DRR UNIT 2

• 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.
• UNDRR

  • one of the leading authorities in disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM).
  • released a list of terminologies related to DRRM and updates it from time to time.
  • 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.
  • affects how people live, their resources, and their capacity to address hazards.
  • can also be defined as lack of power to be safe in times of disasters.
• There are three (3) main factors that affect the level or degree of vulnerability of communities:

  • physical
  • social
  • motivational
• 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

  • 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
• 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.
• The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center has categorized vulnerability into two:

  • hazard-specific
  • setting specific
• Setting – specific

  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.
• Hazard – 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.
• 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.
• Social vulnerability

  • is defined as “the people’s capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist and 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 with their current place of settlement.
• 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.
• 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.
• Rural and small communities also have high vulnerability because of lack of resources. Government budget for rural communities is smaller than for urban areas.
• 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.
• 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.
• Social groups such as the marginalized (groups excluded or underrepresented in planning and decision-making) are those discriminated against during the post-disaster rescue, relief operations, recovery, and rehabilitation efforts.
• 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 marginalized groups of people are not biologically excluded but separated through socially constructed barriers.
• 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.
• 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.
• Structural Vulnerability

  This pertains to structural integrity or elements of a building and is composed of the following:

  • location
  • number of surrounding buildings
  • number of stories
  • shape
  • symmetry
  • age of building
  • typology
  • alteration
  • maintenance
• 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.
• Number of surrounding buildings

  • its strength and durability especially if the surrounding buildings are older and weaker, much more if they are non-engineered ones.
• Number of stories

  • Vulnerability increases when height increases.
• Shape

  • Complex shapes (e.g., L-shape, Y-shape, H-shape, etc.) increase the building’s vulnerability to damage and destruction during an earthquake.
• Symmetry

  • Symmetrical planned structures as well as in elevations (both directions) perform much better than an asymmetrical building during an earthquake.
• 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.
  • Majority of these old structures are churches that are more vulnerable to earthquakes.
• Typology

  • Materials used to build these structures also affect the degree of its vulnerability.
• 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.
• Maintenance

  • If owners poorly manage the building, eventually it will become more vulnerable because the unseen deterioration of interior and structural frames.