Unit 1
Disaster and Disaster Risk
Table of Contents
Introduction
3
Essential Questions
4
Lesson 1: T
​ he Concept of Disaster and Disaster Risk
5
Starting Out
Learn about It
Check Your Understanding
Explore Your World
Case Study
Lesson 2: Risk Factors Underlying Disasters
5
5
9
10
11
12
Starting Out
Learn about It
Check Your Understanding
Explore Your World
Case Study
12
13
15
17
18
Lesson 3: Effects of Disasters
19
Starting Out
Learn about It
Check Your Understanding
Explore Your World
Case Study
19
20
24
25
26
Lesson 4: How and When an Event Becomes a Disaster
Starting Out
Learn about It
27
27
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Check Your Understanding
Explore Your World
Case Study
Lesson 5: Areas or Locations Exposed to Hazards
Starting Out
Learn about It
Check Your Understanding
Explore Your World
Case Study
Lesson 6: Disaster from Different Perspectives
Starting Out
Learn about It
Check Your Understanding
Explore Your World
Case Study
29
30
31
32
32
32
34
35
36
37
37
38
40
41
42
Real World Challenge
43
Check and Reflect
45
Wrap Up
45
Bibliography
47
Glossary
49
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GRADE 11/12 |Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction
Unit 1
Disaster and Disaster Risk
Every day, the earth undergoes different processes like the movement of plate tectonics and
wind movements that constantly change the structure of the planet. Some processes that are
slow and steady might not be noticeable. On the other hand, disasters can occur when these
processes become abrupt and sudden. Disasters can cause damage or mishap in one’s life.
The word “disaster” originated from the French word, ​‘desastre’​, a combination of two words,
‘des’​ meaning bad and ‘​ astre’ ​meaning star. Thus, disasters signify bad star or evil star.
Fig. 1​. Percentage of disaster frequency in the Philippines as of 2015.
Yearly, the Philippines experiences an average of 20 tropical cyclones. Plate movements also
occur daily. The country also has 20 active volcanoes that can erupt at any moment. Is the
Philippines more prone to disasters? Are there measures to prevent disasters from happening
in our country? What are the ways to prevent them? What can an individual/you do to prevent
disasters?
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In this unit, you should be able to:
● explain the meaning of disaster;
● differentiate the risk factors underlying disasters;
● describe the effects of disaster on one’s life;
● explain how and when an event becomes a disaster;
● identify areas or locations exposed to hazards that may lead to disaster; and
● analyze disaster from different perspectives such as physical, psychological,
socio-cultural, economic, political, and biological perspectives.
● The natural processes occurring in the atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and
hydrosphere cause changes in the environment.
● Formation of clouds, rains, and winds in the atmosphere result to changes in weather.
● Deforestation and urbanization are some human activities that contribute to climate
change and loss of animal habitat.
● Landforms like mountains and volcanoes are formed from the movement of plate
tectonics.
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A community near a volcano can be regarded as vulnerable to its hazards. Moreso, the
community can experience disaster due to volcanic hazards. H
​ ow are the concepts
vulnerability, hazard, and disaster interrelated?
Work with a partner to answer this mnemonic race. Think of related words that starts with the
specific mnemonic letters below.
Based from the activity, w
​ hat is a disaster?
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Concept of Disaster
Disaster is a dangerous situation or threat from natural or man-made events that disrupt the
functions of individuals in a community. This could mean death, damage to resources, and
loss of property. Thus, a community under disaster might need assistance to recover.
Disasters occur when a hazard is exposed to a vulnerable community.
Fig. 1​. A disaster risk occurs when a hazard is exposed to a vulnerable community.
A hazard is a threat to life, environment, or property. A hazard can be considered a disaster if
it poses an actual harm to life and environment. It can be classified based on its origins:
natural and man-made.
Natural hazards are caused by an abrupt or slow onset of naturally occurring phenomena
which can be biological, geological, hydrological, meteorological, and climatological in origin.
Table 1. ​Type of Natural Hazards.
Natural Hazard
biological
geological
hydrological
meteorological
climatological
Description
diseases, epidemics, plagues
earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, and volcanic activity
avalanche, floods
storm surges, cyclones, tornadoes
drought, wildfires
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plague
volcanic eruption
cyclone
drought
Fig. 2​. Examples of Natural Hazards.
Discharged hospital patients after bubonic plague outbreak by Wellcome Images, CC-BY-4.0,
Cracked ground 151 by Jeroen Moes, CC-BY-SA-2.0
Man-made hazards are caused by human activities and occur near human settlements.
Pollution, industrial, and transport accidents, conflicts (war and terrorism), and technological
structures are some examples of man-made hazards.
pollution
accident
arson
war
Fig. 3​. Examples of Man-made Hazards.
A building damaged by arson by Ben Schumin, CC BY-SA3.0,
Fighting in the city of Deir Ez Zor, November 2 by Simon Evans, CC BY-SA 2.0
The failure to withstand the impacts of hazards is called ​vulnerability​. For example, a town
located near an active volcano is more vulnerable to a volcanic eruption compared to a town
located far from the volcano.
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The impacts of a disaster can be reduced if proper mitigation measures are done. ​Mitigation
refers to the act of preventing or minimizing the effects of a disaster by introducing
precautionary measures before it strikes a community.
Nature of Disasters
How are disasters formed? We can recall that disaster occurrence is a combination of hazards
and vulnerability. A vulnerable community exposed to a hazard is prone to disaster risks.
Vulnerability is often caused by limited resources, illnesses within the population, and
disabilities within a community. Failure to plan proper disaster management procedures also
contribute in disaster formation.
Natural Disasters
Some natural disasters are unpredictable, but communities can prepare for its occurrence to
avoid heavy damages. For example, the earthquake on the West Valley Fault lining the
National Capital Region and nearby areas is unpredictable. However, the government and
nearby communities can take precautionary measures to reduce the potential negative
impacts of the earthquake. The different communities around the area continue to conduct
earthquake drills to prepare for the upcoming disaster.
On the other hand, natural disasters like typhoons occur with warning. PAGASA (Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services) and the media provide information
about the typhoon’s speed and location so that citizens could take precautionary measures
and evacuation procedures before the typhoon strikes.
Man-made Disasters
Man-made disasters are caused by human activities and usually occur in human settlements.
Like natural disasters, man-made disasters can happen with or without warning. Flood caused
by an unknown leak or breakage in a water dam, without proper mitigation is an example of
unpredicted disaster.
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Some of the most severe man-made disasters strike without warning. An example is the war
at Marawi that caused the death of hundreds of civilians and soldiers, damage to properties,
and the spread of diseases.
Table. 2​. Examples of Natural and Man-made Disasters
Natural Disasters
wind related (typhoons)
water related (flash flood)
Earth related (landslides)
space related (asteroid collisions)
Man-made Disasters
war
arson
industrial explosions
wildlife extinction
A. Identify if the following disasters are n
​ atural ​or m
​ an-made​.
1. landslide
2. vehicle accidents
3. plague
4. drought
5. oil spill
B. Compare and contrast the characteristics of a hazard and disaster.
Disaster
Hazard
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Your goal is to disseminate information in the community on how to prepare for a disaster.
Your role is an active member of your local community. Your audience is all the residents of
your local community. The given situation is a local government sponsored poster-making
contest on disaster preparedness. The local government’s program on disaster risk reduction
management includes information dissemination. The local officials will display all the contest
entries before evaluating and choosing the winner. The winning poster will be reproduced and
posted on strategic common places in the community, where majority of the residents can
view and read the poster. You need to create a poster within a given time period of one week.
The poster will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
● concept and data
○ important information on disaster preparedness are correctly shown
● creativity and design
○ organization of data is neat, and easy to understand
○ lay out and choice of font, images, colors, and sizes are pleasantly eye-catching
○ overall design aids in understanding the message of the poster
● language
○ the words chosen are correctly stated
○ technical terms are described in layman language
○ easy to read and understand by the audience
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Disaster Alerts in Roads
The Japan government is set to offer disaster information to drivers through vehicle
navigation systems using Japan’s satellite system. Tokyo will introduce the service as early as
2018, after many people in vehicles were not able to obtain crucial information quickly
enough during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The government plans to introduce the
system on a trial basis in selected five municipal governments this 2018 and hopes to
expand the number to 20 in 2021.
Let us investigate!
What is the new technology developed by Japan for disaster information?
Where will the service be first available?
When will the service be launched?
Who will benefit the service?
Why is there a need to develop this kind of service?
Impact or effects to Japan in identifying disasters
Problem:
Solution:
Reference: ​Japan to offer disaster info through car navigation systems,
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/01/09/national/japan-offer-disaster-info-car-navig
ation-systems/#.Wl2Qj3aWbIU
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People who are preparing to live or put up a business in Marikina City are considering the
possible effects of the earthquake hazards in that location. W
​ hat factors should one
consider in order to weigh the probability of a disaster occurrence?
Analyze the pictures of two towns below. Which town has a higher chance of surviving a
tsunami? A landslide? Why? Discuss your answer with a partner.
A
B
Alaska Town by Jrragan, CC BY-SA 4.0
Based from your answers, ​what is disaster risk?
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Concept of Disaster Risk
Disaster risk is defined by United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
(UNISDR) as “the combination of the probability of an event and its negative consequences.”
This includes severity of hazard, number of damage to people and resources, and their
vulnerability to damage.
● Hazard – any phenomenon that can potentially cause damage to life, property, or
environment.
● Exposure – any element (people, property, or system) that is present in a hazard and is
prone to potential loss.
● Vulnerability - feature of a community that makes them prone and exposed to the
negative impacts of hazard.
Fig. 1​. Disaster risk and its elements.
To understand disaster risks, one must also consider the community’s capacity to protect
itself against disasters. The ability of a community to withstand, accommodate, and recover
from a disaster is called ​resilience​.
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According to UNISDR, 1.6 billion people have been killed in disasters worldwide since 1980. It
is also estimated that global average annual loss will increase up to US$415 billion by 2030.
Disaster risk is measured and assessed to reduce the number of deaths and resources lost as
mentioned in the example.
Analyzing disaster loss from previous years are employed to plan mitigation procedures to
prevent and estimate future disaster losses. Information gathered from hazards, exposures,
vulnerabilities, and damages will give an accurate risk assessment. A ​risk assessment is
made to estimate the potential economic, infrastructure, and social impacts.
Fig. 2​. Components for assessing risk.
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Disaster Risk Factors
There are several factors that affect the degree of disaster risk in a community. These factors
can intensify or lessen the effects of disaster. These factors can be classified into physical,
psychological, socio-cultural, economic, and biological aspects.
● Physical ​– This includes the concrete objects in a community that can help or harm an
individual during a disaster. Examples are availability of fire exits during a fire,
sturdiness of infrastructure or the ability of a building to withstand earthquakes.
● Psychological ​– It includes the mental state of an individual, like the ability of an
individual to respond to a disaster and fear.
● Socio-cultural – This includes traditions, religion, and social statuses in society.
Examples include community folklore, presence of b
​ ayanihan​ system, etc.
● Economic ​– This includes resources in the community and the income source of
individuals such as farming and employment.
● Biological – This includes the flora and fauna in the environment, their health, and its
diseases.
Disaster Risk Reduction
Disaster risk reduction aims to decrease the risk level in communities. It implements policies
and measures to control potential risks like poor urban and rural planning, poverty, and poor
government and local capacities. Disaster risk reduction is implemented in order to:
● reduce vulnerability to life, property, or environment to an existing hazard;
● reduce degree of exposure to hazards; and
● increase preparedness through proper mitigation procedures.
A. Define the following terms using your own words.
1. disaster risk
2. exposure
3. hazard
4. vulnerability
5. resilience
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B. Refer to the World Risk Map to answer the following questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
What are the reasons why some countries have higher risk than the others?
Suggest ways on decreasing the risk in a country.
What is the interpretation for Philippines in terms of risk?
Is it possible to achieve 0% risk? Explain.
C. Answer the question below.
Suppose the community you live in is a city filled with skyscrapers and located in a lowland
area. List the possible risks in your community and ways to reduce them on the opposite
column.
Disaster Risk
Risk Reduction
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Your goal is to contribute to the disaster risk reduction plan of your local government unit.
You are a member of the disaster preparedness and management team in your community.
