DRRR Leture Note 1 PDF

Quarter 1 -- Module 1: Basic Concept of Disaster and Disaster Risk **What is Disaster and Disaster Risk?** **Philippines: A Country Prone to Natural Disasters** The Philippines has experienced from an inexhaustible number of deadly earthquakes, volcano eruptions, and other natural disasters. Thi...

Quarter 1 -- Module 1: Basic Concept of Disaster and Disaster Risk **What is Disaster and Disaster Risk?** **Philippines: A Country Prone to Natural Disasters** The Philippines has experienced from an inexhaustible number of deadly earthquakes, volcano eruptions, and other natural disasters. This is due to its location along the Ring of Fire, a large Pacific Ocean region where many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. **IT'S A 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. A preceding definition of **disaster** stresses that two elements are affected -- life (whether human or animal) and property. The effects vary -- it maybe a minor damage (like broken windows and doors), major damage (like torn rooftops, collapsed walls), total destruction (like completely destroyed houses and structures rendering them useless and inhabitable) and the worst scenario, it can lead to death. (Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, ADPC, 2012) According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2008), disaster is "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". Any adverse episode or phenomenon can exploit a vulnerability in the affected population or community to create damage and this awareness will form the basis for an adequate intervention. Meanwhile, the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction defines disaster as 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. Disasters are often a result of the combination of: the exposure to a hazard; the conditions of vulnerability that are present; and insufficient capacity or measures to reduce or cope with the potential negative consequences. Its impacts may include loss of life, injury, disease and other negative effects on human physical, mental, and social wellbeing, together with damage to properties, destruction of assets, loss of services, social and economic disruptions, and environmental degradation. The damage caused by disaster cannot be measured. It also differs with the kind of geographical location, climate, earth's specific characteristics, and level of vulnerability. These determining factors affect generally the **psychological, socio -- economic, political, and ethnical** state of the affected area. **Classification of Disasters:** Disasters can be divided into 2 large categories: A. **A. Natural Disasters --** a natural phenomenon is caused by natural forces, such as earthquakes, typhoon, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, fires, tornados, and extreme temperatures. They can be classified as rapid onset disasters and those with progressive onset, such as droughts that lead to famine. These events, usually sudden, can have tremendous effects. **B. Man-made -** Disasters caused by man are those in which major direct causes are identifiable intentional or non-intentional human actions. **Subdivided into three categories:** **1. Technological/industrial disasters -** Unregulated industrialization and inadequate safety standards increase the risk for industrial disasters. **EXAMPLE**: leaks of hazardous materials; accidental explosions; bridge or road collapses, or vehicle collisions; Power cuts **2. Terrorism/Violence -** the 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; release of chemical materials; release of biological agents; release of radioactive agents; multiple or massive shootings; mutinies **3. Complex humanitarian emergencies** - the 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 due to the lack of personal safety and the disruption of basic infrastructure including food distribution, water, electricity, and sanitation, or communities are left stranded and isolated in their own homes unable to access assistance. **EXAMPLE**: conflicts or wars and Genocide the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation **Risk and Disaster Risk** **Risk** has various connotations within different disciplines. In general, risk is defined as "the combination of the probability of an event and its negative consequences" (UNISDR, 2009). The term risk is thus multidisciplinary and is used in a variety of contexts. It is usually associated with the degree to which humans cannot cope (lack of capacity) with a situation (e.g. natural hazard). The term **disaster risk** refers to the potential (not actual and realized) disaster losses, in lives, health status, livelihoods, assets, and services which could occur in a community or society over some specified future time period. Disaster risk is the product of the possible damage caused by a hazard due to the vulnerability within a community. It should be noted that the effect of a hazard (of a particular magnitude) would affect communities differently (Von Kotze, 1999:35). It can also be determined by the presence of **three variables**: *hazards* (natural or anthropogenic); *vulnerability* to a hazard; and *coping capacity* linked to the reduction, mitigation, and resilience to the vulnerability of a community. **Quarter 1 -- Module 2:** **Risk Factors Underlying Disasters** **At Risk...** **Disaster can affect everyone**. It does not discriminate between and among social classes, gender, creed, race, and nationality. But certain risk factors put those affected in a position where they will have graver or longer-lasting post-disaster stress reactions. These aggravating factors contribute to evident differences in the stress reactions of certain individuals with certain characteristics. **RISK FACTORS** Disaster risk as defined in the first module, has three important elements such as: 1\. **Exposure** - the "elements at risk from a natural or man-made hazard event (Quebral, 2016). 2\. **Hazard**- a potentially dangerous physical occurrence, phenomenon or human activity that may result in loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption, or environmental degradation. 