DRRR midterms

• Disaster


  A sudden, calamitous occurrence that causes great harm, injury, destruction, and devastation to life and property. It disrupts the usual course of life, causing both physical and emotional distress such as an intense feeling of helplessness and hopelessness.
• Two elements are affected in a disaster - life (whether human or animal) and property. The effects vary - it may be minor damage (like broken windows and doors), major damage (like torn rooftops, collapsed walls), total destruction (like completely destroyed houses and structures rendering them useless and inhabitable) and the worst scenario, it can lead to death.
• Disaster (according to FAO)

  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.
• Any adverse episode or phenomenon can exploit a vulnerability in the affected population or community to create damage and this awareness will form the basis for an adequate intervention.

  
• Types of Natural Disasters

  • Earthquakes
  • Typhoons
  • Volcanic eruptions
  • Hurricanes
  • Fires
  • Tornados
  • Extreme temperatures
• Natural Hazard


  An extreme natural event that is destructive to human life and property. These natural events have been happening for thousands of years, but they only become hazards when humans are affected in some way.
• Human-made Induced Hazards


  Hazards caused by human activities that can often be prevented.
• Technological/Industrial Disasters


  • Leaks of hazardous materials
  • Accidental explosions
  • Bridge or road collapses
  • Vehicle collisions
  • Power cuts
• Terrorism/Violence

  • Bombs or explosions
  • Release of chemical materials
  • Release of biological agents
  • Release of radioactive agents
  • Multiple or massive shootings
  • Mutinies
• Complex Humanitarian Emergencies


  • Conflicts or wars
  • Genocide - the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation
• Risk


  The combination of the probability of an event and its negative consequences
• Disaster Risk


  The potential (not actual and realized) disaster losses, in lives, health status, livelihoods, assets, and services which could occur in a community or society over some specified future time period.

  
• Disaster Risk


  The product of the possible damage caused by a hazard due to the vulnerability within a community. It is determined by the presence of three variables: hazards (natural or anthropogenic); vulnerability to a hazard; and coping capacity linked to the reduction, mitigation, and resilience to the vulnerability of a community.

  
• Risk Factors


  • Exposure
  • Hazard
  • Vulnerability

  
• Exposure


  The "elements at risk from a natural or man-made hazard event

  
• Hazard


  A potentially dangerous physical occurrence, phenomenon or human activity that may result in loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption, or environmental degradation.
• Vulnerability


  The condition determined by physical, social, economic and environmental factors or processes, which increase the susceptibility of a community to the impact of hazard.

  
• Reduction of the level of vulnerability and exposure is possible by keeping people and property as distant as possible from hazards. We can not avoid natural events from occurring, but we can concentrate on addressing the reduction of risk and exposure by determining the factors causing disasters.
• Risk Factors


  Processes or conditions, often development-related, that influence the level of disaster risk by increasing levels of exposure and vulnerability or reducing capacity.

  
• Factors Underlying Disasters

  • Climate Change
  • Environmental Degradation
  • Globalized Economic Development
  • Poverty and Inequality
  • Poorly Planned and Managed Urban Development
  • Weak Governance
• Climate Change

  The change that can be attributed "directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods"
• Environmental Degradation


  Changes to the environment that can influence the frequency and intensity of hazards, as well as our exposure and vulnerability to these hazards. It is both a driver and consequence of disasters, reducing the capacity of the environment to meet social and ecological needs.
• Globalized Economic Development

  It results in an increased polarization between the rich and poor on a global scale. It provides an opportunity to build resilience if effectively managed, but can also increase the exposure of assets in hazard prone areas.
• Poverty and Inequality

  Impoverished people are more likely to live in hazard-exposed areas and are less able to invest in risk-reducing measures. Poverty is both a cause and consequence of disaster risk.
• Poorly Planned and Managed Urban Development

  The growing rate of urbanization and the increase in population density (in cities) can lead to creation of risk, especially when urbanization is rapid, poorly planned and occurring in a context of widespread poverty.
• Weak Governance


  Disaster risk is disproportionately concentrated in lower-income countries with weak governance. Disaster risk governance refers to the specific arrangements that societies put in place to manage their disaster risk.
• Disaster


  A damaging event that occurs suddenly and involves loss of life and property. It can be of two types - natural and man-made.
• Natural Disasters


  • Volcanic eruptions
  • Tsunamis
  • Earthquakes
  • Typhoons
• Man-made Disasters


  • Bomb explosions
  • Terrorism
  • Wars
  • Leakage of poisonous chemicals
  • Pollution
  • Industrial accidents
  • Epidemics
• Hazard


  A dangerous situation or event that carries a threat to humans.
• Disaster


  An event that harms humans and disrupts the operations of society. Hazards can only be considered disasters once they affect humans.
• Human Effects of Disasters

  • Displaced Populations
  • Health Risks
  • Food Scarcity
  • Emotional Aftershocks
• Ways to Plan Ahead for Disasters

  • Check for hazards at home
  • Identify safe place indoors and outdoors
  • Educate yourself and family members
  • Have Disaster kits/supplies on hand
  • Develop an emergency communication plan
  • Help your community get ready
  • Practice the Disaster Preparedness Cycle
• Perspectives on Disasters


  • Physical
  • Psychological

  
• Physical Perspective


  Calamities are phenomena that cause great physical damage in a community infrastructure, its people and their properties, e.g. houses and environmental sources of living. These effects can be easily measured.
• Effects of Physical Disasters

  • Injuries
  • Physical disabilities or illness
  • Sanitation
  • Damage in infrastructure
• Psychological Perspective


  Victims of disasters may suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other serious mental health conditions, which are not being given much attention to by the authorities or even by the victims, themselves.
• Disasters are mostly unpredictable and can happen anytime and anywhere.
• Effects of physical disasters

  • Injuries
  • Physical disabilities or illness
  • Sanitation
  • Damage in infrastructure
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)


  Serious mental health condition that victims of disasters may suffer from