SHS

DISASTER READINESS and

RISK REDUCTION
Week 1 – Module 2
Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction
Grade 11/12 Week 1 – Module 2
First Edition, 2020

Copyright © 2020
La Union Schools Division
Region I

All rights reserved. No part of this module may be reproduced in any form without
written permission from the copyright owners.

Development Team of the Module

Author: AURIE AMOR T. QUINONES

Editor: SDO La Union, Learning Resource Quality Assurance Team

Illustrator: Ernesto F. Ramos Jr., P II

Management Team:

ATTY. Donato D. Balderas, Jr.

Schools Division Superintendent

Vivian Luz S. Pagatpatan, PhD

Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
German E. Flora, PhD, CID Chief

Virgilio C. Boado, PhD, EPS in Charge of LRMS

Rominel S. Sobremonte, EdD, EPS in charge in Science
Michael Jason D. Morales, PDO II
Claire P. Toluyen, Librarian II
Disaster Readiness and
Risk Reduction
Week 1 – Module 2
 Target

We are aware of the fact that the number of natural disasters has been
increasing and their aftermath to the population, properties and communities
exceeded our expectations. The geographical location of our country has a great
contribution to our exposure to different disasters. However, if the population
understand better the locally-experienced hazards, we can implement preventive or
mitigating measures to ease the effect.

In your previous lesson, you are able to explain the meaning of disaster.

After going through this learning material, you are expected to:

1. differentiate the risk factors underlying disasters (DRR11/12-Ia-b-2)

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 Jumpstart

Define the following terms:

1. Hazard
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2. Disaster
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3. Risk
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4. Disaster Risk
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5. Disaster Risk Factors
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 Discover

Relative to disaster, a salient factor that needs to be addressed properly is

disaster risk. Disaster risk can be understood as the likelihood (probability) of loss
of life, injury or destruction and damage from a disaster in a given period of time
(adapted from UNISDR, 2015a). Disaster risk is widely recognized as the
consequence of the interaction between a hazard and the characteristics that make
people and places vulnerable and exposed.

Risk = Hazard x Exposure x Vulnerability

As we can see from the mathematical equation of risk, disaster risk results
from the complex interaction between development processes that generate
conditions of exposure, vulnerability and hazard. Disaster risk is therefore
considered as the combination of the severity and frequency of a hazard, the
numbers of people and assets exposed to the hazard, and their vulnerability to
damage (UNIDR, 2015a).

The losses and impacts that characterize disasters usually have much to do
with the exposure and vulnerability of people and places as they do with the severity
of the hazard event (UNISDR, 2013).

Disaster risk has many characteristics. In order to understand disaster risk,

it is essential to understand that it is:

• Forward looking the likelihood of loss of life, destruction and damage in a

given period of time

• Dynamic: it can increase or decrease according to our ability to reduce

vulnerability

• Invisible: it is comprised of not only the threat of high-impact events, but

also the frequent, low-impact events that are often hidden

• Unevenly distributed around the earth: hazards affect different areas, but
the pattern of disaster risk reflects the social construction of exposure and
vulnerability in different countries

• Emergent and complex: many processes, including climate change and

globalized economic development, are creating new, interconnected risks

Disaster risk factors are variables that either aggravate or mitigate the effects
of hazards, affecting the degree or scope of a disaster.

1. Physical factors would pertain to tangible objects or infrastructure, like the

availability of fire exits, or the sturdiness of the building, or the presence or
absence of objects that can harm you or help, etc.