Your audience is the officials of your local government. The community needs more data
regarding the possible impacts of specific kinds of disaster on the community. You with your
team of 3-5 members will create a disaster simulation to gather data. You will choose one
identified community hazard and the possible disaster event it could result in. You may use
different tools, materials and format in your simulation. Your have to present the simulation
to the local officials using a diorama, storyboard or video presentation. Your presentation
should include the data gathered from your simulation (damages/effects of disaster) and
proposed ways on how to reduce those possible effects.
Your product and performance will be judged based on the following criteria;
● disaster simulation
○ disaster event, cause and risks are clearly shown in the simulation
○ scenario created is realistically possible
○ data gathered are clearly from the simulation
● creativity and design
○ tools, materials, and simulation format chosen are practical yet creative
○ shows careful consideration to details
○ simulation presentation is clear and easy to understand
● presentation
○ organization and sequence of presentation is logical and efficient
○ manner of presentation hooks and sustains the attention of the audience
○ audible, clear, correct and concise answers are provided to the questions by the
audience
● assessment and evaluation skills
○ data gathered on effects of disaster are accurate and objective
○ assessment of data are logical, sound, and correct
○ proposed ways of risk reduction are based on the assessment, sound, practical,
and applicable to the local community context
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Prevention is better than cure
The super-cyclone that impacted the State of Odisha, India on 29 and 30 October 1999 killed
9,843 people. Fourteen years later (October 2013) no more than 47 died when the equally
powerful Cyclone Phailin swept through the same area. The Odisha State Disaster
Management Authority was established shortly after the super-cyclone in 1999 (GFDRR,
2013a). Subsequently, 200 cyclone shelters were built and early warning systems were
developed, including communication networks that enabled warnings to reach both
exposed communities and fishermen out at sea. Embankments were built to protect against
storm surges and coastal flooding. Reservoir levels are now lowered when cyclones are
predicted to mitigate anticipated inland flooding. At the same time, the vulnerability of
urban areas has been assessed and building codes were introduced (GFDRR, 2013a; UNEP,
2013). In addition, the accuracy of forecasts made by the Indian Meteorological Department
has greatly improved. In 2013, warnings were disseminated four days before Cyclone Phailin
made landfall, which points to a significant improvement compared to the two days’
warning given in 1999 (UNEP, 2013). Finally, the cyclone made landfall in a pre-electoral
period, meaning that both the national and state governments deployed all available
resources to ensure that the disaster was well managed and its impacts minimised.
Let us investigate!
What event happened to India in 1999 and what is its impact?
Why were the mortality rate of typhoons in Odisha reduced significantly?
Problem:
Solution:
Reference: ​Reducing disaster mortality in Odisha,
https://www.preventionweb.net/risk/modal?type=story&modal=S-DR3&from=0
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Every year, millions of people are affected by disasters and impacts can be devastating. From
damage to buildings, physical injuries, and death, a disaster can destroy an entire town or
country overnight. ​What are the drastic effects of disasters to a community?
According to ChildFund International, 8 out of 10 world cities most at risk to disaster is found
in the Philippines. Natural disasters have affected over 4.4 billion people claiming the loss of
1.3 million people and US$ 2 trillion since 1994 (United Nations, 2014). Those are some of the
devastating impacts of a disaster. ​Are the effects of disasters only on the loss of lives and
properties?​ A
​ re there other effects of disasters?
Fig. 1​. World Risk Map.
This world map shows the current situation of the Philippines when it comes to the level of disaster risk.
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Learn about It!
Devastations caused by disasters do not just cause death and damage to property. There are
other several physical, medical, and psychological aspects in a community affected by
calamities. The severity of effects in these aspects are due to several factors.
Population
Increased population in evacuation centers is the most immediate effect during a disaster.
Natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons force people to vacate their homes and
seek shelter to a nearby safe area.
In the Philippines, the common evacuation areas are schools and churches. These
infrastructures can accommodate a large number of people and can usually withstand a
natural disaster. However, a large number of evacuees in an area will have limited access to
basic needs like food and clean water. Children and elderly become prone to diseases.
Schools and churches that serve as evacuation sites suspend their operations which lead to
delays in classes and the progress of students’ education.
Fig. 2​. Evacuation center during disasters.
Kat Miner from High Desert, CA, USA, Evacuation center-San Diego-MMHS, CC BY 2.0
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Health
One consequence of disaster is threat to the population’s health. Severe flooding caused by
typhoons can increase the presence of stagnant water in the area. This stagnant water is a
perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes to lay their eggs and for the growth of bacteria. A
common disease during a typhoon is leptospirosis, a bacterial disease that affects humans. An
increase in the number of dead and sick people can continue if medical assistance is not
immediately given. The people staying in an evacuation center has a high chance of acquiring
an epidemic or disease outbreak because of close contact to sick people. Poor personal
hygiene and lack of clean and available comfort room also adds to the problem.
Fig. 3​. Poor hygiene can cause health risks to evacuees (shared toilet)
Continuous use of the portable toilets in an evacuation center, Cagayan de Oro City by SuSanA Secretariat CC-BY-2.0.
Food
Food becomes limited after an occurrence of disaster. Source of food from farms, poultry, and
aquaculture become damaged after a disaster, thus the supply of food becomes limited.
Typhoons and drought cause damage in crops of farms and gardens. As a result, the price of
food becomes higher and people’s ability to buy supplies is reduced. This can lead to
malnutrition and hunger, brought upon by these disasters. This can hamper the development
of children in the long run.
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Fig. 4​. Some evacuees are receiving food rations
African people at work by Okello warom, CC-BY-SA-4.0.
Psychological
The devastating impacts of disaster can be traumatic for any person who has experienced it.
Exposure to deaths and catastrophe can be unforgettable to anyone especially to children.
Many children could develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after experiencing such
disastrous events. PTSD is a serious psychological condition from extreme trauma. Inability to
notice and address it early, can lead to a lifetime of emotional distress and psychological
damage.
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Factors Affecting Severity of Effects
Severity of Exposure
A person exposed to a more severe disaster has higher risk for mental distress. For example,
a family who experienced a first-hand fire incident has a higher risk than their friends and
other people who have watched the news about the fire. Psychological problems after
disasters are usually triggered by exposure to the death of an immediate family member.
Age
Research shows that individuals ranging from 40-60 years old are more prone to disaster
distress than children. Adults have more pressures like their jobs and families, and these adds
up to their emotional distress after a disaster. The higher stress of parents is related to their
children’s slow recovery.
Human Resilience
Humans are naturally resilient. Resilience is the ability of individuals to recover from the
impacts of a disaster. There are several factors that increase the resilience of an individual:
1. Social support ​includes emotional support by sharing traumatic experiences, coping
mechanisms, and finding a sense of comfort from others.
2. Coping confidence ​is the self-efficiency to believe that one can survive any disaster
and reduce mental distress in the future. This method of coping includes values like
optimism, hope, and confidence.
Fig. 5​. Children playing in evacuation center to reduce trauma brought by disasters.
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kerryl Cacho, US Navy 070624-N-9421C-055 Children living at the
Guinobatan Evacuation Center show off a new soccer ball given by Sailors from USS Peleliu (LHA 5), marked as public domain, more
details on Wikimedia Commons
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A. Identify if the following are effects or resilience factors in after disasters.
1. sharing traumatic experiences to recover
2. food shortage
3. damage of infrastructure
4. optimism
5. emotional distress
B. Compare and contrast the two terms below. Provide examples found in your own
community.
Disaster Risks
Resilience Factors
C. Explain an example of a coping mechanism of adults after a disaster. Do you think it is
effective or not effective? Give a reason to support your answer.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
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Your goal is to create an infomercial on the effects of a disaster. You are a member of a
commercial production company that was commissioned by the government to create an
infomercial. The infomercial will be aired on national television for all the Filipinos to view. The
government is holding a campaign to actively educate majority of the people on disaster
preparedness. You have to create an infomercial about one natural hazard that can possibly
happen in the Philippines. It should be a two-minute video that can inform citizens on the
effects of disaster. It would be better if the infomercial will include tips on how to reduce
psychological stress before, during, and after a disaster.
The infomercial will be judged based on the following criteria:
● hazard and disaster effects
○ hazard identified can happen in the Philippines
○ disaster effects are based on elements of Philippines’ vulnerability and exposure
to the given hazard
○ tips provided aim to reduce psychological stress before, during , and after an
disaster
● elements of infomercial
○ organized in logical sequence and manner that is easy to understand
○ language and word choices designed for easy understanding of the majority of
Filipinos
○ pleasant to watch, can hook and sustain the attention of viewers
○ audio and images used are clear, understandable, and aids in understanding the
message the infomercial wants to communicate
○ follows the given two-minute period
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Waka Waka: Lights that Brighten Lights
An armed group raided the town of Bocaranga between 4 and 5 in the morning, on the
second day of February. This attack, which was the first of its kind, left the town completely
devastated and with more than 20 people dead. Joseph Baitia, a father of 10, was among
those who found their houses completely looted. As he got closer to his property, his heart
sank when he saw that everything he had worked so hard for, had been destroyed in the
blink of an eye. At the age of 54, he felt deeply saddened that all he had left was a field he
had planted. His children were without their school materials and his wife had no kitchen
utensils. “I could see that my children were very sad and didn’t even know what to say,”
Joseph explained.
After the disaster, Joseph’s family benefitted from the W
​ aka Waka solar light​. “This light
didn’t just light up my home, it brightened the heart of every family member!” Joseph
exclaimed. “When we received the light, my children were able to do their homework, and
after they went to sleep, my wife would continue using the light to carry out her chores. The
light is durable and I’m so impressed that this little tough box can actually produce so much
light!”
Joseph is grateful for the donation of the Waka Waka lights and wishes more people around
Bocaranga could obtain them, as there is no electricity in Bocaranga and the need for
lighting is extremely high. Today, Waka Waka Solar Lights are brightening lives around the
Central African Republic in many ways. From aid workers depending on them in extremely
remote locations to light up their work to internally displaced persons, victims of armed
violence, school kids and people in situations of extreme vulnerability.
Let us investigate!
Impact or effects of disaster in Bocaranga?
Problem:
Solution:
Long term Effect:
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A strong typhoon may or may not result in a disaster. ​How does a hazardous events result
in a disaster?
Work with a partner and recall the concepts on disaster and disaster risk discussed in Lesson
1. Review the definition of hazard and disaster and their difference. Write your answer in the
table below:
Disaster
Risk
Based from your answers, can you identify ​how and when an event becomes a disaster?
To understand how and when an event becomes a disaster, one must know the difference
between a hazard and a disaster. It was discussed in Lesson 1 that disaster is defined as a
sudden, calamitous event that can cause damage to property and death. On the other hand,
hazard is a natural or man-made event that can potentially harm a population. Hazard can be
considered a disaster when there are already negative impacts to human life and their
properties. For example, a tsunami that hits a deserted island cannot be considered a disaster
since there are no human inhabitants in the island.
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Hazards are a risk factor in the occurrence of disasters. Thus, a disaster can be prevented if
the risk brought by a hazard can be prevented or reduced. For instance, a typhoon is a natural
hazard that can be predicted using weather satellites. Its impacts can be reduced if proper
mitigation procedures are done such as information dissemination and evacuation before the
typhoon strikes in a community. This is called ​proactive approach to emergency
preparedness​.
What will happen if no measures are made to prepare for a disaster? Or if the disaster is
unforeseen? For example, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Central Visayas in 2013 killed
222 people, resulted to 350 000 displaced victims, and destroyed 73 000 buildings.
Earthquakes are unforeseen natural hazards due to the movement of plates in the earth’s
crust.
Fig. 1​. Remains of Clarin Church in Bohol after 2013 earthquake.
John Martin PERRY, Remains of Clarin church post-2013 earthquake, CC BY-SA 4.0
Response during the occurrence of a disaster is important to lessen damages. If a hazard is
predicted in an area, agencies should warn the citizens in the area. It can be in the form of
news announcements done in various media sites and community evacuations. During the
actual disaster, emergency response teams should be fast in recovering individuals trapped in
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unfortunate situations to reduce the number of casualties.
Always remember that a hazard only becomes a disaster when it impacts human life and
damages properties. The greater the number of people in a risky area, the greater chance it
will become a catastrophe. Identifying communities or populations who have a higher risk
during disasters can help protect more lives.
A. Identify if the following is a hazard or a disaster.
1. tsunami in a deserted island in Japan
2. possibility of a typhoon to have a landfall
3. earthquake in a barangay in Quezon province
4. war in a terrorist-infested region or province
5. volcanic eruption in the middle of the Pacific Ocean
B. Arrange the order of events on how disasters are formed. Just write the sequence number
on the blank provided.
