Basic Concept of Disaster
You Probably have gotten used to hearing news about typhoons, earthquake, or volcanic eruptions
happening every now and then. Many of us might have also experienced disasters due to one or more of
these natural events that these are no longer considered as news. Why Philippine one of the worlds
most disaster -prone countries? Surely it is not simply because natural events visit us often. The
occurrence of a disaster
When do a Natural Event become a Hazard?
You can recall from your earth science lessons that the Philippines hosts a frequent earthquake and
volcanic eruptions because of its position within the Ring of Fire which at the edge of the most dynamic
tectonics plates. It also lies along the western edge of the pacific ocean which lies along the natural path
of the planets fiercest typhoons. We certainly cannot prevent volcanic activities , earthquakes, typhoons
and landslide from happening. However natural events do not automatically become hazard, much less
cause disaster.
When does a hazard become a disaster?
Natural events had been occurring since the early part of the earth’s history. Back then however, there
were no disasters to speak of it .
A natural event such as tsunami becomes hazard if it is posses a threat to people. A magnitude 6.5
earthquake is usually strong enough to generate tsunamis that could be destructive to nearby coastal
area. The tsunamis waves that are about to hit a beach area with people, animals trees and houses are
considered as hazard. After the tsunami hits the populated area it is no longer just a hazard but disaster
with victims and destruction or damage all over the place.
Hazard - 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.
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.
Concept of Disaster Risk
Disaster Risk – It is the Potential losses of lives, health status, livelihood, assets and services which could
occur in a particular community or a society over some specified future time period.
What are the Elements of Disaster Risk ?
There are Three Elements of Disaster Risk
1. Exposure – refers to the degree to which the elements at risk are likely to experience hazard
events of different magnitudes.
2. Vulnerability- refers to the factors such as physical, social economic and environmental that
increase the susceptibility to the impact of a hazard.
3. Hazard =
Nature and Effects of Disaster
Disaster are inherently unexpected or come quickly with little or no warning. As a results disaster ( both
man made and those resulting from natural events cause widespread , death injury and property
damage. There is indeed truth to the saying that those which can hurt you are the those which you do
not see coming. This underscores the need for time warnings and quality hazard related information
issued by component monitoring warnings agencies.
Disaster cannot be manage through normal means. These requires immediate effective intervention of
both national government agencies and non-government agencies.
The following also characterize disasters:
Knows no political boundary
Requires restructured and new responding organizations
Creates new tasks and requires more people as disaster responders
Worsen confusion in understanding roles of people and organization