3\. **Vulnerability** - the condition determined by physical, social, economic and environmental factors or processes, which increase the susceptibility of a community to the impact of hazard (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United nation, FAO 2008). Reduction of the level of vulnerability and exposure is possible by keeping people and property as distant as possible from hazards. We cannot avoid natural events from occurring, but we can concentrate on addressing the reduction of risk and exposure by determining the factors causing disasters. **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. The following are also taken into [consideration when risk factors underlying disaster are involved]: ⚫ ***Severity of exposure -*** which 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. Furthermore, it has been observed that natural disasters tend to have more adverse effects in developing countries than do man-caused disasters in developed countries. **Factors which underlie disasters:** 1\. **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. For most people, the expression "climate change" means the alteration of the world's climate that we humans are causing such as burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and other practices that increase the carbon footprint and concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This is in line with the official definition by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that climate change is the change that can be attributed "directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods" 2\. **Environmental Degradation** - changes to the environment can influence the frequency and intensity of hazards, as well as our exposure and vulnerability to these hazards. For instance, deforestation of slopes often leads to an increase in landslide hazard and removal of mangroves can increase the damage caused by storm surges (UNISDR, 2009b). It is both a driver and consequence of disasters, reducing the capacity of the environment to meet social and ecological needs. Over consumption of natural resources results in environmental degradation, reducing the effectiveness of essential ecosystem services, such as the mitigation of floods and landslides. This leads to increased risk from disasters, and in turn, natural hazards can further degrade the environment. 3\. **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. By participating in risk-sensitive development strategies such as investing in protective infrastructure, environmental management, and upgrading informal settlements, risk can be reduced. Dominance and increase of wealth in certain regions and cities are expected to have increased hazard exposure (Gencer, 2013). 4\. **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. Poverty is therefore both a cause and consequence of disaster risk (Wisner et al., 2004), particularly extensive risk, with drought being the hazard most closely associated with poverty (Shepard et al., 2013). The impact of disasters on the poor can, in addition to loss of life, injury and damage, cause a total loss of livelihoods, displacement, poor health, food insecurity, among other consequences. Vulnerability is not simply about poverty, but extensive research over the past 30 years has revealed that it is generally the poor who tend to suffer worst from disasters (DFID, 2004; Twigg, 2004; Wisner et al., 2004; UNISDR, 2009b). 5\. **Poorly planned and Managed Urban Development** - A 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. The growing rate of urbanization and the increase in population density (in cities) can lead to creation of risk, especially when urbanization is rapid, poorly planned and occurring in a context of widespread poverty. Growing concentrations of people and economic activities in many cities are seen to overlap with areas of high-risk exposure. 6\. **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). Disaster risk governance refers to the specific arrangements that societies put in place to manage their disaster risk (UNISDR, 2011a; UNDP, 2013a) within a broader context of risk governance (Renn, 2008 in UNISDR, 2015a). This reflects how risk is valued against a backdrop of broader social and economic concerns (Holley et al., 2011). Certain factors are related to a survivor's background and recovery is hampered if survivors: were not functioning well before the disaster; have no experience dealing with disasters; must deal with other stressors after the disaster; have low self-esteem; feel uncared for by others; think they exercise little control over what happens to them; and unable to manage stress. More factors contributory to worse outcomes: death of someone close; injury to self or family member; life threat; panic, horror, or similar feelings; separation from family; massive loss of property; and displacement. **Quarter 1 --Module 3:** **Disasters 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. *Natural disasters can destroy a whole community in an instant*. Examples of natural disasters are volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, earthquakes, and typhoons which are destructive to people\'s lives. Man-made disasters on the other hand are caused by human beings. Some of the man-made disasters are bomb explosions, terrorism, wars, leakage of poisonous chemicals, pollutions, industrial accidents, and epidemics. They are identified as man- made disasters because they happen due to human actions and not by natural forces. **What is the 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. If a disaster happened in an unpopulated area, it is still a hazard. **The Human Effect of Natural and Man-Made Disasters** **1. Displaced 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. A large influx of refugees can disrupt accessibility of health care and education, as well as food supplies and clean water. **2. Health Risks** Aside from the obvious immediate danger that natural disasters present, the secondary effect can be just as damaging. Severe flooding can result in stagnant water that allows breeding of waterborne bacteria and malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Without emergency relief from international aid organizations and others, death tolls can rise even after the immediate danger has passed. **3. Food Scarcity** The aftermath of natural disasters affects the food supplies. Thousands of people around the world are hungry because of destroyed crops and loss of agricultural supplies, whether it happens suddenly in a storm or gradually in a drought. As a result, food prices rise reducing families' purchasing power and increasing the risk of severe malnutrition or worse. The impacts of hunger following an earthquake, typhoon or hurricane can be tremendous, causing lifelong damage to children's development. **4. 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. Here are **some ways on how to plan ahead of a disaster**: 1\. Check for hazards at home. 2\. Identify safe place indoors and outdoors 3\. Educate yourself and family members 4\. Have Disaster kits/supplies on hand. 5\. Develop an emergency communication plan. 6\. Help your community get ready. 