Disaster Risk and Its Components Review PDF

Disaster Risk and Its Components Definition of Disaster A disaster is a serious disruption in the functioning of a community or society due to hazardous events interacting with conditions of exposure, vulnerability, and capacity. This can lead to losses in human life, materials, economy, and the en...

Disaster Risk and Its Components Definition of Disaster A disaster is a serious disruption in the functioning of a community or society due to hazardous events interacting with conditions of exposure, vulnerability, and capacity. This can lead to losses in human life, materials, economy, and the environment. For example, a typhoon passing directly through a city or province can constitute a disaster. Disaster Risk Disaster risk refers to the potential loss of life, injuries, or damage to assets within a community. It is determined probabilistically based on: ​ Hazard ​ Exposure ​ Vulnerability ​ Capacity Disaster Risk Formula: Disaster Risk = (Hazard x Vulnerability x Exposure) / Capacity Key Concepts 1.​ Hazard​ A process, phenomenon, or human activity that may lead to: ○​ Loss of life ○​ Property damage ○​ Health impacts ○​ Economic disruption ○​ Environmental degradation 2.​ Exposure​ Refers to people, infrastructure, housing, or other tangible assets located in hazard-prone areas. 3.​ Vulnerability​ The susceptibility of individuals, communities, or systems to the impacts of hazards. Determined by: ○​ Physical factors ○​ Social conditions ○​ Economic standing ○​ Environmental processes  4.​ Capacity​ The strengths, resources, and attributes available within a community or organization to reduce disaster risks and enhance resilience.​ This includes: ○​ Knowledge and skills ○​ Infrastructure ○​ Local leadership and governance Nature of Disasters 1.​ Natural Hazards and Disasters​ Result from natural processes, such as: ○​ Floods ○​ Volcanic eruptions ○​ Earthquakes ○​ Cyclones ○​ Landslides 2.​ Human-Induced/Man-Made Hazards and Disasters​ Arise from human actions, including: ○​ Chemical threats ○​ Cyber-attacks ○​ Terrorism ○​ Civil unrest Disaster Risk Drivers Factors that amplify disaster risks include: 1.​ Climate Change​ Increases disaster severity while weakening community resilience. 2.​ Poverty​ Leads to greater vulnerability and disaster impact. 3.​ Socio-Economic Inequality​ Limits households' capacity to manage risks and recover. 4.​ Population Density/Growth​ High populations elevate exposure and vulnerability. 5.​ Rapid and Unplanned Urbanization​ Exacerbates disaster severity by increasing risks. 6.​ Environmental Degradation​ Reduces the ecosystem's capacity to meet social and ecological needs. Different effects of disaster and the interpretation of disaster in different perspectives. The following are the effects of the disasters to the community: 1.​ Deaths or mortalities, injuries, and missing persons. 2.​ Displaced population – many people are forced to abandon their homes and seek new shelters in other places. 3.​ Health risks – include infectious diseases or outbreaks, contaminated and unsafe food and water. 4.​ Food scarcity and water shortage. 5.​ Emotional aftershocks such as post-traumatic stress disorder developed commonly among children. 6.​ Economic loss – loss of livelihood. 7.​ Infrastructure and property damages – houses, buildings, bridges, and roads are destroyed. Disasters from Different Perspectives Disasters can be analyzed and interpreted from different perspectives. This will help us to understand the severity of the disaster and to identify what specific loss a community received after a disaster. 1.​ Physical Perspective – damages to physical elements such as on people and their properties, and buildings and other infrastructures. 2.​ Psychological Perspective – serious mental and emotional consequences of a disaster to a victim. 3.​ Socio-Cultural Perspective – this refers to the behavior of communities and societies towards hazards and disasters. This can influence readiness of the people to adapt, implement, and change disaster precautionary measures/interventions. 4.​ Economic Perspective – refers to the loss caused by disasters on human, physical, and financial capital, or the impact of disasters on economic growth. 5.​ Political Perspective – the role of government and its institutions on disaster preparedness, mitigation, prevention, response, recovery, and rehabilitation. 6.​ Biological Perspective – involvement of living organisms that can spread diseases, or the sudden growth in the population of pests.​ Exposure: Elements Exposed to Hazards Exposure refers to the elements at risk that can be affected by hazards or are present in the hazard zones that are subject to potential losses. Exposed elements may be tangible or intangible and can be classified into the following categories: 1.​ Physical Elements ○​ Infrastructures such as bridges, roads, railways, harbors, and airports. ○​ Essential facilities such as schools, hospitals, fire and police stations, and emergency shelters. ○​ Utilities that include power, water, and gas supply. ○​ Transportation and communication facilities.  2.​ Societal Elements ○​ Vulnerable age groups (children and the elderly), persons with disabilities (PWD), homeless, etc. 3.​ Economic Elements ○​ Business and trade activities, accessibility to work, productivity, and opportunity costs. 4.​ Environmental Elements ○​ Biodiversity and environmental resources such as land, water, and air. Dimensions of Vulnerability The susceptibility of an individual, community, asset, or system to the impacts of hazards is determined by the physical, social, economic, and environmental dimensions. The greater the susceptibility to the effects and impacts of a hazard, the greater the vulnerability. 