_________ a. natural process
_________ b. disaster
_________ c. damages
_________ d. hazard
_________ e. recovery
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Your goal is to explain the causes and effects of disasters using a story. You are a comic writer
and illustrator. Your audience are elementary school students. You are commissioned by the
school to create a story that will help young children understand the causes and effects of
disasters. You need to create a comic strip in order to present your story to the young
audience.
The comic strip will be judged based on the following criteria:
● concept and content
○ causes and effects of disasters are clearly and correctly shown in the story
○ scenario created in the story is analogous or similar to real-life situations
● story, design and creativity
○ story has a clear beginning, middle, and ending
○ comic strip used 15 to 20 boxes or scenes
○ story and characters are engaging and easy to understand
○ illustrations, color, and layout are attractive to young children
○ chosen words and images are suitable for young children
○ has evidence of resourceful and creative use of materials
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Igniting Disasters
A published research paper provides a glimpse into the future of wildfires. The paper is
titled “Extreme fire season in California: A glimpse into the future?” It was published as the
second chapter of “Explaining Extreme Events of 2014” which is from the American
Meteorological Society.
The authors, Jin-Ho Yoon and colleagues pointed out that California has been under drought
conditions since 2012 and that the drought worsened recently. Drought worsens the threat
from wildfires. On the year the paper was published, the California Department of Forestry
and Fire Protection saw many more fires than have occurred in the previous years.
Although the influence of drought and wildfires are obvious, the authors provided some
important though sometimes subtle insights. For instance, in a warming world, we also
expect more rainfall so it is reasonable to think that fires may actually decrease. So which
effect of global warming wins, the warming or the wetting?
Let us investigate!
Impact or effects of climate change to communities.
Problem:
Solution:
Reference: ​New research finds that global warming is intensifying wildfires,
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2015/dec/03/ne
w-research-finds-that-global-warming-is-intensifying-wildfires
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When traveling for the first time, it is a natural tendency to be wary of one’s surroundings. It
may be because of curiosity, cautiousness, or both that urges anyone to be more familiar with
new places. In terms of safety and preparedness, awareness of your surroundings is very
important. W
​ hat things should you be aware of about areas exposed to hazards?
Look around the classroom and identify the different hazards that might cause accidents or
harm. Write your findings in the space provided below:
Classroom Location
Hazard/Risk
Based from the activity, how are you able to locate hazards in your classroom?
Do you think your classroom is hazard free? Why?
The Philippines is geographically located at the “Pacific Ring of Fire”. These are countries that
are usually hit by disasters like earthquake. According to the ​Center for Research on the
Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), the worst combination of disasters experienced by the
Philippines was from 1901 to 2000. The occurrence and effects of disasters are inevitable but
reducing the severity can be done by proper mitigation procedures.
One way to reduce disaster impact is to identify the areas exposed or prone to hazards. This
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information is helpful in planning for disaster risk reduction and management. Identifying
hazards can be categorized per type of hazard. This lesson focuses on identifying different
areas exposed to natural hazards.
Prediction and Warning
Prediction is a statement of probability of hazards to occur based on a number of evidences
or observations. These observations can come from precursor events or unusual physical
changes.
For example, volcanic eruptions are usually preceded by a series of earthquakes and changes
in the chemical composition of the gases coming from the volcanic vent. Monitoring these
activities can predict potential volcanic eruptions.
A ​warning is a signal that tells of a high probability of occurrence of a hazard. When a
warning is issued, the community should be alert on the dangers of the potential event and
proper measures should be made.
Climate and Weather Related Hazards
Areas with ​low elevation is more prone to impacts of typhoons and floods. Also, areas with
poor drainage systems, located near bodies of water can be prone to floods as well. Steep
landforms with poor vegetation are prone to landslides during typhoons.
Geophysical Related Hazards
Earthquakes are more prominent in areas near fault lines. We can recall the tectonic plates in
the earth’s crust and identify which are the fault lines. Areas that are deep-focused, are prone
to earthquakes because of its trench and nearby active faults.
Man-made Related Hazards
Fire hazards can be caused by faulty electrical wiring, children playing with matches, candles
left unattended, burning garbage, leaking LPG tanks, and using firewood in cooking. War is
considered the worst man-made disaster. In the Philippines, the war in Marawi last May of
2017 caused a huge disaster not only to the city’s infrastructure but to the lives of the people
living there.
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Describe the possible areas in a community prone to the different hazards below:
Hazard
Prone Area
Fire
Typhoon
Earthquake
Landslide
Explosion/Blast
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Your goal is to ensure that your household is aware of the hazards and knows how to respond
in case of disaster. You are a responsible member of your household and wants all the family
members to be prepared in case of emergencies. You need to create a hazard map and
identify the potential effects of hazards. You can use the space below for making the map and
the table.
Your map and table will be judged based on the following criteria:
● the location of each house component are clearly drawn and labeled
● the location and type of hazards are all identified
● the table lists all types of hazards in the house and matched with possible effects
Hazard Location
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Potential Effects
35
Thunder in the Ground
Wastewater injection, a byproduct of fracking, is the likely culprit behind a surge of
earthquakes in northern Texas – and residents want accountability. F
​ racking​, or hydraulic
fracturing, is a way of extracting natural gas from shale rock formations that are often deep
underground. It involves pumping water, chemicals and usually sand underground at high
pressure to fracture shale – hence the name – and release the gas trapped within to be
collected back at the surface.
The technology has transformed the US energy landscape in the last decade, owing to the
combination of high-volume fracking – 1.5m gallons of water per well, on average – and the
relatively modern ability to drill horizontally into shale after a vertical well has been drilled.
Let us investigate!
Impact or effects?
Problem:
Solution:
Long term Effect:
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When an earthquake occurs in a populated area, not only can people be harmed physically
but their future can be affected as well. ​How does a disaster affect different aspects of
society?
Work with a partner and analyze the picture below. Fill out the table below by answering the
questions about the image.
Fig. 1​. A photo of soldiers during a war.
Effect on:
Answer
Citizens
Government
Environment
Infrastructure
Economy
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Can you think of other effects of the picture in other aspects of the community? ​What are the
different impacts of disaster from different perspectives?
In lesson 3, you learned about the effects of disaster to one’s life and how people usually cope
with it. Looking at a bigger picture, a disaster does not just affect the individuals that have
experienced it. There are other perspectives to consider in studying its effects. This could also
help in gathering information to create disaster risk reduction plans in the future.
Physical and Environmental Aspect
When a disaster hits, the first line of impact is the environment. Disaster causes drastic
changes in the structure of the environment. For example, when an earthquake occurs in an
area, there is a high possibility that roads will break and crack. Landslides in the mountains
causes erosion of the soil. This will lead to the removal of an arable layer of soil. Arable soil is
needed to plant more trees to prevent landslides in the future. Droughts can cause soil
cracking in farms as well because of the absence of water moisture. Because of this, farmers
cannot provide enough supply of crops because the land is not suitable for crop growth.
Socio-economic Aspect
Impacts of disaster in the socio-economic aspect include the state of the social well-being and
the financial resources of the community. Government agencies are responsible for reducing
the socio-economic impacts of the community through proper mitigation procedures.
Recent studies revealed that developing countries like the Philippines are more vulnerable to
socio-economic impacts​. One reason is that developing countries are more prone to disaster
impact because of its high vulnerability and low resistance. The low economic status of
developing countries contribute to their high vulnerability and mitigation procedures has to
involve proper budget allocation.
Urban areas with more stable infrastructure are less vulnerable than areas with poor
infrastructure. Proper information dissemination and education about disasters are lacking in
some rural areas. Because of this, they fail to implement a proper disaster risk reduction plan
in their area which would lead to higher risk and vulnerability to a disaster impact.
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Educational Aspect
Access to information is important in reducing the hazardous effects of disasters. Observation
and data analysis is not just essential for identifying risk in disasters but also to educate and
train people on how to reduce disaster risk. Students in elementary and high school are
greater in population. This large percentage in a community is crucial in literacy when it
comes to disaster management. For example, students in Senior High School are taking up
the subject Disaster Readiness and Risk reduction as part of the new curriculum for the K to
12 program. However, when disaster strikes, schools used as evacuation centers, hinder the
education of the students.
Psychological Aspect
A natural or man-made disaster is a traumatic event that can cause stress, depression, and
anxiety. People with underlying mental illnesses is considered a vulnerable group. Shock and
denial stages after disastrous events are normal for victims that is why they need
psycho-social intervention to be able to cope and live a normal life.
Biological Aspect
Disasters can cause health problems to individuals. In a larger scale, these diseases can cause
an epidemic or an outbreak especially if emergency care is not available.
In terms of biological diversity, animals, and plants that live in a community where disaster
strikes can drastically decrease in number. This would result to imbalance in the ecosystem
and potentially limited access to food resources, agriculture, and livestock.
Political Aspect
A disaster may also change the way citizens feel about other people in general, like after
giving donations to assist affected individuals. A disaster may also affect public opinion about
the government, because citizens can feel and see how the government handled the effects of
disaster. In that respect, potential social and political effects of disasters occur through direct
and indirect experiences.
In the Philippines, a disaster have brought donations from local and international agencies.
Survivors and their families expected to rebuild their properties from those donations but
government rebuilding efforts seem too slow. This scenario made a huge political impact to
the country regarding the trust rating of government officials.
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Identify the aspect of disaster that is mostly affected by each scenario:
1. road cracks
2. price increase on basic necessities
3. lack of information about disasters
4. unbalanced ecosystem
5. flooding
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Your goal is to raise awareness on the larger effects of disasters. You work at a
nongovernment organization that has a campaign on disaster preparedness. The infographic
will be posted in areas like transport stations and malls which are frequented by city
residents. The infographic should be created using digital tools but produced in print media.
The information in the infographic should be about the effects of one type of disaster in
different perspectives.
You will be graded based on the following criteria:
● content and concept
○ disaster chosen match the possible effects
○ effects shown are from at least 4 different perspectives
○ content is correct and accurate
● design and creativity
○ organization, layout, choice of design elements are appealing to urban dwellers
of all ages
○ words and images used are appropriate to the message the infographic wants to
communicate
○ organizers like flowchart, concept map, and/or tables are used creatively
● digital skills and production
○ digital tools are used appropriately to draft the infographic
○ printed infographic is size-appropriate and suitable for posting in large and
crowded areas
○ has evidence of efficient use of time and resources
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California's hellish fires: a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Future
California is burning in December. Climate scientists predicted global warming will make
Christmas wildfires more commonplace.
This year, California experienced its worst and most expensive wildfire season on record.
This surprised many, because while the state recently had ​its worst drought in over 1,200
years​, the 5-year drought ended in 2016. However, California was hit by the opposite
extreme in 2017, w
​ ith its wettest rainy season on record​.
Though it seems counter-intuitive, the wet season contributed to the state’s wildfires. The
resulting vegetation growth ​created fuel for the 2017 fire season​, particularly after being
dried out by high temperatures. ​2017 was the hottest summer in record on California​,
breaking the previous record set just last year by a full degree Fahrenheit. As ​Stephen Pyne
put it​, “Whether it’s exceptionally wet or exceptionally dry, you’ve got the material for a fire
in California.”
California’s wildfire season normally ends in October – big wildfires are relatively rare in
November and December. But ​fires are raging in Southern California two weeks shy of
Christmas, impossible to contain due to intense Santa Ana winds, c​ reating hellish scenes​.
Let us investigate!
Impact or effects?
Problem:
Solution:
Reference: ​California's hellish fires: a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Future,
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2017/dec/11/californi
as-hellish-fires-a-visit-from-the-ghost-of-christmas-future
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A Photo Exhibit of Disasters and its Effects
Goal​ :
● The goal is to raise awareness on the underlying causes of disasters and its effects.
● The challenge is to showcase concepts of disasters and disaster risk in a photograph.
Role​:
● You are a photographer of a disaster risk agency.
● You have been asked to take photos of relevant sceneries about causes and effects of
disasters.
Audience​:
● The target audience is students in your school of lower batch.
● You need to convince them to be more aware of their surroundings that may cause a
threat or hazard that can cause disaster.
Situation​:
● The context you find yourself in is finding a good scene or subject for your photoshoot.
Product/Performance and Purpose​:
● You will create a photo exhibit in order to raise awareness.
● You need to develop creative photography skills so that the students can appreciate the
exhibit.
Standards & Criteria for Success​:
● Your performance needs to be done within one week.
● Your work will be judged by guest viewers.
