DRR Week 1 - 2
DRR Week 1 - 2
DRR Week 1 - 2
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.
WEEK 1-2
Disaster is “a sudden, calamitous event, bringing great damage, loss, destruction and
devastation to life and property.” (Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, ADPC, 2012)
The 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 of all, death.
The extent of effects also varies. The damages may be confined to a small area or it
reach or encompass an extensive, wide area.
With this disaster risk, areas have been identified to be prone to disasters.
The three definitions cited above indicate that there are three elements of disaster risk.
1. Exposure: The ‘elements at risk’ from a natural or man-made hazard event. (Quebral, 2016).
2. Hazard: A potentially damaging physical event, phenomenon or human activity that may
cause the loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption or
environmental degradation. FAO (2008)
Man-made hazard
Reduction of the level of vulnerability and exposure is possible by keeping people and
property as distant as possible from hazards. We cannot prevent natural events from occurring
so we should focus on addressing the reduction of vulnerability and exposure.
Disasters can affect anyone and everyone. It does not discriminate between and among
social classes, gender, creed, race, nationality. But there are certain risk factors which put those
affected in a position where they will have graver or longer-lasting post-disaster stress
reactions. These aggravating factors contribute pronounced differences in the stress reactions
of certain individuals with certain characteristics.
The risk factors which underlie disasters according to the ADPC (2012) are:
2. Gender and Family – the female gender (woman or girl) suffers more adverse
effects. This worsens when children are present at home. Marital relationships
are placed under strain.
3. Age - Adults in the age range of 40-60 are more stressed after disasters but in
general, children exhibit more stress after disasters than adults do.
Highly- stressed parents affect recovery of children.
A. Fill Me Out!
Supply the missing letters to complete the word or words that described the various effects
of disaster. Statements are provided as clues.
1. Many people have to abandon their homes and seek shelter in other regions which
may cause large influx of refugees that disrupt accessibility of health care and education,
as well as food supplies and clean water.
Po _ _ _ _ t _ _ n Di_ p _ a _c _ me_ _
2. Death tolls can rise even after immediate danger has passed.
H_a_t_R__k
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The quake struck off the coast of the southern town of Manay at 3.16pm at a depth of 14km, the
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in a statement.
While there were no immediate reports of serious destruction, the institute said it expects the
earthquake to have caused some damage.
A lot of people ran from their homes because a lot of items were falling inside," Phivolcs science
researcher John Deximo said.
The Philippines lies on the so-called Ring of Fire, a vast Pacific Ocean region where many
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.
At least two people were killed and scores injured when a 6.5-magnitude quake struck the
central Philippines in July last year.
The most recent major quake to hit the Philippines was in 2013, when a 7.1-magnitude quake
left more than 220 people dead and destroyed historic churches in the central islands.
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/64-magnitude-earthquake-shakes-southern-
philippines
What risk can you identify from the preceding statement? How did that risk or risks affect the
ability of the survivor to cope with the disaster?
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Disasters only take place when communities are situated in a location where they could
be affected by the natural events. For instance, if a volcano erupts and there are no human
beings and there are no human settlements within the danger zone, then disaster is absent. But
if there is human community within the danger zone, that community shall be affected by the
explosions. The event escalates into a disaster when it is sudden and causes extensive human,
physical and/or environmental destructions.
Vulnerability on the other hand is situation specific. This means that if a particular
province is prone to earthquake, it does not mean that all localities on that province is
vulnerable to it. The vulnerability of different towns or cities or even provinces differs in the way
they prepare for the hazard and the amount and type of resources they have to prevent and
manage it.
To lessen vulnerability means to make the community prepared and ready for the
possible damaging effect of the hazard.
These Factors Can Affect One Another or Can Lead to Other Factors
1. Population density near a hazard event. Population differs from population density.
Population refers to the number of individuals inhabiting in a particular space at the same time.
If people are well distributed, there is lesser effect of disaster. While population density refers to
the number of individuals living in an area in relation to the size of an area.
If population density is high, it means that the number of individuals is high but the space
is very small. In that case, if fire broke in that area, there is little space for the population to
escape quickly and easily. So, crowded communities have higher vulnerability to hazards.
2. Capacity and efficiency to reduce disaster risk. Community that is less vulnerable has
the capacity to reduce disaster risk. This community can provide accessibility and availability of
services and facilities that can help in preparing for disasters. This community has the ability to
anticipate, adapt and respond to possible disaster.
Is it appropriate to say that Philippines is less vulnerable to typhoon? Nowadays, our
country has advanced technology to predict super typhoon and several municipalities already
provided evacuation centers to provide temporary housing for victims when disaster occur.
“Remember, most of your stress comes from the way you respond, not the way life is. Adjust
your attitude. Change how you see things. Look for the good in all situations. Take the lesson
and find new opportunities to grow. Let all the extra stress, worrying, and overthinking go.”
There are Several Factors that Affects the Vulnerability of Certain Infrastructures,
Buildings and Houses
2. Building codes and disaster policies. Structures and buildings poses disaster risk.
When they fall or collapse during earthquake, they can cause injury and loss of lives. Thus, in
designing buildings and structures, possible hazards should be considered.
Hazard is a
dangerous phenomenon, substance, human activity or condition
that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts,
property damage, loss of livelihood and services, social and
economic disruption, or
environmental damage.
Any impending
danger is hazard.
Exposure is the
presence of elements at risk or chance of
being
harmed from
a natural or man-made hazard event. Elements include the
individuals, households or
communities,
While exposure and vulnerability on the other hand are distinct. A certain community
can be exposed but it does not mean that it is vulnerable. Buildings and structures in Japan are
exposed to earthquake, but they are not vulnerable since their architectural and engineering
designs are earthquake proof or resistant. However, to become vulnerable, it must be exposed
to hazard first.
Exposure to hazard can make a community vulnerable. But not all communities that are
exposed to hazard can be considered vulnerable. Vulnerability depends on the preparedness
and readiness to a particular hazard of the community. It depends mostly on how they mitigate,
respond and recover. If a certain community has the ability to reduce the vulnerability by
reducing the risk, the said community is already considered as less vulnerable or resilient.
Week 1-2
Activity Sheet #3
Basic Concept of Disaster and Disaster Risk
Nature of Disasters
Identifying Hazards That Can Lead to Disasters
Exposure and Vulnerability
Week 1-2
Activity Sheet #4
Basic Concept of Disaster and Disaster Risk
Nature of Disasters
Identifying Hazards That Can Lead to Disasters
Exposure and Vulnerability
A. Identify what is the factor (LOCATION or BUILDING CODE) involved in the following
disaster.
Week 1-2
Activity Sheet #5
Basic Concept of Disaster and Disaster Risk
Nature of Disasters
Identifying Hazards That Can Lead to Disasters
Exposure and Vulnerability
Given the following scenario, continue the story by determining the hazard and a possible way
to lessen the vulnerability of the exposed elements to hazard.
1. You are a mom/dad. You live in Brgy. Aplaya, which is right next to Laguna de Bay. You
have a 2-storey house, and the ground floor where your sari-sari store is already
flooded. You wrapped your baby and went to the second floor, but the flood is fast rising
and you are likely to get trapped.
Your husband/wife went to Barangay Hall, where they prepared boats, but he/she has
not yet come back.
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2. You are a seven-year old boy, and you usually roam the streets of Parian, Calamba City.
You were playing out in the street with your friends. It started to rain, then the rain
started to make a swimming pool. You and your friends dived in, laughing, but in a few
minutes, you felt your body getting tired, and the swimming pool was getting higher, and
you couldn’t see where to go anymore.
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