1.​ Physical Dimension ○​ Refers to geography, location, and place of the population at risk; and the site, design, and materials used for physical structures. ○​ Some physical structures are more vulnerable than others due to the age of the building, poor planning, and use of the building. Proper planning should be considered when selecting materials for construction, as different materials have varying strengths and weaknesses. ○​ There is no such thing as a disaster-proof physical structure. However, analyzing the vulnerability of physical structures before a disaster can minimize potential damage or casualties. 2.​ Social Dimension ○​ Includes demography, displacement and migration, level of education and literacy, health and well-being, social equity and access to basic human rights, cultural beliefs, morality and traditional values, safety and security, and governance aspects. 3.​ Economic Dimension ○​ Refers to the susceptibility of an economic system to the effects of a possible disaster. This includes income, gross domestic product (GDP), tax revenue, domestic savings, investments, financial markets, and indebtedness. It may also refer to poverty and lack of access to basic services. ○​ Disasters may hinder business operations or disrupt work arrangements, cumulatively leading to a drop in the economy. 4.​ Environmental Dimension ○​ Includes the regulation of the ecosystem, ecosystem degradation, depletion of natural resources, habitat destruction, and loss of biodiversity. ​ ​ ​ Variation of Vulnerability Across Sectors Vulnerability and capacity of people may be influenced by physical, social, economic, or even political factors. Age, gender, health status, and poverty greatly affect the vulnerability of different groups. The following are some groups with potentially higher vulnerability than others: 1.​ Children ○​ They are not fully developed physically and emotionally and have a poor capability to defend themselves from abuse and exploitation. As a vulnerable sector, they should be provided with special protection needs. 2. Elderly ​ The elderly are more prone to diseases, physical limitations, and psychological stress, making them highly vulnerable during disasters. 3. Women ​ Women, especially pregnant and lactating mothers, are more vulnerable due to their physiological conditions, caregiving roles, and often limited access to resources and decision-making opportunities. 4. Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) ​ PWDs face barriers to evacuation, access to information, and resources, making them especially vulnerable during disasters. 5. Indigenous People ​ Indigenous communities are highly dependent on natural resources, making them more vulnerable to environmental degradation and disasters. 6. Poverty-Stricken Groups ​ Poverty increases vulnerability as it limits access to basic services, education, and disaster preparedness resources. 1. Understanding Vulnerability ​ Definition: Vulnerability refers to identifying weaknesses in exposed elements, which can include individuals, households, communities, public facilities, and the environment. ​ Factors Affecting Vulnerability: 1.​ Structure Location and Elevation: ​ Structures on soft soil are more prone to liquefaction and landslides. ​ Coastal areas are susceptible to storm surges and tsunamis.  ​ Elevated structures are less vulnerable to floods but face challenges in evacuation and other hazards. 2.​ Density of Structures and Gaps: ​ Adjacent structures risk domino effects during earthquakes or fires. ​ Narrow evacuation routes increase disaster risks. 3.​ Building Characteristics: ​ Taller buildings may be more vulnerable unless engineered properly. ​ Materials and design influence vulnerability (e.g., lightweight wood is more prone to hazards than rigid materials). ​ Complex shapes or asymmetry can lead to structural failure. 4.​ Building Content and Furnishings: ​ Improperly anchored equipment can create risks. ​ Heavy items in unsafe locations (e.g., near doors or windows) may exacerbate vulnerabilities. 5.​ Hazardous Materials: ​ Improper storage or use of flammable materials can cause severe accidents. ​ Lack of safety controls (e.g., valves) increases risk. 6.​ Marginalized Populations: ​ Vulnerable groups include the poor, minorities, children, elderly, and disabled individuals. 7.​ Literacy and Awareness: ​ Limited knowledge reduces the ability to respond and recover from disasters. 8.​ Family Structure: ​ Nuclear families may lack manpower, while extended families may face coordination challenges. 2. Hazard, Exposure, Vulnerability, and Disaster Risk ​ Definition of Disaster Risk: Disaster risk refers to potential death, injury, or property destruction due to hazards, influenced by: ○​ Hazard: Likelihood and intensity of the event. ○​ Exposure: The presence of elements at risk. ○​ Vulnerability: Susceptibility of exposed elements. ​ Equation: Disaster Risk = Hazard x Vulnerability x Exposure ​ Risk Reduction: ○​ Reducing hazard, vulnerability, or exposure lessens disaster risk. ○​ If hazards or exposure are eliminated, risk is minimized. ​ ​ ​ 3. Reducing Disaster Risk ​ Prevention: ○​ Goal: Eliminate hazards or exposure. ○​ Examples: ​ Immunization to prevent disease outbreaks. ​ Zoning laws to avoid dangerous areas. ​ Building dams to control floods. ​ Mitigation: ○​ Goal: Reduce the impact of hazards. ○​ Examples: ​ Flood barriers and retaining walls in mountainous areas. ​ Reforestation along steep slopes. ​ Adaptation: ○​ Goal: Modify behavior to reduce risk. ○​ Examples: ​ Avoiding unsafe electrical practices (e.g., "octopus" connections). ​ Following hygiene protocols like cough etiquette to limit disease spread.