1 Disaster and Disaster Risk
Cards (12)
- Disaster
- came from the french word "desastre"
- des-bad
- aster-star
- Disaster
- situation that causes substantial losses and damage to communities and individuals, possibly including losses of life and livelihood assets and damage to the ecosystem, which leaves the affected communities unable to function normally without outside assistance.
- Risk
- Is the possibility of losing something of value.
- The possibility that something bad or unpleasant (such as an injury or a loss) will happen (Merriam-Webster)
- Capacity
- Combination of all the strengths, attributes, and resources available within a community, society, or organization that can be used to achieve agreed goals.
- Disaster risk
- likelihood that people will experience disasters.
DR (disaster risk) = V (vulnerability) * H (hazard)/C (capacity)From this equation it can be concluded that disaster risk reduction encompasses three areas of activities:- Prevention or mitigation of hazards
- Reduction of vulnerabilities to hazards
- Strengthening capacities to withstand or cope with hazards.
- Disaster Risk Factors
- Are variables that either aggravate or mitigate the effects of hazards, affecting the degree or scope of a disaster.
- Physical factors
- Would pertain to tangible objects or infrastructure, like the availability of fire exits, or the sturdiness of the building, or the presence or absence of objects that can harm you or help you, etc.
- Psychological factors
- Include state of mental capacity and health (e.g. are we dealing with babies? Kids? Adults? People with special needs?), perception of self (e.g. self-assessment of the capability to respond to disasters, fear), etc.
- Socio-cultural factors
- Include religion, social status, traditions, perception by society, etc
- Economic factors
- Include assets and liabilities, income, economic class, etc.
- Political factors
- Include government structure, diplomatic issues, etc.
- Biological factors
- Include environment, health, diseases, etc.