Understanding Disasters from Different Perspectives

What does the term 'disaster' refer to based on the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC)?

How does Adelman define a disaster?

From the physical perspective, how can disasters be characterized?

In terms of the psychological perspective, how do disasters typically impact individuals?

Considering the economic perspective, how do disasters affect societies?

Exposure refers to the 'elements at risk' from a natural or man-made hazard event.

Vulnerability is defined as the 'characteristics and circumstances of a community, system or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard.'

Vulnerability is conditioned determined by physical, social, economic, and environmental factors or processes which increase the susceptibility of a community to the impact of the hazards.

Vulnerability basically refers to the degree of loss each element should a hazard of a given severity occur.

Physical Vulnerability is determined by aspects such as population density levels, remoteness of a settlement, the site, design, and materials used for critical infrastructure and for housing. For example, wooden homes are less likely to collapse in an earthquake, but are more vulnerable to ______.

Social Vulnerability refers to the inability of people, organizations, and societies to withstand adverse impacts of hazards due to characteristics inherent in social interactions, institutions, and systems of cultural values. For example, when flooding occurs, some citizens, such as children, elderly, and persons with disability, may be unable to protect themselves or evacuate if necessary due to social ______.

Economic Vulnerability is highly dependent upon the economic status of individuals, communities, and nations. For example, poorer families may live in squatter settlements because they cannot afford to live in safer ______.

Environmental Vulnerability includes natural resource depletion and resource degradation as key aspects. This type of vulnerability is related to the impact of human activities on the ______.

Wetlands are sensitive to increasing salinity from sea water, and pollution from storm water runoff containing agricultural chemicals, eroded soils, and etc. ___________ factors a.Population Density b.Age of Population c.Distribution of Population

___________ factors a.Wealth b.Education c.Nature of Society d.Understanding of the Area

___________ Preparedness a.Building Code b.Scientific monitoring and early warning systems c.Communication networks d.Emergency planning

Dealing with the after-effects a.Insurance cover b.Emergency personnel c.Aid request ___________