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2. Psychological factors include the state of mental capacity and health. The
following are psychological risk factors summarized in a study made by ADPC,
2012:
a. Severity of exposure. The amount of exposure to the disaster is highly
related to risk of future mental problems. At highest risk are those that go
through the disaster themselves. Next are those in close contact with
victims. At lower risk are those who only had indirect exposure, such as
news of the severe damage. Injury and life threat are the factors that lead
most often to mental health problems.
b. Gender and family. Women or girls suffer more negative effects than do
men or boys. Disaster recovery is more stressful when children are present
in the home. Women with spouses also experience more distress during
recovery. Having a family member in the home who is extremely distressed
is related to more stress for everyone. Marital stress has been found to
increase after disasters. Also, conflicts between family members or lack of
support in the home make it harder to recover from disasters.
c. Age. Adults who are in the age range of 40–60 are likely to be more
distressed after disasters. The thinking is that if one is in that age range,
he/she has more demands from job and family.
d. Developing countries. Disasters in developing countries, like the
Philippines, have more severe mental health impact than do disasters in
developed countries. This is true even with less serious disasters. For
example, natural disasters are generally thought to be less serious than
human-caused. In developing countries, however, natural disasters have
more severe effects than do human-caused disasters in developed
countries.
e. Low or negative social support. Social support can weaken after disasters.
This may be due to stress and the need for members of the support network
to get on with their own lives. Sometimes the responses from other disaster
victims rely on for support are negative. For example, someone may play
down their problems, needs, or pain, or expect them to recover more
quickly than is realistic.
3. Socio-cultural factors include religion, social status, traditions, perception by
society, etc.
4. Economic factors include assets and liabilities, income, economic class, etc.
5. Political factors include government structure, diplomatic issues, etc.
6. Biological factors include flora and fauna in environment, health, diseases,
etc.

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 Explore

Write an essay about how the risk factors concern you personally. Identify
physical, psychological, socio-cultural, economic, political, and biological risk factors
that either affect or not affect you.

Deepen

In terms of disaster risk, Philippines rank third among all of the countries
with the highest risks worldwide according to the World Risk Report 2018, with index
value of 25.14% (World Economic Forum, 2018).

In this activity, you are going to identify and differentiate risk factors that
either affect or may not affect the people of Leyte. You may look on the article and
videos of Typhoon Yolanda 2013 on the internet. After reading articles and watching
videos and documentaries on Typhoon Yolanda, write a short essay/description of
the following risk factors that greatly affects or may not affect the people of Leyte.

a. Physical risk factor

b. Psychological risk factor

c. Socio-cultural risk factor

d. Economic risk factor

e. Political risk factor

f. Biological risk factor

Gauge

Before doing this activity, search, listen or watch news and article from reliable
sources regarding the Covid-19 situation in our country. Your activity is to
differentiate the risk factors underlying disaster from the current covid-19 outbreak
situation in our country. You can choose at least 3 from the risk factors variable and
differentiate each factor by citing concrete examples on how this virus outbreak

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aggravate or mitigate the effects of this pandemic in our country. Use short coupon
bond for your output. You will be graded by using the rubrics below:

Areas of 4 3 2 1
Assessment
Ideas Present ideas
Present ideas Ideas are too Ideas are
in an original
in a consistent general vague or
manner manner unclear
Organization Strong and
Organized Some No
organized organization organization
attempt
Understanding Writing shows Writing shows Writing shows Writing shows
strong a clear adequate little
understanding understanding understanding understanding
Sentence Sentence Sentence Sentence No sense of
Structure structure structure is structure is sentence
enhances evident; limited; structure or
meaning; sentences sentences flow
flows mostly flow need to flow
throughtout
the work

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Key Answer
JUMPSTART

1. Hazard – 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
2. Disaster – 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
3. Risk – the possibility that something bad or unpleasant (such as an injury or
a loss) will happen
4. Disaster Risk – the potential disaster losses in lives, health statuses,
livelihoods, assets, and services, which could occur in a particular community
or a society over some specified future time period
5. Disaster Risk Factors – are variables that either aggravate or mitigate the
effects of hazards, affecting the degree or scope of a disaster

Note: Accept other possible answers

EXPLORE

Answers may vary

DEEPEN

Answers may vary

GAUGE

Answers may vary

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References
Books
Disaster Reduction and Risk Management - Core Teacher Guide. (2017). Pasig City: Department of
Education.

Quebral, V. S. (2016). Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction. Quezon City: Lorimar Publishing, Inc.

Websites
https://www.adrc.asia/publications/TDRM2005/TDRM_Good_Practices/PDF/PDF-
2005e/Chapter1_1.2.pdf

https://www.unisdr.org/files/68265_682308philippinesdrmstatusreport.pdf

https://eird.org/americas/docs/unisdr-annual-report-2018-e-version.pdf

https://www.preventionweb.net/terminology/view/7818

https://www.preventionweb.net/risk/disaster-risk