● Your product must meet the following standards:
○ Relevance to the topic/theme
○ Creativity
○ Content/Caption
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Standards Rubrics​:
Criteria
5 points
3-4 points
1-2 points
Relevance to
topic/theme
All the elements
and details in
the photo serve
to clearly depict
the main theme
which is the
causes and
effects of
disaster.
The focal point
in the photo
somewhat
depicts the main
theme which is
the causes and
effects of
disaster.
Creativity
The photo made
use of color,
light, distance
and perspective
to create a good
composition
that captivates
the eye and
emotion of the
audience.
The photo has
good
composition but
one to two
elements (either
light, color,
distance or
perspective)
contributed to a
less appealing
product.
The caption
describes the
causes and
effects of
disaster and
matches the
photo but the
composition of
statements is
less clear.
At most one
supporting
element in the
photo depicts
the causes and
effects of
disaster but the
focal point is not
clearly relevant
to the theme.
The photo has
an unclear
composition
and lacks the
use of most
elements ( light,
color, distance
or perspective)
resulting to a
less appealing
product.
The caption
describes the
causes and
effects of
disaster but is
unrelated to the
photo or; the
caption
describes the
photo but is
unrelated to the
theme.
Content/Caption The caption
clearly and
correctly
describes the
causes and
effects of
disaster and
matches the
photo.
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No points
No element in
the photo is
relevant to the
theme.
The photo has
an unclear
composition
and lacks the
use of elements
resulting in a
messy and
distracting
product.
The caption
does not
describe the
photo itself nor
the theme; or
there is no
caption.
44
Check
I can…
Explain the meaning of disaster.
Differentiate the risk factors underlying disasters.
Describe the effects of disaster on one’s life.
Explain how and when an event becomes a disaster.
Identify areas or locations exposed to hazards that may lead to disaster.
Analyze disaster from different perspectives such as physical, psychological,
socio-cultural, economic, political, and biological perspectives.
R
​ eflect
I find __________________________ the most interesting because ______________________.
I got ____ checks because _______________________________________________________.
I need to improve on _______________________because _____________________________.
I need to practice _________________________ because _____________________________.
I plan to _____________________________________________________________________ .
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● Disaster is a dangerous situation or threat from natural or man-made events that
disrupt the function of a community.
● Disaster risk​ i​ s a combination of hazard, vulnerability, and exposure.
● Disaster risk factors can be classified into physical, psychological, socio-cultural,
economic, and biological aspects.
● Disaster occurs when a hazard is exposed to a vulnerable community.
● Natural disasters are from Earth’s natural processes like plate and wind movements.
Man-made disasters​, on the other hand, are caused by human activities that result to
hazards.
● Disasters do not just cause death and damage to properties. There are other several
physical, medical, and psychological aspects in a community affected by calamities.
● The severity of these effects are affected by several factors like severity of disaster and
the age and gender of individuals that live in the community.
● Resilience is the ability of individuals to recover from the impacts of disaster.
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3G ELearning FZ LLC. 2017. D
​ isaster Readiness and Risk Reduction​. UAE: 3G ELearning FZ LLC.
ChildFund International. “The Devastating Impact of Natural Disasters”. Accessed January 23,
2018. https://www.childfund.org/Content/NewsDetail/2147489272/
Commission on Higher Education and Philippine Normal University. 2016. ​Teaching Guide for
Senior High School Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction​. Manila: CHED.
Cordaid. “Waka Waka: Lights That Brighten Lives”. Accessed January 22, 2018.
https://www.cordaid.org/en/news/waka-waka-lights-that-brighten-lives/
Dewberry. “When Natural Events Become Natural Disasters”. Accessed January 23, 2018.
http://www.dewberry.com/news/blog/post/blog/2012/05/04/when-natural-events-beco
me-natural-disasters
Disaster is Not an Event. “What is a Disaster?”. Accessed January 22, 2018.
http://postcolonialdisaster.com/what-is-a-disaster/
Enotes. “What causes a hazard to become a disaster?”. Accessed January 24, 2018.
https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-causes-hazard-become-disaster-507697
InDepthNews. “How an Extreme Natural Event Can Turn to a Disaster”. Accessed January 24,
2018.https://www.indepthnews.net/index.php/newsbriefs/633-how-an-extreme-natural
-event-can-turn-to-a-disaster
Karunanidhi, K. 2015. ​Disaster Management: Relief, Rehabilitation, and Mitigation.​ New Delhi: Alfa
Publications.
Madeleine M. Co, et. al. 2016. U
​ nderstanding the Science and Practical Knowledge of Prepping for
Disasters. ​Malabon City: Mutya Publishing House.
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Penna, Anthony N. and Jennifer S. Rivers. 2013. ​Natural Disasters in a Global Environment​. UK:
John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Sciencing. “What are the Negative Effects of Natural Disasters?” Accessed January 23, 2018.
https://sciencing.com/negative-effects-natural-disasters-8292806.html
Taylor & Francis Online. Social and Economic Impacts of Natural Disasters. Accessed January
22, 2018 . http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00206810109465021
Tulane University. “Natural Hazards and Natural Disasters”. Accessed January 23, 2018.
https://www.tulane.edu/~sanelson/Natural_Disasters/introduction.htm
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. “The Effects of Disaster on Modern
Societies”. Accessed January 23, 2018.
https://www.unisdr.org/we/inform/publications/11009
US Department of Veteran Affairs. “Effects of Disasters: Risk and Resilience Factors”. Accessed
January 22, 2018.
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/types/disasters/effects_of_disasters_risk_and_resilience
_factors.asp
World Health Organization. 2002. D
​ isasters & Emergencies Definitions​. World Health
Organization.
World Vision. “5 of the worst natural disasters in 2013”. Accessed January 22, 2018.
https://www.worldvision.org/disaster-relief-news-stories/five-worst-natural-disasters-20
13​.
Republic Act No. 10121. Accessed March 17, 2018.
http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2010/05/27/republic-act-no-10121/.
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Glossary
Capacity
Disaster
Disaster risk
Emergency
Exposure
Hazard
Mitigation
Preparedness
Rehabilitation
Resilience
Vulnerability
Epidemic
Evacuation
Malaria
Population
PTSD
Resilience
Prediction
Warning
The combination of all features of the community that can be used to
manage and reduce disaster risks, and strengthen resilience. Capability is
another way to describe a community’s capacity.
A dangerous situation or threat from natural or man-made events that
disrupts the function of a community.
The probability of the damages and losses brought about by disasters in a
specific time period.
Sudden occurrence of dangerous situation that needs immediate
response.
Any element (people, property, or system) that is present in a hazard and
is prone to potential loss.
A threat to life, environment, or property. It can be classified based on its
origin whether it is natural or man-made
The act of preventing or minimizing the effects of disaster-causing events
by introducing precautionary measures before a disaster strikes a
community.
Pre-disaster activities that aim to reduce disaster risks and increase
resilience.
Post-disaster activities that aim to restore the normal functioning of the
community.
The ability of a community to resist, accommodate, and recover from a
disaster.
The failure to withstand the impacts of hazards
This is a disease affecting an entire community
This is the act of leaving one’s property to a safer place due to disaster
A parasitic infection brought about by mosquitoes
The number of individuals in a given area
It is also known as post-traumatic stress disorder. It is a mental condition
caused by a traumatic experience after a tragic event, e.g. disaster
This is the ability of individuals to recover from the impacts of disaster
This is a statement of probability of a hazard to occur based on evidence
or observation
This is a signal given because of the high probability of occurrence of a
hazard.
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Unit 2
Exposure and Vulnerability
Table of Contents
Introduction
3
Essential Questions
4
Lesson 1: Vulnerability
6
Starting Out
Learn about It
Check Your Understanding
Explore Your World
Case Study
Lesson 2: Vulnerability of Sectors of Society to Disasters
Starting Out
Learn about It
Check Your Understanding
Explore Your World
Case Study
Lesson 3: Vulnerability of Certain Structures to Hazards
Starting Out
Learn about It
Check Your Understanding
Explore Your World
Case Study
Lesson 4: Elements Exposed to Hazards
Starting Out
Learn about It
6
7
10
11
12
13
13
13
18
19
20
21
21
21
25
26
26
27
27
27
1
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Check Your Understanding
Explore Your World
Case Study
Lesson 5: Elements Exposed to Particular Hazards
Starting Out
Learn about It
Check Your Understanding
Explore Your World
Case Study
Lesson 6: Vulnerabilities of Elements Exposed to Hazards
Starting Out
Learn about It
Check Your Understanding
Explore Your World
Case Study
Lesson 7: Hazards, Exposures, and Vulnerabilities
Starting Out
Learn about It
Check Your Understanding
Explore Your World
Case Study
30
31
32
33
33
34
35
36
37
38
38
38
43
44
45
46
46
46
49
50
51
Real World Challenge
52
Check and Reflect
53
Wrap Up
54
Bibliography
55
Glossary
57
Answers to Check Your Understanding
58
2
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GRADE 11/12 |Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction
Unit 2
Exposure and Vulnerability
In 2016, the Philippines is ranked as the third country with very high disaster risk based on the
World Health Index calculated for the United Nations University Institute for Environment and
Human Security . This is an infamous recognition of the Philippines as a disaster-stricken
country. On average, there are 22 tropical depressions that hit the country though not all of
those bring disaster. There are also earthquakes that hit the country hard, most recently in
2013 and 2016. The Visayas region was greatly affected and many properties and
infrastructures were destroyed. On the other hand, the northernmost province of Batanes has
been known as the crossroad of typhoons, but every time a typhoon hits this province it
always registers zero casualties. From the data on the Philippines and the case of Batanes,
what could be the factors that make an area experience or prevent disaster?
Fig. 1​. Illegal settlements in Metro Manila (above) and the Ivatan houses in Batanes (below).
anne_jimenez, Oldest House in Ivatan, CC BY 2.0
3
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●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Why are certain sectors more vulnerable to disasters than the others?
Why certain structures are more vulnerable to specific hazards than the others?
What factors can affect the vulnerabilities of certain elements of society exposed to
different hazards?
How can we protect our community and its people who are exposed and vulnerable
to disasters?
What are the different elements that are exposed to particular types of hazards and
how can we mitigate them?
How vulnerable are communities/people when they are exposed to different
hazards?
How can the vulnerable groups easily cope to hazards?
How do hazards, exposures, and vulnerabilities differ from each other?
In this unit, you should be able to:
● enumerate elements exposed to hazards;
● explain the meaning of vulnerability;
● explain why certain sectors are more vulnerable to disasters than others;
● analyze why certain structures are more vulnerable to specific hazards than others;
● determine the elements that are exposed to a hazard;
● recognize vulnerabilities of certain elements exposed to different hazards ; and
● differentiate among hazards, exposure, and vulnerabilities and give examples from
actual situations.
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● Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment or VCA uses different tools to assess
community’s exposure to natural hazards and the ability to resist it.
● Landslide is the downslope movement of a mass of rock, debris, earth, or soil. It is also
called landslip.
Fig. 2​. Effect of landslide that was triggered by typhoon Ketsana in 2006.
Susan Corpuz​ from Ortigas, Philippines, ​Typhoon Ketsana landslide in San Juan Banyo​, ​CC BY 2.0
Above is a photo of the aftermath of a landslide in 2006 that happened in Barangay San
Juan Banyo within the Arayat National Park. Based on the photo, infer what you think
happened before the landslide and the impacts on the affected community. What do you
think caused the landslide? Do you think the community involved had an idea beforehand
that something like that can happen to them? How do you think the people managed
during and after the tragic event?
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All communities that are near the coast may be exposed to storm surges and tsunamis.
However, each community have different levels of vulnerability to those kinds of hazards.
How is vulnerability different from exposure?
A
B
C
Indian Navy, I​ ndian Navy flood relief operations in the aftermath of floods and landslides in Sri Lanka, May 2017 (05)​,
CC BY 2.5 IN,​ P
​ H1 Randall C. Burney, USN, E
​ vacuees from Mount Pinatubo at Andersen Air Force Base Guam,​
marked as public domain, more details on W
​ ikimedia Commons,​ ​U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist
2nd Class John P. Curtis, U
​ S Navy 110412-N-SD120-002 Sailors rebuild a home damaged by Hurricane Katrina,​
marked as public domain, more details on W
​ ikimedia Commons
Picture analysis​ (5 members per group)
The teacher will assign a photo of one of the following to each group:
A​- relief operation ​B-​ evacuation center C
​ -​ rehabilitation activity
Discuss what you think is the story behind the photo. Infer what happened before, and after
the photo was taken. After 5 minutes, each group shall designate a representative to discuss
to the whole class what their photo is all about.
