Disaster Risk Reduction and Management PDF

**Disaster** ** A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society at any scale due to hazardous events interacting with conditions of exposure, vulnerability and capacity.** **Disaster damage - occurs during and immediately after the disaster.** **Disaster impact - the total ef...

**Disaster** ** A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society at any scale due to hazardous events interacting with conditions of exposure, vulnerability and capacity.** **Disaster damage - occurs during and immediately after the disaster.** **Disaster impact - the total effect, of a hazardous event or a disaster.** **Disaster Risk Management is the application of disaster risk reduction policies and strategies, to prevent new disaster risks** ** specific task of the NDRRMC is to facilitate coordination, mobilize resources for response and information management including communications.** ** Exposure - situation of people, infrastructure, housing, production capacities and other tangible human assets located in hazard- prone areas.** ** Vulnerability -inability to resist a hazard or to respond when a disaster has occurred.** **Types of Vulnerabilities in Disaster Management** ** Physical Vulnerability** ** Social Vulnerability** ** Economic Vulnerability** ** Environmental Vulnerability** **Capacity - The combination of all the strengths, attributes and resources available within an organization, community or society to manage and reduce disaster risks and strengthen resilience.** **Readiness - process we use to mitigate, prepare, respond, and recover from disasters.** ** The ultimate purpose of emergency management is to save lives, preserve the environment and protect property and the economy.** ** comprised of four interdependent risk-based functions:** **Mitigation - reduction of something harmful or the reduction of its harmful effects. "to prevent"** **Preparedness - is a set of actions that are taken as precautionary measures in the face of potential hazards or disasters. "To take actions ahead of time"** **Response -- warning/evacuation, search and rescue, providing immediate assistance, assessing damage, continuing assistance and the immediate restoration or construction of infrastructure. "To protect"** **Recovery - phase takes place after a disaster. "To rebuild"** **Risk - possibility of something bad happening.** **Reduction - Measures to reduce the frequency or severity of losses, also known as loss control.** **Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act (RA 10121) - provides a comprehensive, all-hazard, multi-sectoral, inter-agency, and community-based approach to disaster risk management through the formulation of the National Disaster Risk Management Framework.** **Penalties of R.A. 10121** **Prohibited Acts** ** Buying for consumption or resale, from disaster relief agencies** ** Selling of relief goods, equipment, or other aid commodities intended for distribution to disaster victims.** ** Substituting or replacing relief goods, equipment, or other aid commodities with the same items or inferior/cheaper quality.** ** Making false verbal claims that the goods, equipment, or other aid commodities when its untampered original containers actually came from another agency or persons.** **Who could be liable?** **There is no qualification or there is no discrimination or advantage to any other person because an individual or a corporation can be liable.** **What are the penalties?** Fine (P50,000.00 -- P500,000.00) Imprisonment (6 years -- 12 years; or both) This is at the discretion of the court. Perpetual disqualification and confiscation or forfeiture of objects in favor of the government. This could be imposed on the public official. In case of conviction, they will not be qualified to occupy government office and all the goods will be confiscated in favor of the government**.** **Lesson 1: UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF 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. **Hazard** a dangerous situation that poses a threat to human life has less criticalconsequences take its full shape after a series of events, which might have led it to happen **Risk** an event that completely causes damage to human life and property has more critical consequences and more catastrophic often happens in a short time, causing more severe effects **WHEN DOES A HAZARD BECOMES A DISASTER?