Disaster and Emergency Management Week 1: Definition of Disaster

Natural Disasters

• An example of a geophysical natural disaster is an earthquake.

Disaster Impact

• The main impact of a disaster in the short-term is the immediate damage and loss of life.

Risk and Vulnerability

• Risk in the context of natural disasters refers to the probability of a disaster occurring and the potential losses that may result.
• Vulnerability in the context of natural disasters refers to the likelihood of a community or individual being affected by a disaster.

EM-DAT

• EM-DAT records the number of people killed, injured, affected, and homeless, as well as the estimated damage and costs at the country level for disasters.

Disaster Factors

• The impact of a disaster can be affected by factors such as the type and severity of the disaster, the location, and the preparedness of the affected community.

Community Impact

• A natural disaster can affect a community by causing loss of life, injury, and damage to property and infrastructure.
• The impact of a natural disaster on a community can also include long-term effects such as displacement, economic disruption, and psychological trauma.

Disaster and Emergency Management

• The primary purpose of Disaster and Emergency Management Week 1 is to introduce students to the concepts and principles of disaster management.
• The course aims to teach students about risk reduction strategies and how to mitigate the impact of disasters.