Do you find any similarities in the scenarios? Discuss your observations.
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Vulnerability
The ​UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) (formerly United Nations International
Strategy for Disaster Reduction or UNISDR) which was established in 1999 has the mandate to
be the main coordinator of the United Nations system on its disaster reduction activities. The
UNDRR is one of the leading authorities in disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM).
UNIDRR also released a list of terminologies related to DRRM and updates it from time to
time. UNDRR in its 2014 list of terminologies defines vulnerability as a set of ​“characteristics
and circumstances, system, or assets that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of hazards.”
Vulnerability is one of the determinants of the effects and impacts of hazards. If the
experiences of a certain community to typhoons have a long history of disasters and failed
response, it could learn from it and change its ways of life. Vulnerability affects how people
live, their resources, and their capacity to address hazards.
Fig. 1​. Impacts of hazards the community is exposed to depends on the vulnerability of its sectors.
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Vulnerability can also be defined as lack of power to be safe in times of disasters. Disasters
might affect the whole country or community, but its effects and impacts vary. These
variations or levels of vulnerability depend on wealth, education, gender, age, and other
cultural and social conditions.
Factors Affecting Vulnerability
There are three (3) main factors that affect the level or degree of vulnerability of communities:
Factor
Characteristics
Physical
● Location (e.g. nearness to bodies of water, volcano, and other
landslide-prone areas)
● Environment (e.g. tall and old trees, stray dogs and cats, wild animals,
and dengue-affected area)
● Structural (e.g. no perimeter fence, improper electrical wiring
installation, non-compliant with building code, fire exits are too
narrow, slippery hallways, broken window glasses)
Social
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Motivational
● No coordination between local leaders and community people.
● Funds for DRRM were diverted to other programs and initiatives.
● Local leaders are unwilling to integrate DRRM into their programs and
initiatives.
● Internal conflicts and divisions exist between local community leaders.
● A community is unaware of risks and their possible consequences.
absence or lack of implementation of DRRM committee
lacking or unknown contingency plan
unclear protocols
no organized evacuation drills
no early warning system
uncooperative neighborhood
local community leaders are not trained in DRRM
absence or lack of DRRM related facilities and equipment such as fire
extinguishers, first aid kits, ambulance, and others
Adopted from Nurturing Safe Schools: A Teacher’s Guide to Child-centered Disaster Risk Reduction (2010) published by
Save the Children and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
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Categories of Vulnerability
The Asian Disaster Preparedness
hazard-specific​ and ​setting specific​.
Center
has
categorized
vulnerability
into
two,
H
​ azard – specific
Setting – specific
A characteristic which makes the element
concerned susceptible to the forces or
impacts of a hazard. The geophysical and
locational attributes of the elements given
are considered in this category. Based on
the present-knowledge of the distribution
and frequency of hazards, a community or
country may be threatened by specific
hazards.
A place or an area becomes susceptible to
hazards according to their location or setting.
The main concern is whether it is located in a
rural or urban setting. Some characteristics
may be present to both as well as exclusive to
a specific area that makes it more prone to
the effects of a disaster.
Examples​:
Examples:
● Baseco compound is a congested area
● Catanduanes is vulnerable to typhoons.
with many makeshift houses. Due to its
● Surigao is vulnerable to tsunami and
location and the economic status of
storm surge.
people living there, it is vulnerable to
● Central Luzon is vulnerable to an
different hazards.
eruption of Mt. Pinatubo.
● Metro cities of Cebu and Manila due to its
● Metro Manila is vulnerable to 7.2
congested areas and high population are
magnitude earthquake called “Big One.”
vulnerable to fire and earthquake.
● Residential settlements along bodies of
water (rivers, coastal area, and delta) are
vulnerable to flood and effects of climate
change.
Types of Vulnerability
A​. ​Physical vulnerability pertains to potential damages a hazard can do
to physical
structures including buildings, houses, and transportation systems (roads, railways, airports,
and seaports). It can also affect lifelines or critical facilities that are needed to sustain the life
of a community, like power and water supplies, and telecommunications facilities. The
physical environment can also be considered— devastated agricultural lands will affect food
supply and contribute more to vulnerabilities of the already vulnerable sectors of society.
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​ ​. ​Social vulnerability is defined as “the people’s capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist and
B
recover from impacts of natural hazards” (Wisher, et al. 2004). There are many factors
affecting the social vulnerability of a certain community or group such as economic status,
ethnicity, gender, age, religion, and disability. Powerful people might not be vulnerable to
hazards because they are equipped and prepared, while the poor is more vulnerable because
of their living conditions, the environment they live in, and their access to certain services of
the government. This is where marginalization takes place, when a certain sector of society is
excluded from getting the basic social services in times of disasters.
Presence of both physical and social vulnerabilities can increase the effect of the disaster on
a community.
A. Recall / Comprehension
1. What United Nations agency serves as focal point in the United Nations system
for the coordination of disaster reduction?
2. What is one primary determinant of the effects and impacts of a disaster which
pertains to characteristics and circumstances, system, or assets that make it
susceptible to the damaging effects of hazards?
3. What factor of vulnerability is concerned with the location and environment of
the community?
B. Application, Analysis
1. How does vulnerability become important in disaster risk reduction?
2. Why are some sectors or groups of society more vulnerable than others?
3. What are the repercussions when physical and structural aspects of society
become devastated during and after disasters?
4. How does the physical environment contribute to the decrease or increase of
level or degree of vulnerability?
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C. Synthesis and evaluation
Agree or Disagree: Being poor means being vulnerable in times of disaster. Explain your
answer.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Using the table below, identify the vulnerable group according to the following cause and
effect.
Cause
Effect
Vulnerable Group/s
Earthquake Damaged and cracked school
buildings.
Flood
The communities around the
Marikina river were
devastated by heavy rainfall.
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The following vulnerable groups represented by the pictures below represent sectors of
society that are present in most communities.
D
​ arwgon0801,​ T
​ agbanua weaver​, ​CC BY-SA 4.0​ (left),
​anonymous, P
​ aratroopers, National Police distribute wheelchairs in 9 Nissan DVIDS181364,​ marked as public
domain, more details on W
​ ikimedia Commons​ (right)
Let us investigate!
What sectors of society are represented by the images above?
What makes each of the sectors vulnerable to disaster?
What problems will each of the sectors encounter in times of disaster?
Do you think there are ways to lessen the vulnerability of those groups during and
after a disaster?
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The level of suffering in times of disaster differ among different sectors of society. Which
sector of the society suffers the most during a disaster occurrence? ​Why are some sectors of
society more vulnerable than others?
Compare and Contrast
Scientific data suggest that super typhoons like Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013 are the new normal.
Compare and contrast how these super typhoons could affect the following sectors of society:
● illegal settlements and gated communities like villages and subdivisions
● the elderly and the workforce
● a prepared family and an unprepared family during a typhoon
Are there differences on how the following sectors might be affected by super
typhoons?
As a tropical country and due to its geographical location, the Philippines is exposed to
different types of hazards, like typhoons. When a tropical cyclone hits a specific community,
the degree or level of vulnerability varies due to some factors that might affect the capacity
and resiliency of different sectors of society.
The level of vulnerability to a typhoon of illegal settlements in the seaside area is higher than
those settlements located in higher places and gated communities. Poverty is a significant
factor in vulnerability and capacity, but it does not necessarily mean that low-income families
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are always vulnerable to hazards. Susceptibility to hazard increases due to lack of education
and training on disaster preparedness. Communities living in rural areas do not have easy
access to information available about disaster readiness and risk reduction.
Fig. 1​. ​A typical scene in an urbanized area of developing countries where illegal settlements and high-rise
buildings co-exist.
YGLvoices​, D
​ haravi India​, ​CC BY 2.0
The following factors may affect different sectors of society:
Socio-Economic Factors
Socio-economic status ​or wealth plays a vital role on why some sectors of society are more
vulnerable than others. Rich or developed countries do not suffer as much relative to
developing nations when a natural hazard occurs. Disasters might affect the supply of food
and other essential commodities and services of a country.
The same is true to families whose houses are not compliant to the National Building Code
of the Philippines (materials, structure, ventilation, sanitation, and others). When a strong
earthquake hits their location, their houses are more likely to be affected or destroyed. While
families that reside in a structurally sound concrete homes or high-rise condominium, have
lesser vulnerability during earthquakes, fires, or typhoon.
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There are also families that have the budget to buy first aid kits and stock necessary supplies
(food and clothing) that they might need during and after a disaster, while the others cannot
even purchase food thrice a day because of their everyday financial struggle.
Government and other non-governmental civic organizations education programs and
activities lessen the impacts or effects of disasters. The quarterly National Simultaneous
Earthquake Drill (NSED) of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) together with other government
agencies and local government units like the Bureau of Fire Protection,
Municipal/City/Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and other relevant
agencies help improve the level of awareness and preparedness of communities when
disaster happens.
Government agencies also have the primary task of ensuring a safe and resilient environment
and community. They are responsible for planning and creating measures to lessen the
impact of disasters on the cities.
Figure 2. E
​ mployees of shopping mall participate in the National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED).
Judgefloro, 0134jfNationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill Philippinesfvf 30, CC0 1.0
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The movement of people from one place to another is called ​migration​. This shift can be due
to different factors, and displacement also affects the level of vulnerability of people.
Migrants, refugees, and ​internally-displaced persons (IDP) do not receive the same response
and relief from the government. Typically these types of people suffer most when disaster
strikes because of their unfamiliarity on their current place of settlement.
During the Zamboanga siege, the more than two hundred thousand internally-displaced
people of Zamboanga were forced to stay in unprepared evacuation sites. Tents were the
primary form of shelter for these people. When a typhoon hit these evacuation sites, majority
of these tents were damaged and even destroyed. It created a broader and more extensive
problem that the government had to address.
In the case of migrants, due to their unfamiliarity when disaster strikes, they may be unaware
of the places such as where to ask for help and whom to ask for help. There are instances
when the host country prioritizes their citizens before they extend relief to migrants.
Internally-displaced persons (IDP) are persons or group of persons who are forced or
obliged to leave or to flee their homes, or places of habitual residence to avoid the effects of
armed conflicts, violations of human rights, and natural and man-made disasters; and have
not crossed an internationally recognized state border.
Demographic Factors
Settlement patterns and population density that is both associated with ​urbanization
increase vulnerability to disaster risk. Rapid urbanization comes with ballooning of
population. It has increased the number of people exposed and vulnerable to disaster risk.
Due to its rapidness, ​unplanned development and ​poor infrastructure pose a serious
threat.
Urbanization attracts people from surrounding areas making it more difficult for the
government to provide adequate resources and training to increase capacity and prevent
disasters. Rural and small communities also have high vulnerability because of lack of
resources. Government budget for rural communities is smaller than for urban areas.
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Age of population or the number of young and seniors living in communities is also a prime
factor in determining the level of vulnerability. These groups are more vulnerable because of
their inability to respond and cope with disasters. They require more attention from the
government and society during emergencies. In a typical evacuation scenario, the first to be
evacuated are women, children, and the elderly. People who also suffer from illness are also
vulnerable and need immediate attention during emergencies.
Fig. 3​. ​A typical scene in evacuation center while women, children, and elderly wait for the safe time to return to
their original houses.
Angelo Dologmandin for Philippine Information Agency - Region 10,​ ​Marawi crisis evacuees in Iligan.jpg
Social groups such as the marginalized (groups excluded or underrepresented in planning and
decision-making) are those discriminated during the post-disaster rescue, relief operations,
recovery, and rehabilitation efforts.
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The following are the most commonly identified marginalized or excluded groups in times of
emergencies:
● pregnant women
● racial or ethnic minority
● mentally and physically challenged individuals
● tourists
● migrants
● prisoners
These groups of people are not biologically excluded but separated through socially
constructed barriers. For example, after a typhoon hit a coastal community, the pregnant
women and the elderly were left in evacuation centers for care and medical assistance.
During typhoon Haiyan “Yolanda” a jail breakout of the inmates was reported in Leyte
Provincial Jail. This breakout was done to save their lives.
Different sectors of society have different levels of vulnerability to disaster risk, and they
also need different levels of attention to survive in times of emergencies.
A. Recall / Comprehension
1. What is the movement of people from one place to another?
2. Who are those who were forced or obliged to leave or flee their homes due to
armed conflicts?
