Disaster
Risk
Reduction
B Y: D A N D A
• Disaster risk reduction (DRR)
is a term used for reducing and
preventing disaster risks. It is
founded on the principle that
while hazards are inevitable, its
adverse effects like lost lives
and/or destruction of property
are not. There are steps that we
can do to ensure reduction of
risks. DRR actions can be
political, technical, social and
economic.
Before we proceed to the principles to DRR, it is
essential that we first understand what a “disaster”
entails.
Defining the concepts of Disaster Risk
I. Disaster
II. Risk
III. Hazard
IV. Vulnerability
V. Capacity
Disaster - a serious disruption of the
functioning of a community or a
society involving widespread human,
material, economic or environmental
losses and impacts, which exceeds the
ability of the affected community or
society to cope using its own
resources.
The word “risk” has two connotations: in
general usage the emphasis is usually placed
on the concept of chance or possibility on an
event and its negative consequence, such as
in “the risk of an accident”; whereas in
technical settings the emphasis is usually
placed on the consequences, in terms of
“potential losses” for some particular cause,
place and period.
HAZARD
Defined as a “dangerous
phenomenon, substance, human
activity or condition that may cause
loss of life, injury or other health
impacts, property damage, loss of
livelihoods and services, social and
economic disruption, or
environmental damage”.
VULNERABILITY
Defined as the characteristics
and circumstances of a
community, system or asset
that make it susceptible to the
damaging effects of a hazard.
CAPACITY
Defined as the combination of
all the strengths, attributes and
resources available within a
community, society or
organization that can be used to
achieve agreed goals.
It is important to differentiate hazard
from disaster. The phrase “natural
disaster” which is widely used often
causes confusion and has been the
subject of debates. “Strictly speaking
there are no such things as natural
disasters, but there are natural hazards.
A disaster is the result of a hazard’s
impact on society.
So, the effects of a disaster are determined
by the extent of a community’s vulnerability
to the hazard (conversely, its ability, or
capacity to cope with it). This vulnerability is
not natural, but the result of an entire range
of constantly changing physical, social,
economic, cultural, political and even
psychological factors that shape people’s
lives and create the environments in which
they live.” Twigg (2001).
Interaction between Risk, Hazard,
Vulnerability and Capacity
• Hazards do not necessarily constitute disaster.
Disasters are usually described in terms of the
effects which a hazard has on lives, property,
environment and the cost of recovery or
rehabilitation.
• Disaster Risk or Risk
can be mathematically
described as the
product of the
combination of three
elements that were
discussed: hazard,
vulnerability and
capacity, and it given
by the formula.
Hazards will always be present;
therefore, disaster reduction
strategies primarily include
vulnerability and risk assessment.
The following are some factors that
can affect the vulnerability of a
community:
1. Political factors
I. A community’s vulnerability can be linked to
political will and commitment to developmental
concerns
II. Lack of access to resources, infrastructure,
basic
services and information can increase
vulnerability
2. Economic factors
I. Poverty has the single most important
influence on vulnerability
II. Economic status also relates to the capacity of a
community to cope and recover from adverse
effects
III. Poverty eradication and creation of sustainable
livelihoods are essential part of disaster risk
reduction
3. Physical factors
I. Access to suitable land, proper housing design,
building materials and accessibility of emergency
services
II. Poor physical environment exposes people to
4. Social factors
I. Level of education, training, safety and
security, information and awareness, cultural beliefs,
traditional values contribute to social wellbeing
II. Lack of awareness and access to information
can result in increase of vulnerability
5. Environmental factors
I. Scarcity of resources in a community can
reduce the coping solutions and recovery from a
disaster
Disaster Risk Reduction
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is the
concept and practice of reducing disaster
risks through analysis and management of
the causal factors of disasters. It leads to
reduced exposure to hazards, lessening of
vulnerability of people and assets, effective
management of land and the environment
and improved preparedness for adverse
Disaster risk reduction usually requires longterm planning across sectors and must be
integrated into general national and regional
development strategies. DRR strategies usually
begin with plans for assessing
(a)the hazards and risks that threaten the target
area,
(b)the extent of harm that would occur to
communities and infrastructure, and
(c)the vulnerable people’s capacities to cope with
The concept of disaster has changed over time. In early human
civilization, many cultures viewed disasters as a sign of bad luck or an
act of God. However, the development of science started changing this
perception of disasters. Some of the factors that contributed to this
change are:
1. Social science
I. Treat hazards as external agents that communities can identify and react to
II. See disasters as expression of social vulnerability
2. Natural science
I. Emphasis on the hazard component – hydrometeorological, geodynamic and/or
technological
II. Understanding the dynamics of hazards
III. Quantifying the impacts of hazards
3. Recent studies on disaster risk
I. Understanding of disaster in both social and natural science perspective
The key components of DRR and how it is applied to different communities is not complete. It,
however, provide us with very good starting point for DRR.
Some of the factors that contributed to this change are:
1. Social science
I. Treat hazards as external agents that communities can identify and
react to
II. See disasters as expression of social vulnerability
2. Natural science
I. Emphasis on the hazard component – hydrometeorological,
geodynamic and/or technological
II. Understanding the dynamics of hazards
III. Quantifying the impacts of hazards
3. Recent studies on disaster risk
I. Understanding of disaster in both social and natural science
perspective
The key components of DRR and how it is applied to different communities