Introduction-to-Disaster-Concepts.pdf

INTRODUCTION TO DISASTER CONCEPTS  Read the scenario below. enumerate or list down the risks that are reflected from the text. Isabel an 18-year-old resident of Tacloban City, just got laid off from her job as a sales clerk in a medium- sized hardware store. She and her siblings could...

INTRODUCTION TO DISASTER CONCEPTS  Read the scenario below. enumerate or list down the risks that are reflected from the text. Isabel an 18-year-old resident of Tacloban City, just got laid off from her job as a sales clerk in a medium- sized hardware store. She and her siblings could barely survive each day with their limited resources. Then Typhoon Yolanda struck, killing her 2 younger sisters. Their home was destroyed by the storm surge. In her barangay alone, 2000 residents were killed, including her childhood friends and former playmates  Guide Questions: 1. What risk/s can you identify from the news article? 2. What do you think are the factors that affect the disaster risks from the preceding article?  How do we determine if a country is at risk of disaster?  Risk has two distinctive connotations: In popular usage the emphasis is usually places on the concept of chance or possibility In technical settings the emphasis is placed on the consequences, in terms of “potential losses”  Disaster Risk – is the potential losses, in lives, health status, livelihoods, assets, and services which could occur to a particular community or a society over some specified future time period Exposure- people, property, system, or other elements present in hazard zones that are thereby subject to potential losses. Resilience - an area or ecosystem under threat is restored to its original pristine state.  Vulnerability- characteristics and circumstances of a community, system or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard. Capacity- combination of all the strengths, attributes and resources available within a community, society or organization that can be used to achieve agreed goals.  Resilience means the ability to “spring back from” a shock. A resilience of a community in respect of potential hazard events is determined by the degree to which the community has the necessary resource and is capable of organizing itself both prior to and during times of need ( UNISDR, 2009)  Why study DRR? Disaster Risk Reduction is the concept and practice of reducing disaster risk by: Systematically studying the causes of disasters; Reducing exposure to hazards; Lessening the vulnerability of people and property; and Improving the preparedness of people and communities to face hazards. DRR aims to strengthen the resilience of persons, communities and societies. Why Are Developing Countries More Vulnerable to Natural hazards? Poorly constructed buildings Poor sanitation Rapid population growth/high density population Limited resources for disaster response and rebuilding Lack of economic safety nets 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. Severity of exposure  Gender and Family Age Wealth Technology Economic status of country Governance Risk Factors I. Physical, II. Psychological, III. Socio-cultural, IV. Economic, V. Political, and VI. Biological risk factors that either affect or not affect them. RISK FACTORS 1. Physical factors would pertain to tangible objects or infrastructure, like the availability of fire exits, or the sturdiness of the building, or the presence or absence of objects that can harm you or help you, etc.  RISK FACTORS 2. Psychological factors include state of mental capacity and health (e.g. are we dealing with babies? Kids? Adults? People with special needs?), perception of self (e.g. self-assessment of capability to respond to disasters, fear), etc. RISK FACTORS 3. Socio-cultural factors include religion, social status, traditions, perception by society, etc. 4. Economic factors include assets and liabilities, income, economic class, etc. RISK FACTORS 5. Political factors include government structure, diplomatic issues, etc. 6. Biological factors include flora and fauna in environment, health, diseases, etc. Factors which underlie disasters: Climate Change Environmental Degradation Globalized Economic Development Poverty and Inequality Poorly planned and Managed Urban Development Weak Governance Am I Ready? Suppose you are invited by the SK Chairman in your barangay as a resource speaker to your fellow age group during an Environmental Awareness Activity and you were asked to give emphasis on the risk factors underlying disasters so that young people will be equipped with knowledge on how to mitigate the effects of a disaster. Write down what you want to deliver to the audience.