progressive onset, such as
droughts that lead to famine. These events, usually
sudden, can have tremendous effects.

9
 Hazard

A hazard is a source or condition that has the

potential to cause harm to humans in the form of
injury or illness, property damage, environmental
damage, or a combination of these.

10
 Hazard

A hazard is a source or condition that has the

potential to cause harm to humans in the form of
injury or illness, property damage, environmental
damage, or a combination of these.

11
 Hazard

A natural hazard occurs when an extreme natural event

is destructive to human life and property. This event could
interfere with activities in a minor way such as when strong
winds blow trees down, or this event could completely
disrupt activities like a large earthquake damaging your
home, business or school. These natural events have been
happening for thousands of years (a long time before we were
even around!), but they only become hazards when humans
are affected in some way

12
 Hazard

Human-made induced hazards are caused by

human activities. Unlike natural hazards, human-
made hazards can often be prevented.

13
 Human-Made Induced Hazards

1. Technological/industrial disasters
Unregulated industrialization and
inadequate safety standards increase the risk
for industrial disasters.
Examples: leaks of hazardous materials; accidental explosions;
bridge or road collapses, or vehicle collisions; Power cuts

14
 Human-Made Induced Hazards

2. Terrorism/Violence
The threat of terrorism has also increased due to
the spread of technologies involving nuclear,
biological, and chemical agents used to develop
weapons of mass destruction.
Examples: bombs or explosions; release of chemical
materials; release of biological agents; release of radioactive
agents; multiple or massive shootings; mutinies

15
 Human-Made Induced Hazards

3. Complex humanitarian emergencies

The term complex emergency is usually used to describe the
humanitarian emergency resulting from an international or civil
war. In such situations, large numbers of people are displaced from
their homes due to the lack of personal safety and the disruption of
basic infrastructure including food distribution, water, electricity,
and sanitation, or communities are left stranded and isolated in their
own homes unable to access assistance.
Examples: conflicts or wars and Genocide the deliberate
killing of a large group of people,especially those of a particular
ethnic group or nation
16
 “
The damage caused by disaster cannot be measured.
It also differs with the kind of geographical location,
climate, earth’s specific characteristics, and level of
vulnerability. These determining factors affect
generally the psychological, socio – economic,
political, and ethnical state of the affected area.

17
Disaster Risk
2
18
 Risk and Disaster Risk

Risk Disaster Risk

Risk has various connotations within The term disaster risk refers to the potential (not actual
and realized) disaster losses, in lives, health status, livelihoods,
different disciplines. In general, risk is assets, and services which could occur in a community or society
defined as “the combination of the over some specified future time period.
probability of an event and its negative Disaster risk is the product of the possible damage caused
by a hazard due to the vulnerability within a community. It
consequences” (UNISDR, 2009). The term should be noted that the effect of a hazard (of a particular
risk is thus multidisciplinary and is used in a magnitude) would affect communities differently (Von Kotze,
1999:35).
variety of contexts. It is usually associated
It can also be determined by the presence of three
with the degree to which humans cannot cope variables: hazards (natural or anthropogenic); vulnerability to a
(lack of capacity) with a situation (e.g. hazard; and coping capacity linked to the reduction, mitigation,
natural hazard). and resilience to the vulnerability of a community.

19
Nature and Effect of
Disasters
3
20
 Characteristic of Disasters

Disasters are inherently unexpected or happen

quickly with little to no warning. As a result disaster
(both man-made and those resulting from natural
events) cause widespread death, injury, and property
damage.

21
 Characteristic of Disasters

The following characterize disasters.

◈ Knows no political boundaries
◈ Requires restructured and new responding organizations
◈ Creates new tasks and requires more people as disaster responders
◈ Render useless routine emergency response equipment and facilities
◈ Worsen the confusion over the roles of people and organizations
◈ Exposes the lack of disaster planning, response, and coordination
◈ Inexperienced disaster organizations often fail to see their proper roles

22
 Impact of Disasters

◈ Medical effects - The medical effects of disaster include

traumatic injuries, emotional stress, epidemic diseases, and
indigenous diseases.
◈ Damage to critical facilities - Widespread disasters can
destroy or damage facilities that may be critical not only in
maintaining a safe environment and public order, but also in
responding to the disaster.
◈ Disruption of transportation - During the initial stages of
disaster, almost all means of surface transportation within a
community are disrupted by broken bridges, roads, and streets
that are rendered impassable by landslides or floods.

23
 Impact of Disasters

◈ Economic Impact - As a result of the destruction and damage to

critical facilities, particularly transportation and communication
facilities, disaster disrupt normal business operations and other
economic activities.
◈ Global Environmental Change - There is an increasing evidence
of global climate change caused by both human activity and
disasters. Although the long term consequences are hard to predict,
more severe cyclonic storms, increased flooding and drought, and
a trend toward desertification cannot be ruled out.
◈ Social and Political Impact - When disaster strike, social and
political inequities are usually exposed, which may lead to major
political and social changes.
24
 Free templates for all your presentation needs

For PowerPoint and 100% free for personal or Ready to use, professional Blow your audience away
Google Slides commercial use and customizable with attractive visuals