3. What made marginalized groups excluded from a post-disaster rescue, relief
operations and recovery and rehabilitation efforts?
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B. Application, Analysis
1. Why do poor families have a higher level of vulnerability to disaster risks than
the rich?
2. What does marginalization mean in times of emergencies?
3. Why are women and children vulnerable groups?
4. How does urbanization affect vulnerability?
C. Synthesis and evaluation.
How can we make our communities more inclusive in times of emergencies?
Identify members of your family that belongs to the vulnerable sector of society by filling up
the table below.
Name of family member
Vulnerability Factor
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Inclusive Community Disaster Risk Reduction Plan
You are one of the ​Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council) councilors in your barangay. One
of the agenda that your group wants to accomplish is an Inclusive Community Disaster Risk
Reduction Plan. It aims to make everyone safe in times of disaster. Your task is to identify
sectors or groups of people in your barangay that are more vulnerable in times of disaster.
After identifying them, you will create a plan to make them safer by providing additional
attention to them.
Example: Children will be evacuated first and will be housed in a building with strong
structural integrity like the higher floors of a school building.
Your output will be compiled and be given to your barangay chairperson, and be included
in the overall barangay disaster risk reduction plan.
·
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A particular building can be considered prone to disaster. Quality and standard are always
related to construction to ensure the safety of people. ​How does a structure’s quality affect
its vulnerability?
Short Neighborhood Analysis
The teacher will allow you to inspect parts of the school and ask pairs to assess if they are
built with materials that can withstand disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes. List down
materials in each area that you can identify as safe from disasters.
Compare and discuss your answers.
Aside from people and communities, it is also essential to understand the degree of
vulnerability of physical structures. Here are three primary concepts that one should know
before directly discussing the vulnerability of physical structures. This concerns houses,
buildings, roads, bridges, dams, seawalls, and other public and private infrastructures:
Engineered construction: These structures are building-code compliant. These are designed,
planned, and built by competent structural engineers and architects. These constructions also
followed the process of securing a building permit, thus ensuring the compliance with safety
standards that can withstand earthquakes and other similar hazards.
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Non-engineered construction: These structures are designed by incompetent engineers and
architects, meaning they do not have a building permit. In the same manner, they also do not
follow the safety standards of building construction.
Owner-built buildings: These buildings or houses are mainly constructed by their respective
owners with the guidance of a head-mason or master-carpenter who probably lack knowledge
and competent skills on making earthquake-proof buildings. Just like non-engineered
constructions, these types of developments or structures do not have the necessary building
permit and do not follow safety standards for buildings and houses.
There are two main types of vulnerability in physical structures:
Structural Vulnerability
This pertains to structural integrity or elements of a building and is composed of the
following:
1. Location​: It primarily dictates the type and degree of vulnerability of the structure. If
the building is built on the slopes or sides of the mountains, it is more vulnerable to
landslides than those buildings situated on the plains.
2. Number of surrounding buildings​: The vibration of neighboring buildings might affect
its strength and durability especially if the surrounding buildings are older and weaker,
much more if they are non-engineered ones.
3. Number of stories​: Vulnerability increases when height increases.
4. Shape​: Complex shapes (e.g., L-shape, Y-shape, H-shape, etc.) increase the building’s
vulnerability to damage and destruction during an earthquake.
5. Symmetry​: Symmetrical planned structures as well as in elevations (both directions)
perform much better than an asymmetrical building during an earthquake.
6. Age of building: ​While other buildings 50 years and above still stands today, there are
also old buildings that pose hazards to occupants and surrounding houses or buildings.
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Majority of these old structures are churches that are more vulnerable to earthquakes.
7. Typology​: Materials used to build these structures also affect the degree of its
vulnerability.
8. Alteration: An original nine-story building that was altered and was added additional
floor is more vulnerable to an earthquake because its structural frame was designed
for only nine-stories.
9. Maintenance​: If owners poorly manage the building, eventually it will become more
vulnerable because the unseen deterioration of interior and structural frames.
Fig. 1​. ​An old church in Bohol was damaged by 2013 earthquake that hit Central Visayas.
Joelaldor​, I​ nmaculada Concepcion Parish Church, Baclayon, Bohol (Before and After 2013 Bohol Earthquake)​, C
​ C
BY-SA 4.0
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Non-structural vulnerability
This pertains to other parts of a house or building that was not designed or planned with a
structural engineer:
● walls
● ceilings
● light fixtures
● doors and frames
● electrical equipment
● mechanical equipment
● plumbing
● electrical installation
Aside from these two main physical structures that are vulnerable to disaster risk, there are
also critical facilities in a community that are vulnerable in times of emergencies. These
facilities play important roles in rescue, relief, and rehabilitation:
● hospital
● water supply facilities
● electrical distribution facilities
● telecommunication lines
● transportation hubs such as airports, seaports, road, rails, and bridges
● schools that serve as evacuation areas/center
Fig. 2​.​What happens when the usual evacuation center like this school is also damaged by the typhoon?
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade​, S
​ chool destroyed by Cyclone Winston in Tailevu, Fiji​, ​CC BY 2.0
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A. Recall / Comprehension
1. What type of construction follows the process of securing a building permit?
2. What is the process of adding to the original structural and non-structural
aspects of a building?
3. What type of construction is headed by the building owner with the help of a
head-mason or a master-carpenter?
B. Application, Analysis
1. What is the importance of regular maintenance to our buildings and houses?
2. Why do we need to secure critical facilities in times of emergencies?
3. Why do we need to secure a building permit before we proceed to construction?
4. What possible effects will a greatly-maintained old house receive when an
earthquake strikes?
C. Synthesis and evaluation
How can you encourage people in your community to secure a building permit before they
proceed to construction? How about those who already built their own houses with their own
hands, how can you persuade them to follow the building code?
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Identify structures within your community that is vulnerable to disaster.
Type of Structures
Structural integrity or Elements
Heritage Mapping
You will be grouped into a five-member team, and you will be documenting an old house in
your municipality. The following information should be shown in your report:
● 360-degree view of the house
● historical value/significance
● age of the house
● past and current owner/s
● materials used in building the house
● past hazards it faced (lahar, typhoon, earthquake)
● effects of these hazards to the house
● the vulnerability of the house to disaster risks
Based on your findings, you will evaluate the house if it is well-maintained or poorly
maintained. You will present your report using a digital slide presentation or an infographic.
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In a certain area, people and structures can both be affected by the hazards that are present.
What are the different elements exposed to hazards?
Think – Pair – Share ​(Each learner will find his or her pair.)
Scenario: There is an active volcano 3 kilometers away from your community. Identify the
damages and casualties you might experience.
Why do think those you have identified would be affected?
Exposure
What do the following major cities have in common: Davao City, Zamboanga City, Metro Cebu,
and Metro Manila? These urban or major cities of the country are all located on the coast or
close to the major bodies of water like rivers and coastlines. Because of this, they are more
prone to the effects of climate change; this is called exposure.
Exposure ​can be described as the situation of communities including its people, residences,
infrastructure, and economic resources that are located in areas that are hazard-prone
(UNISDR, 2017). If a typhoon with heavy rainfall hits a residential area, they may be affected
by the flood. Exposure varies from location and the presence of hazards in the area. The
exposure of the communities around an active Mayon volcano located in Legazpi, Albay in
Bicol Region is different from those who live in the mountains of Mindanao.
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Fig. 1​. ​Philippine map showing major cities of the country.
Cacahuate​, ​Map of Philippines (en)​, C
​ C BY-SA 4.0
Exposure Drivers
Urbanization and the creation of major cities make people and other sectors of society
concentrated in areas exposed to hazards due population growth, migration, urbanization
and economic development (UNISDR, 2009). Previous disasters can drive exposure by forcing
people from their lands and to increasingly unsafe areas. Economic opportunities are most
likely the reason why people choose to live in many hazard-prone areas, such as floodplains,
coastlines, and the urban regions of a country. Other cultural and religious significance of a
place is also one of the reasons why some communities still reside in hazard-prone areas.
Overpopulation as well as urban development increase chances of spreading risk to people
and assets. Developed cities become densely populated as more capital is being invested in
these areas. More jobs are created as a result of urbanization and people living in rural areas
migrate to cities to look for jobs. This scenario can make the effect of a disaster worse.
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Urban development, previous disasters, economic opportunities, cultural and religious
reasons are examples of exposure drivers.
Elements Exposed to Hazards
Physical aspects refer to a location-specific context for human-environment interaction
(Smithers and Smith, 1997) and the material world (e.g., built structures). Settlements of
people to hazard-prone areas or landscapes because of its economic benefits and promises
have made physical exposure of human beings and its establishments to hazards (UNISDR,
2004). Physical aspects of geography, location, and place; settlement patterns; and physical
structures including infrastructure located in hazard-prone areas or with deficiencies in
resistance or susceptibility to damage.
The 12 million plus
population of Metro
Manila are exposed
to different hazards
like
floods,
liquefaction, and the
7.2
magnitude
earthquake
popularly known as
the ​Big One. Aside
from the people,
there are elements
or sectors in Metro
Manila that could
also be affected or
destroyed
if
a
disaster strikes.
Fig. 2​. A busy street in Manila, a highly populated city.
User: (WT-shared) Texugo at wts wikivoyage, Q
​ uiapo street market in​ ​Manila​, ​CC BY-SA 1.0
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From family homes to government facilities, from young children to the elderly, from small
livelihood to big corporations; and from damaged landscape to changes in biodiversity;
everyone and every single aspect or sector of society are exposed to hazards. If no necessary
capacity measures are taken, could also be they can all be victims of disasters.
Below are some examples of elements exposed to hazard:
Physical
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
houses
roads
bridges
railways
airports and
seaports
buildings
hospitals
fire stations and
equipment
evacuation or
emergency
response centers
power supplies
water supplies
telecommunication
facilities
other government
facilities
Social
Economic
● young children (18
and below)
● women (including
pregnant)
● elderly
● persons with special
needs
● sick people
● Indigenous People
● migrant workers
● Internally-displaced
people (IDP)
● other marginalized
sectors
● Small and Medium
Enterprises
● livelihood
● access to work
● workforce
● disruption of work
and economic
activities
● opportunity cost
● livestock
● agriculture
● food supply
Environmental
● natural
landscape
● bodies of
water
● landforms
● biodiversity
A. Recall / Comprehension
1. What is the name of an active volcano located in Legazpi, Albay?
2. What is the popular name of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that could hit Metro
Manila?
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3. What is the situation of people, infrastructure, housing, production capacities
and other tangible human assets located in hazard-prone areas?
B. Application, Analysis
1. Why are cities lying in the major bodies of waters like rivers and coastal areas
more prone to the effects of climate change?
2. Why do large volume of capital and a large number of people still flock urban
cities despite the presence of risk and hazards?
3. How can a previous disaster be an exposure driver?
4. How does population density affect exposure to hazards?
C. Synthesis and evaluation. Insert blanks for writing if needed.
Discuss how urbanization make a community and its people more exposed to hazard.
Identify elements exposed to hazard within your community.
Physical
Social
Economic
Environmental
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Building exposure databases through community mapping in Indonesia
The Community Mapping for Resilience program in Indonesia is an example of a large-scale
exposure data collection system. The program began in 2011 through a partnership led by
the Australia-Indonesia Facility for Disaster Reduction, Indonesia’s National Disaster
Management Agency (Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana), and the Humanitarian
OpenStreetMap Team (HOT), with support from the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction
and Recovery and the World Bank.
The program’s main goal is to use OpenStreetMap to collect building level exposure data for
risk assessment applications. OpenStreetMap offers several important features: open
source tools for online or offline mapping, a platform for uploading and hosting data with
free and open access, and an active global community of users.
In a little over a year, more than 160,000 individual buildings were mapped and new
partners—including five of Indonesia’s largest universities, local government agencies,
international development partners such as Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale
Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), and civil society organizations—were trained and are using
the platform.
What is the project?
What is the objective of the study?
Who will benefit?
What are the benefits or advantages of the project:
a. to schools;
b. to people; and
c. to businesses?
Source: https://www.preventionweb.net/risk/modal?type=story&modal=S-E3&from=0
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Different elements exposed to different hazards have different vulnerabilities. For instance, a
small hut near the coast may not be protected from strong winds but if that hut is surrounded
by trees in a thick forest, it can withstand strong winds. ​What are the different elements
that are exposed to particular types of hazards?
