Lesson 1: Concept of Disaster; Disaster Risk; Nature of disasters
FIRM- UP
FIRM-UP LEARNING ACTIVITY
Teachers Note: After recalling your prior knowledge in performing the previous activity either from previous
subject/s or from personal experience, we will now proceed to the discussion. This part would give you all the
information that you need to know about hazards just like its concept, disaster risk, nature of disasters and effects
of disasters.
CONCEPT OF DISASTER
 serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human,
material, economic or environmental losses and impacts which exceeds the ability of the affected
community or society to cope using its own resources (UNISDR = United Nations International
Strategy for Disaster Reduction)
 associated with large-scale destructive events (typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions)
 occurs all over the world; some have ways to reduce the impact of hazards = do not turn into
disasters
 for some = struggles and challenges they face in getting their lives back to normal
= (rebuilding homes / restarting livelihood / dealing with loss of love ones + no
immediate response from
government or local authority)
 Philippines’ geographic and geologic setting  reason why hazards = disastrous
 communities situated in places where they can’t protect themselves with the resources they
have = vulnerable
 many factors contributes to vulnerability of a community  poverty (limits option where to
settle)
= houses built wherever (open space)  neglects danger
= education plays a big part in vulnerability (community + never disaster-resilient  do not
understand basic knowledge
of disasters and
disaster risk reduction)
 global issues (climate change)  affects sea levels and strength + frequency of typhoons
(coastal communities = more susceptible to storm surge,
tsunamis and flash floods)
 human induced environmental changes (urbanization = increase vulnerability of existing
communities)
 effects brought by disastrous typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) + still felt (Tacloban city)
= people were prepared but were still caught off-guard (sudden flood caused by storm
surge)
 increase in number of typhoons that hit the Philippines also inhibits country’s capability for
recovery
 Disaster  sudden, calamitous event (residents unprepared)
 disrupts functions of community & causes property, economic and environmental losses
/ loss of lives
 can also be human made brought by poor planning (improper land use zoning =
industrial facility + residential area)
Teachers Note: You might wonder why we have many concepts discussed above. But always
remember that all of those provided above help you to fully understand the concept of disaster. If
you do, you may now proceed to the next topic.
DISASTER RISK
 Philippines = 3rd highest at risk to disasters (2015 World Risk Report)
 world risk index = system which considers a country’s vulnerability and exposure to hazard
= based on 28 indicators and research data, determines risk to disasters as a
result of vulnerability and
natural hazards (grouped into exposure, susceptibility, coping capacity and
adaptive capacity)
 country, rated from  exposure (earthquake, cyclone, flood, drought & sea level rise);
 susceptibility (population access to improved sanitation & water supply,
percentage of undernourished,
dependency ratio, population below + poverty line, GDP per capita,
GINI index);
 coping capacity (corruption perception index, failed state index, number of
physicians per 10000 people,
number of hospital beds per 10000 people & insurance coverage);
 adaptive capacity (adult literacy rate, combined gross enrolment ratio, gender
parity in education, women in
national parliament, water quantity, biodiversity, habitat, forestry
management, agriculture,
government expenditure on health per capita, life expectancy
at birth and expenditure)
 adaptive capacity = size of population that can survive on available resources
 carrying capacity exceeded  risk of catastrophic collapse increases
 frequency and impact of disasters (happening)  steadily increasing
 factors (rapid urbanization / concentration of people & property (hazardous areas) =
contributors (steady increase)
 natural hazard = cannot be considered a disaster (not affect community or property)
 hazard + vulnerable entity to phenomenon = Disaster
 Vulnerability  composing of several physical, social, environmental or economic factors that
increase susceptibility of a
population / community to national hazard
 factor in disaster risk  exposure (people / properties directly affected by natural disasters)
 risk  defined as the measure of the losses – deaths, injuries and damage to property
(particular /
combination of hazards)
 Disaster risk  expressed as a function of vulnerability, exposure & hazard

RISK
=
Hazard ⁕ Exposure ⁕ Vulnerability
Coping Capacity
 easy to see how risk can be reduced; hazard (potential); exposure & vulnerability (2 factors,
can be adjusted)
Teachers Note: Hi class! You might have so many concepts to learn about disaster risk. Now, take a
few minutes break to freshen up for you to become fully ready to learn additional concept. If you
are done, let us try to find out the nature of disaster that is provided below.
NATURE OF DISASTER
 not all events turn into disasters; sometimes there’s no need for a response
 events slowly unfolds & extent of damages are assessed, a disaster can be declared
(require local, regional or national & international assistance)
 disasters classified either as natural (related to natural processes occur on Earth without
warning) or human made (occur
once the precursor sets in)
 natural disasters = in some areas people are aware of the hazards that can lead to disasters
& come up with actions / plans
to cope with it; study historical records & foresee natural disasters
 humanmade disasters = visible cracks on bridges (can be repaired / retrofitted = without
structure will weaken due to
exposure to elements & ordinary wear-and-tear); occur without
warning (hazardous materials could
leak from a chemical tanker after a road accident or by deliberate
acts of terrorism; pandemics, not
entirely human induced maybe result of human interaction with
livestock)
= present day, caused by rapid industrialization
 different disasters can be grouped as geologic, hydrometeorological, anthropogenic and
biological
ᴥ Geologic  earthquake, volcanic eruptions, tsunami, landslides, floods, subsidence
ᴥ Hydrometeorological  typhoons, tornadoes, drought, thunderstorms, storm surges
ᴥ Anthropogenic  hazardous materials, acid rain, global warming
ᴥ Biological  insect infestation, epidemic, wildfires
 Level of Response = important for all localities to have contingency plans in the event of
disaster
(they live in the area = know hazard they are most at risk for)
= know necessary preparations and response to events
= events unfolds so quick, local government cannot handle it  need aid
from national government
= planning stage for disaster  know the different levels of response &
responsibilities depending on
the level of development of the disaster
 Levels of Disaster Response:
You  Family &
 Civil Defense Area HQs  Local emergency 
National &
Neighbors
operational center
International
support
Teachers Note: Good Job! You just learned the nature of disaster. Do not forget about the concept
that has been discussed above including the concept of disaster, disaster risk and the nature of
disaster. It seems that you are ready for the next part of the lesson - your quiz. If not, you may reread
and restudy the concept that is being discussed above.