** A hazard becomes a disaster when it happens where many people are living or have their livelihoods and causes damage to them and their property. **CLASSIFICATION OF DISASTERS** Natural Disasters Man-Made Disasters **NATURAL DISASTERS**-- caused by natural forces, such as earthquakes, typhoon, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, fires, tornados, and extreme temperatures. **MAN-MADE DISASTERS**-- Disasters caused by man are those in which major direct causes are identifiable intentional or non-intentional human actions **Subdivided into three categories:** Technological/Industrial disasters Terrorism/Violence Complex humanitarian emergencies **Technological/Industrial Disaster--** Unregulated industrialization and inadequate safety standards increase the risk for industrial disasters. Example: leaks of hazardous materials, **Terrorism/Violence--** 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. Example: bombs or explosions **Complex Humanitarian Emergencies--** 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 **Lesson 2: Risk Factors and Underlying Disasters** Reduction of the level of vulnerability and exposure is possible by keeping and property as distant as possible from hazards. **Risk Factors** are processes or conditions, often development-related, that influence the level of disaster risk by increasing levels of exposure and vulnerability or reducing capacity. w**hen risk factors underlying disaster are involved:** **SEVERITY OF EXPOSURE**-- measures those who experience disaster first-hand which has the highest risk of developing future mental problems, followed by those in contact with the victims such as rescue workers and health care practitioners and the lowest risk are those most distant like those who have awareness of the disaster only through news **GENDER AND FAMILY**-- the female gender suffers more adverse effects. This worsens when children are present at home. Marital relationships are placed under strain. **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. **ECONOMIC STATUS OF COUNTRY--** evidence indicates that severe mental problems resulting from disasters are more prevalent in developing countries like the Philippines. **FACTORS WHICH UNDERLIE DISASTERS** **CLIMATE CHANGE--** can increase disaster risk in a variety of ways-- by altering the frequency and intensity of hazards events, affecting vulnerability to hazards, and changing exposure patterns. **ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION -** changes to the environment can influence the frequency and intensity of hazards, as well as our exposure and vulnerability to these hazards. **GLOBALIZED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT -**It results in an increased polarization between the rich and poor on a global scale. Currently increasing the exposure of assets in hazard prone areas, globalized economic development provides an opportunity to build resilience if effectively managed. **POVERTY AND INEQUALITY -** Impoverished people are more likely to live in hazard-exposed areas and are less able to invest in risk-reducing measures. The lack of access to insurance and social protection means that people in poverty are often forced to use their already limited assets to buffer disaster losses, which drives them into further poverty. **POORLY PLANNED AND MANAGED URBAN DEVELOPMENT -** new wave of urbanization is unfolding in hazard-exposed countries and with it, new opportunities for resilient investment emerge. People, poverty, and disaster risk are increasingly concentrated in cities. **WEAK GOVERNANCE -** weak governance zones are investment environments in which public sector actors are unable or unwilling to assume their roles and responsibilities in protecting rights, providing basic services and public services. Disaster risk is disproportionately concentrated in lower-income countries with weak governance (UNISDR, 2015a). **LESSON 3: DISASTER AND ITS EFFECTS** A disaster is a damaging event that occurs suddenly and involves loss of life and property. It can be of two types, natural and man-made. **DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAZARD AND DISASTER** A hazard is a dangerous situation or event that carries a threat to humans. A disaster is an event that harms humans and disrupts the operations of society. Hazards can only be considered disasters once it affected humans. **ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION**-- changes to the environment can influence the frequency and intensity of hazards, as well as our exposure and vulnerability to these hazards. **THE HUMAN EFFECT OF NATURAL AND MAN-MADE DISASTERS** **DISPLACE POPULATIONS**-- One of the most immediate effects of natural disasters is population displacement. When countries are ravaged by earthquakes or other powerful forces of nature, many people need to abandon their homes and seek shelter in other regions. **HEALTH RISKS**-- stagnant water that allows breeding of waterborne bacteria and malaria-carrying mosquitoesl **FOOD SCARCITY**-- The aftermath of natural disasters affects the food supplies. **EMOTIONAL AFTERSHOCKS**-- Natural disasters can be particularly traumatic for young children. Confronted with scenes of destruction and the deaths of friends and loved ones, many children develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a serious psychological condition resulting from extreme trauma. Left untreated, children suffering from PTSD can be prone to lasting psychological damage and emotional distress. Great damage caused by a disaster can be reduced if everyone will take responsibility in anticipating its effects.