7\. Practice the **Disaster Preparedness Cycle** Quarter 1 --Module 4: Disasters from Different Perspectives **The Different Perspectives of Disaster** **1. Physical perspective** Calamities are phenomena that cause great physical damage in a community infrastructure, its people and their properties, e.g. houses and environmental sources of living. These cited effects of a disaster can be easily measured and the most common. Natural disasters generally affect the physical infrastructural facilities, agricultural productivity and even lead to loss of life and cause damage to property. Various factors influence the effects of a disaster on a country among them are the magnitude of the disaster, the geography of the area affected, and the recovery efforts directed towards reducing the immediate effects of a disaster. **Effects of Physical Disasters** - Injuries - Physical disabilities or illness - Sanitation - Damage in infrastructure **2. Psychological Perspective** Victims of disasters may suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other serious mental health conditions, which are not being given much attention to by the authorities or even by the victims, themselves. (This may be sensitive statement) Disasters are mostly unpredictable, which leave the victims in a state of shock. They tend to deny the loss and try to escape from reality. Being in a denial state makes the victims more vulnerable to stress, anxiety, and other different maladaptive reactions. Death of a closed one also leaves the victim in a state of insecurity because the sense of love, attachment and belongingness are deprived. **Psychological effects of a Disaster**: - distress hopelessness - intrusion/avoidance emotional effects - hatred/revenge cognitive Effects - dependence/insecurities physical Effects - grief/withdrawn/isolation interpersonal effect - guilt feeling helplessness - lack of trust **3. Socio-cultural Perspective** Filipinos are generally known as "*matiisin*", resourceful, helpful, optimistic, and prayerful. These characteristics are manifested in the country's recent fight against COVID19.Due to the National Health Emergency, Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) prevailed in the whole country. A lot of people temporarily lost their jobs, some people stranded in different regions, repatriated OFWs were held in different quarantine facilities in Metro Manila, and all people were restricted to go out of their homes for months. As a result, most Filipino families would rely on government's help for them to get by. However, limited resources and aids from the government make people find possible ways to survive amid the pandemic. These traits help a lot of Filipinos to survive the challenge of COVID19 in the country. To people who are used to natural calamities like typhoons, flash floods, and volcanic eruptions most citizen would find contentment with what they have at the moment. The culture of "*malalampasan din natin* 'to.." belief and " *bahala na and Diyos*" syndrome give hope to most Filipino in the midst of a disaster. Such perspective helps a lot especially those who belong to the marginalized sector to be hopeful and continue fighting against any challenge at hand. Their belief that a help from someone or from God would arrive at a time they most needed. It also helps most people survive a lot of oddities in life. **Socio-Cultural Effect of Disasters** - change in individual roles - disruption of social relationships and personal connections **4. Economic Perspective** Disasters affect the economic condition of a community because they reduce local and international trade. It can also partially or totally paralyze a country's transportation system, just like what happened in the COVID19 pandemic. Implementation of a partial and total shut down of local business operations result to a lot of people losing means of living. **Economic Effects of Disasters** - loss of life - unemployment - loss of property - loss of household articles - loss of crops - loss of public infrastructure **5. Political Perspective** Natural disasters are commonly thought to be less politically argumentative than armed conflicts, yet a closer look shows that both the effects of a natural disaster and the resulting distribution of humanitarian aid are profoundly linked to politics. Just as vulnerability to disasters is mediated by the political system of a country, disasters can have major consequences for political stability and political legitimacy (Hörhager, July 2017. Since agencies of government have a significant role to play in directing disaster preparedness, prevention and recovery. Social systems establish vulnerability to natural disasters and governments are often considered to be responsible for the disaster effects. **Political Effects of a Disaster** - People who have trust in political institution will assess the government's risk assessments as credible and accept their hazard policies (Johnson 1999) - Low level of trust in public institutions therefore means that citizens may ignore the recommendations and disregard the information provided by these institutions (McCaffey 2004). - If individuals are confident that they will receive sufficient aid from the government when a disaster occurs, they might not be motivated to take measures on their own (King and Kang 2000). **6. Biological Perspective** The disturbing effects caused by a prevalent kind of disease or virus in an epidemic or pandemic level is known as biological disaster. **(a) Epidemic Level**: Biological disaster affects large numbers of people within a given community or area. Ex: Dengue. **(b) Pandemic Level**: Biological disaster affects a much large region, sometime spanning entire continents or the globe ex. Swine Flue Biological disasters can wipe out an entire population at a short span of time. Example of it is the COVID19 pandemic which infected millions in less than a month and left thousands of deaths in the same duration. Viral respiratory infections can lead to anything from a mild cough that lasts a few weeks or months to full-blown persistent wheezing or asthma (Martin, 2020). He added that when there is a severe respiratory infection, recovery can be prolonged with a general increase in shortness of breath--- even after normal lung function returns. Since COVID19 is a respiratory disease, the public is advised by health authorities to do health precaution to prevent social contamination. Examples are: observing physical distancing, appropriate washing of the hands, wearing of mask at all times once outside of one's home, and boosting one's immune system. COVID19 patients who have strong immune system can likely soon recover from the disease. Also, those who follow the health precaution strictly have less chance of being infected. As such, the effects of a biological disaster can be reduced. **Effects of Biological Disasters** - loss of lives - public demobilization - negative economic effect - unemployment - hunger D.