The class will conduct ​a Rapid Assessment on Disaster Risks (​ ​RADR​)
Procedure​: The class will be divided into three groups; the groups will inspect specific areas
of the school building or its perimeter area. The task is to search specific elements that are
exposed or potentially exposed to particular hazards. Each group will assign a leader,
secretary, and inspectors. Each group will focus on only one of the categories as stated in the
table below. The RADR activity must be accomplished within 20 minutes. The next 10 minutes
will be used to present group outputs in class.
List down on this table the elements found to be exposed to particular hazards.
G
​ roup 1
Group 2
Elements exposed to
Geological hazards
Elements Exposed to
Meteorological hazards
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Group 3
Elements Exposed to Fire
and other Industrial
hazards
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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Why it is important to determine the elements exposed to particular hazards?
Natural phenomena ​such as typhoons, earthquakes, volcano eruptions are natural events
and are beyond the control of the human power. Such situations may directly or indirectly
cause risk and hazards to people. Moreover, it is not only natural events that are causing
harm to people. There are also other catastrophic events which are caused by specific
elements exposed to potential hazards. Certain elements could be exposed to particular
hazards or could be the possible hazard in itself based on the circumstance.
As mentioned at the beginning of this unit, it has been stressed that the Philippines being one
of the top 3 countries in the World Risk Index affirms that there is much to consider regarding
elements exposed to particular hazards in our country.
Elements Exposed to Particular Hazards
The conduct of ​disaster risk assessment is an essential activity which can practically
determine the different elements exposed to certain types of hazards. The vulnerability of
such elements if not recognized and given action can be considered as an impending disaster.
In this situation, we can say that without any knowledge on these elements such as ​housing
infrastructures​, ​material possessions, assets, as well as the ​people ​living in particular
areas where there are particular hazards; all are exposed to a specific level of risk and
vulnerability. In most cases, these elements are barely observed and often neglected though
in many instances, these elements are also the common causes of many disastrous events
which have claimed people's lives, properties, and infrastructures.
Specific Types of Elements Exposed to Particular Hazards
An electrical fire is one of the most common disasters which happens in many populated
places. In this instance, people, infrastructures and assets are the most common elements
exposed to this particular hazard.
● Electrical gadgets and appliances left unattended
There were many cases wherein electrical devices and gadgets have been the cause of
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●
●
●
●
●
●
fire. When overheating happens in densely populated areas where houses are made of
light materials, it is more likely to create a disastrous situation.
Faulty electrical wirings
Most of the electrical fires happen because of defective wiring. In most cases,
non-compliance to standards were the common reasons for the occurrence of electrical
fires.
Faulty outlets and outdated appliances
Some fires started because of outdated or poorly maintained old appliances.
Light fixtures
Light fixtures such as light bulbs are also subject to electrical fires. Lamps with too high
or wrong wattage is one of the leading causes of electrical fires.
Extension cords
Overloaded extension cord is another primary cause of electrical fires.
Space heater
Some people with a high-level use of heaters are considered to be a contributing factor
to causes of electrical fires.
Biological substances and chemicals
Many people are unknowingly exposed to substances that are hazardous to health
which are usually in the wide range of chemical and biological agents which used in
household work activities or even in the workplace. Many of these substances are
volatile and flammable. Improper containers, wrong handling, storage, or disposal
practices can start a fire (though not of electrical but of chemical or biological origin).
A. Recall / Comprehension
1. What are the elements that are exposed to potential hazards?
2. What can you do to determine potential hazards in your area?
3. What are the common causes of electrical fire?
B. Application, Analysis
1. Why is it important to conduct a risk assessment in your place or locality?
2. What specific elements should you tend to notice when you are conducting a risk
assessment?
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3. How do you think people can prevent these elements from being exposed to
different types of disasters?
4. What possible effects would these elements cause to a community if people are
not aware of them?
C. Synthesis and evaluation
1. What action can you propose to prevent disasters from happening in your
locality?
2. How can you encourage your community to become vigilant and eliminate the
elements exposed to these hazards?
What are the elements exposed to particular hazards inside your home? Fill in the table
below.
Areas at Home
Elements Exposed to Hazard
Type of Hazard
Living room
Kitchen
Bedroom
Bathroom
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Thousands of people all over our country are becoming homeless each year. Thousands of
people are suffering from different diseases due to certain exposures to substances such as
chemicals and biological agents. To some extent, these fatalities are not only caused by
accidents nor natural phenomena. Moreover, results of the investigation of authorities are
pointing to some degree of irresponsible human actions. One of the notable fire incidents in
the Philippines is the mall fire incident in Davao City in 2017, where more than 30 people
died. Research about the particular fire incident from the official press releases and reports
of the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Department of Interior and Local Government.
Investigate the following:
What caused that fire?
What elements have been exposed to risks that have caused and aggravated that fire
incident?
What preventive actions could have been done to prevent such event from
happening?
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Different elements that are exposed to different hazards have different vulnerabilities.
How can the vulnerable elements cope with hazards?
Get a bowl and two crumpled pieces of paper. Put one piece of crumpled paper in the bowl
and observe what happens to the paper when you do the following in the order below.
1. Shake the bowl for a few seconds.
2. Pour water into the bowl.
3. Clean the bowl, then put a new crumpled paper and light it up.
Describe and share your observation with the class.
With the Philippines in the Pacific Ring of Fire and along the typhoon belt, the Philippines and
its elements are exposed to many hazards. It experiences a lot more earthquakes and
volcanic activity than most countries. More than twenty tropical cyclones visit the Philippines
annually. Its geographical location and archipelagic character make the Philippines also
susceptible to tsunamis, storm surges, landslides, floods, and drought.
In addition to being highly exposed to these hazards, the Philippines is also highly vulnerable
to these hazards because it is not yet entirely prepared and does not yet have the full capacity
to cope with these hazards. The vulnerabilities of these elements, including those within the
Philippines, can be categorized into four types.
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Exposure and vulnerability are two different things. Two elements can be exposed in the
same setting but have different levels of vulnerability.
Fig. 1.​ Disasters brought about by vulnerabilities of exposed elements. Physical vulnerability (upper left):
destruction of buildings due to earthquakes; social vulnerability (upper right): chaos of people rushing towards
relief goods after flooding hazard; Environmental vulnerability (lower left): forest fire causing destruction of
biodiversity; Economic vulnerability (lower right): highly populated area as a result of poverty
Lotus R, Greece Forest Fire June 18 2007, CC BY-SA 2.0
Types of Vulnerabilities of Elements Exposed to Hazards
Physical vulnerability refers to objects that are susceptible to hazards. This includes
classifying the vulnerability of different elements such as houses, buildings, and
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infrastructure. Physical vulnerability of an area depends on how up close hazards are to their
location. People and structures nearer to the source of a hazard are more vulnerable to
disasters as opposed to those located farther.
Design and engineering of structures also play an important role in identifying the physical
vulnerability. A structure designed and built with the supervision of architects and engineers
will be less vulnerable to disasters as opposed to an unsupervised building.
The material composition of structures contributes to physical vulnerability. Wooden houses
are more susceptible to fire hazard as opposed to those made up of concrete, but wooden
houses are less prone to collapse during earthquakes.
Social vulnerability ​encompasses identifying people’s capacity to cope with hazards, the
ability to form a structured organization, and creating an implementation of proper disaster
risk reduction and management.
Differently abled people are more vulnerable to hazards. The deaf will not be able to hear
warning alarms of an impending disaster such as a tsunami. Paraplegic (paralyzed) people,
those who have paralysis on both legs, will need assistance to evacuate an area that is about
to be flooded. The blind will not be able to see where to vacate if his or her settlement is on
fire.
The absence of organizational structure adds to social vulnerability. Without a system that
creates and decides for actions before, during, and after disasters, people and communities
will be in chaos. Communities will have more difficulty in avoiding disasters. Proper
information dissemination, protocols, and early warning systems also reduce social
vulnerabilities because they create a well-informed community in preparing for impending
disasters and coping with disasters when they happen.
Environmental vulnerability ​describes the potential degradation of the surrounding
landscapes including bodies of land and water, and biodiversity due to hazards. This
vulnerability is of great concern because of the environment’s diverse role to the people and
the community.
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The Philippines gets most of its resources from the environment. A lot of livelihoods and
settlements are situated in areas where environmental vulnerabilities are high. One factor
that affects environmental vulnerability is climate change. It increases the overall temperature
of the ocean and the atmosphere. It also increases the chance of unpredictable weather
patterns. The result is a highly destructive nature that degrades more landscape, creates
more flood, and threatens biodiversity even more.
Economic vulnerability identifies the potential losses of resources of the people and the
community. This is linked to other types of vulnerabilities. Economic losses are incurred when
physical disasters occur. Destruction of houses, buildings, or infrastructures has a significant
effect on the resources of a person, community, or business.
Being highly dependent on natural resources also makes an environmental vulnerability an
economic vulnerability, such as those whose livelihoods are dependent on agriculture,
fisheries, and animal farming. Poverty is a socioeconomic factor that is of great concern. It
limits the resources of people and the community to cope with hazards. People who cannot
afford to hire licensed architects and engineers will build a vulnerable house. A community
who does not have enough resources will not be able to create a comprehensive monitoring
system for early warning signs of an impending landslide, flood, tsunami, and other hazards.
The four types of vulnerabilities are not mutually exclusive. They can be linked to one
another such as the case for the economic impacts of a vulnerable environment and
building structures.
Capacity to Cope with Hazards
Hazards are difficult, if not impossible, to remove from a particular area. Exposure of element
is much easier to reduce. Reducing the vulnerabilities of different elements exposed to
hazards can be done.
Most people can cope to lessen the adverse effects and risk of hazards within themselves or a
particular area. This applies to all kinds of people as long as they can gather resources,
network, information, and skills to help against the imminent hazard around them.
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Resources are important in capacity building to lessen vulnerabilities of elements. Buildings
and infrastructures can be strengthened and designed against hazards such as fires,
earthquakes, and flooding. Resource planning such as creating food and water storage for
future disasters can increase a person’s coping ability. Network and social resources can
significantly increase a person’s ​capacity to cope​ with hazards.
Social interaction and communication among members of the community are crucial in
creating a well-planned structure against a potential disaster. The social network also helps in
gathering and disseminating information to the concerned members of the community.
Increased knowledge among locals also helps in improving one’s capacity. Local and
professional knowledge, when weaved properly, help in formulating a proper risk reduction
response to decrease an area’s vulnerability to hazard.
The diagram shows the relationship of exposure and capacity to cope to vulnerability. A
community with high or low exposure to hazard but has a high coping capacity has lower
vulnerability compared to a community with a low coping capacity.
Fig. 2​. Diagram showing the relation of capacity and exposure to the level of vulnerability of an element.
Image derived from:
https://image.slidesharecdn.com/disastermanagementsagar-140328222409-phpapp02/95/disaster-management-7-638.jpg?cb=1396045844
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A. Recall / Comprehension
Complete the table below. Identify what type of vulnerability is being described in each row.
Type of
Vulnerability
Description
This includes factors such as identifying people’s capacity to cope with
hazards, the ability to form a structured organization, and creating and
implementation of proper disaster risk reduction and management.
This describes the potential degradation of the surrounding landscapes
and biodiversity due to hazards.
This pertains to material objects exposed to hazards.
This identifies the potential losses of resources of the people and the
community.
This describes a person or a community’s ability to gather resources
network, information, and skills to help against the impending hazard
around them.
B. Application, Analysis, Synthesis
Study the image below. Focus on the house pointed by the arrow.
Judgefloro​, 0
​ 8730jfSan Nicolas Binondo Del Pan Roxas Bridges Tondo Manilafvf 01​, cropped, ​CC BY-SA 4.0
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What do you think will happen to the house when the following hazards describe below takes
place?
Hazard
Vulnerability of Exposed Element (House)
Earthquake
Fire
Flood
Typhoon
Identify the construction of your house and the different elements in that are exposed to
hazards. Describe the vulnerabilities of the different elements in your house exposed to the
different hazards. This should include not only the house but the contents and the different
family members occupying it.
A sample table is shown below.
Hazard
Vulnerability of Exposed Element
House Structure
Contents
People
Earthquake
Fire
Flood
Typhoon
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Philippines: A Vulnerable Country
The Philippines is a highly vulnerable country exposed to numerous hazards. One
encompassing factor that adds to its vulnerability is the quick environmental changes
occurring within the state. As a result, a significant amount of society, economy, and
environment is affected. The highly marginalized people are greatly affected by the increase
in floods and stronger typhoons which are exemplified by typhoon Frank in 2008 that
greatly affected Western Visayas, tropical storm Ondoy in 2009 that flooded the cities of
Metro Manila and Central Luzon, typhoon Sendong in 2011 which flooded the unprepared
city of Cagayan de Oro, and super typhoon Yolanda in 2013 that affected almost the entire
islands of the Philippines.
Other disasters such as the Mt. Pinatubo eruption of 1991, Bohol earthquake of 2013, and
Surigao earthquake of 2017, also swept the Philippines, and many casualties and damages
to properties and agriculture are always recorded. This is because there is a high
vulnerability even in the social structure of the Philippines wherein disaster risk reduction
management and mitigation has not been fully established. This results into not only
affecting the people within the country but also its economy and environment.
Although plenty of disasters have occurred in the Philippines, continuing efforts are being
pushed through by the government and the different communities around the Philippines
to reduce the Philippines’ vulnerability to various hazards.
Research on the different projects and efforts being done by the national government, local
government, non-government organizations, and the affected communities in reducing the
Philippines’ vulnerability to different hazards.
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Exposure to hazards and the vulnerability of elements exposed to hazards vary depending on
many interrelated and overlapping factors.​ What are the different exposures and
vulnerabilities based on the types of hazards?
Short Neighborhood Analysis
In groups of three, list down all the natural and man-made hazards you have observed and/or
experienced since you were young and share some stories on how affected you and your
family were.
Did all hazards have the same effect or impact on you and your community?
Metro Manila and surrounding provinces are exposed to an earthquake that could generate a
7.2 magnitude anytime of the day. This situation places those cities under serious threat of
loss, damage, and deaths due to vulnerable sectors of society like informal settlements, weak
and non-compliant buildings and infrastructures, poverty, and other related scenarios.
The concepts of vulnerability and exposure were already discussed in the previous lessons. In
this lesson, another concept will be introduced – hazard, and how it differs from vulnerability
and exposure.
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Fig. 1​. ​A relief map showing the traces of East and West Valley faults traversing Metro Manila and nearby
provinces.
​Ervin Malicdem​ (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Schadow1), R
​ elief Map of Metro Manila and nearby
provinces showing the West and East Valley Fault Line​, C
​ C BY-SA 4.0
Hazard
Hazard ​is defined by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) [2
February 2017] as “a process, phenomenon or human activity that may cause loss of life,
injury or other health impacts, property damage, social and economic disruption or
environmental degradation”. There are three (3) main types of hazards; ​natura​l,
anthropogenic​, and s​ ocio-natural​.
● Natural hazards are predominantly associated with natural processes and phenomena
(UNISDR, 2017). These hazards are impossible to prevent. Natural hazards can further be
categorized as biological, geological/geophysical, and hydro-meteorological, depending on
its origin.
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Type
Biological Hazards
Geological and Geophysical Hazards
Hydro-meteorological Hazards
Examples
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
epidemic
toxins
virus (SARS, AH1N1, and Bird Flu)
earthquakes
rockslides
surface collapse
debris/mud flows
tsunamis
sinkhole
volcanic eruption
typhoon or hurricane
storm surge
El Niňo
La Niňa
flood
flash flood
wildfire
Fig. 2​. Many people are being
cautious when there are news
about diseases that can escalate to
epidemic or pandemic status. A
number of viruses that are
hazardous to human health are
are airborne thus is can easily be
transmitted. Wearing face masks
are
precautionary
measure
commonly done when there is a
possible disease outbreak.
Michael Raphael, ​FEMA - 33270 Residents in California wearing face
masks​, marked as public domain,
more
details
on
W
​ ikimedia
Commons
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Anthropogenic hazards are human-induced hazards, induced entirely or predominantly by
human activities and choices (UNISDR, 2017). Technological hazards which are anthropogenic
in nature, also may arise directly as a result of the impacts of a natural hazard event (UNISDR,
2017).
Type
Technological Hazards
Examples
industrial pollution
nuclear radiation
toxic wastes
dam failures
transport accidents (plane crash or ship
sinking)
● factory explosions
● fires
● oil and chemical spills
●
●
●
●
●
● Socio-natural hazards is the combination of anthropogenic and natural factors such
as environmental degradation and climate change (UNISDR, 2017). It can also happen
when a natural hazard interacted with degraded environmental resources. Many
incidents of land subsidence, flooding, and drought can be attributed to the interaction
of a natural hazard and a degraded environment.
A. Recall / Comprehension
1. What is the expected magnitude of the earthquake the Valley Fault System can
generate once it moves?
2. What type of disaster caused a nuclear meltdown due to a tsunami which
occurred in Japan in March of 2011?
3. What is the third type of hazard which is a combination of anthropogenic and
natural factors?
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B. Application, Analysis
1. Can human beings control the occurrence of natural hazards?
2. How does information on types of hazards present in your community help you
prevent disasters from happening?
3. How can human beings prevent the occurrence of anthropogenic hazards?
4. Why do you think climate change is an example of socio-natural hazard?
C. Synthesis and evaluation
How do hazards, exposures, and vulnerabilities differ from each other? Please cite an example
for each.
Identify the types of hazards for each of the given.
Hazard
Mayon Volcano eruption
Type of Hazard
Earthquake in Japan
Sinkhole in Florida
1720 feet tall Tsunami in Lituya Bay, Alaska
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Barangay Matibay sa Bagyo
Your community is located in a so-called catch-basin area in your municipality. When a
typhoon or tropical depression comes with heavy rains, your community easily submerges
into water. A lot of people in your community suffer every rainy season. In order to mitigate
the effects of rains and flood in your community you have created an evacuation plan.
Together with your friends, you will plan out an evacuation map and procedures to help
your neighbors in times of heavy rains and flood. You will submit your evacuation plan to
the Sangguniang Kabataan or Youth Council that will present it to the Barangay Council for
adaptation.
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Hazard Prone Areas
A young and enthusiastic IT expert in your community is developing a smartphone application
that identifies and locates hazard-prone areas in your community. He is looking for volunteers
who will help him survey your community and do the hazard mapping. The aspects that he
needs to address are the:
● hazards present in your community (natural, anthropogenic, and socio-natural);
● elements that are exposed to identified hazards; and
● vulnerable sectors and aspects that might inflict disaster risks.
Based on your findings, you will draw a community hazard map that presents the
above-mentioned aspects using a PowerPoint Presentation. The IT experts and some officials
in your community will attend your presentation to critique and comment. You will be rated
according to the following rubric:
Criteria
Accomplished
Developing
Beginning
(17-20 points)
(13-16 points)
(0-12 points)
CONTENT
All hazards, exposure
and vulnerability of
community were
identified and utilized
correctly in
map-making.
At least all natural
hazards, elements
exposed to natural
hazards and
community
vulnerability were
identified and
utilized correctly in
map-making.
None to only one
hazard was
identified; or lacking
identification of
exposed elements
and vulnerable
sectors in the
community.
LABELS
ACCURACY
At least 90% - 100% of
the items are labeled
correctly.
70%-89% of the
items are labeled
correctly.
69% below of the
items are labeled
correctly.
FEATURES
READABILITY
90%-100% of the
features are clear and
easy to understand.
70%-89% of the
features are clear
and easy to
understand.
69% and below of
the features are
clear and easy to
understand.
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Please put check if you can do the following statements:
Check
I can…
...enumerate the elements exposed to hazards.
...explain the meaning of vulnerability.
...explain why certain sectors of society are more vulnerable to disasters than
others.
...analyze why certain structures are more vulnerable to specific hazards than
others.
...determine the elements that are exposed to a hazard.
...recognize vulnerabilities of different elements exposed to different hazards.
...differentiate among hazards, exposure and vulnerabilities and give examples
from actual situations.
R
​ eflect
I find __________________________ the most interesting because _____________________________________.
I got ____ checks because ___________________________________________________________________________.
I need to improve on _______________________because ______________________________________________.
I need to practice _________________________ because _______________________________________________.
I plan to ____________________________________________________________________________________________ .
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● There are no natural disasters, but there are natural hazards.
● Hazards do not necessarily mean disasters.
● Exposures of different elements to hazard-prone areas may lead to disasters if the
vulnerable sectors and structures are not prepared and mitigated.
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Asian Disaster Reduction Center. 2008. "Information on Disaster Risk Reduction of the
Member Countries." ​Asian Disaster Reduction Center.​ Accessed 5 February, 2018.
http://www.adrc.asia/nationinformation.php?NationCode=608.
Aurelio, M.A., Dianala, J.B., Tan, C.M., 2017: Disaster Reduction and Management – Reader.
First Edition. Department of Education, Bureau of Learning Resources. Pasig City. Philippines
Bayangos, M.C., Relasyon, M.S., 2016: School Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Manual. Booklets 1 & 2. Department of Education. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Service. Pasig City. Philippines
Beyond The Basics. n.d. "Social Vulnerability." B
​ eyond The Basics.​ Accessed 5 February, 2018.
http://mitigationguide.org/social-vulnerability/.
Cardona, O.D., et al, 2012: Determinants of Risk: Exposure and Vulnerability. In: Managing the
Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation [Field, C.B., V.
Barros, T.F. Stocker, D. Qin, D.J. Dokken, K.L. Ebi, M.D. Mastrandrea, K.J. Mach, G.-K. Plattner,
S.K. Allen, M. Tignor, and P.M. Midgley (eds.)]. A Special Report of Working Groups I and II of
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge, UK, and New York, NY, USA, pp. 65-108.
Environment and Disaster Working Group. 2007. ​Environment and Vulnerability: Emerging
Perspectives.​ Report, Geneva, Switzerland: United Nations Environment Programme. Accessed
5 February, 2018. https://www.gdrc.org/uem/disasters/disenvi/environment-vulnerability.pdf.
Flanagan, Barry E., Edward W. Gregory, Elaine J. Hallisey, Janet L. Heitgerd, and Brian Lewis.
2011. "A Social Vulnerability Index for Disaster." ​Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency
Management.
Lavell, A., M. et al, 2012: Climate Change: New Dimensions in Disaster Risk, Exposure,
Vulnerability, and Resilience. in: Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to
Advance Climate Change Adaptation [Field, C.B., V. Barros, T.F. Stocker, D. Qin, D.J. Dokken,
K.L. Ebi, M.D. Mastrandrea, K.J. Mach, G.-K. Plattner, S.K. Allen, M. Tignor, and P.M. Midgley
(eds.)]. A Special Report of Working Groups I and II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, and New York, NY, USA, pp.
25-64.
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Lopez-Carresi, Alejandro, Maureen Fordham, Ben Wisner, Ilan Kelman, and JC Gaillard. 2014.
Disaster Management: International lessons in risk reduction, response and recovery. O
​ xford:
Florence Production, Ltd.
Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management. n.d. "Vulnerability and Risk." O
​ ffice of
Disaster Preparedness and Management: A Division of the Ministry of National Security.​ Accessed
5 February, 2018. http://www.odpm.gov.tt/node/162.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. 2017. "Capacity." ​PreventionWeb.​ 2
February. Accessed 5 February, 2018. http://preventionweb.net/go/7831.
USAID. 2017. "Environment." U
​ SAID: From the American People.​ 27 November. Accessed 5
February, 2018. https://www.usaid.gov/philippines/energy-and-environment.
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Glossary
Capacity to cope​ - describes a person’s or community’s ability to gather resources network,
information, and skill to help against the impending hazard around them.
Contamination​ - t​he act of c
​ ontaminating​, or of making something impure or unsuitable by
contact with something unclean or of rendering something harmful or unusable by the
addition of radioactive material.
Exposure - ​the situation of people, infrastructure, housing, production capacities and other
tangible human assets located in hazard-prone areas.
Hazard​ - a process, phenomenon or human activity that may cause loss of life, injury or other
health impacts, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental
degradation.
Liquefaction​ - it is a ​conversion of soil into a fluid like mass during an earthquake or other
seismic event.
Rupture​ - i​ s a break or tear in something that pulls it apart​.
Seismic​ - relating to an earthquake or to other tremors of the Earth, such as those caused by
large explosions.
Subsidence​ - ​is the motion of a surface (usually, the earth's surface) as it shifts downward
relative to a datum such as sea level
Thermal​ - m
​ eans relating to or caused by heat or by changes in temperature
Vulnerability​ - the conditions determined by physical, social, economic and environmental
factors or processes which increase the susceptibility of an individual, a community, assets or
systems to the impacts of hazards.
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