Disaster Readiness and

Risk Reduction
Quarter 1 – Module 2: Risk Factors
Underlying Disasters

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 What I Need to Know
This module is intended to help you understand the risk factors underlying disasters.
This course focuses on the application of scientific knowledge and the solution of
practical problems in a physical environment.
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. identify the risk factors underlying disasters.
2. describe each Risk factors underlying disasters.
3. utilize the gained knowledge in real life situations to avoid harm and assure
safety.
4. appreciate the importance of understanding the risk factors underlying disasters to
mitigate the effects of disaster and practice mitigation measures as early as
necessary.

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 What I Know

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet
of paper.
1. Which of the following is the process or condition, often development-related, that
influence the level of disaster risk by increasing levels of exposure and vulnerability
or reducing capacity?
a. risk factor c. natural hazard
b. disaster risk d. man-made hazard
2. Which of the following is NOT an element which causes disaster?
a. exposure b. hazard c. risk d. vulnerability
3. Which of the following BEST describes hazard?
a. loss of life or injury naturally
b. a phenomenon or human activity
c. potentially damaging physical event
d. reduction of vulnerability and exposure
4. Which of the following risk factors BEST describes the cause of COVID-19
pandemic?
a. climate change c. globalized economic development
b. weak governance d. poorly- planned and managed urban
development
5. It refers to the changes that can be attributed “directly or indirectly to human
activity altering the composition of the global atmosphere and additionally to
the natural climate variability observed over comparable periods of time”?
a. deforestation c. global warming
b. climate change d. carbon footprint
6. How will reduction of the level of vulnerability and exposure be possible?
a. proper knowledge on disaster risk
b. potentially damaging physical even
c. increase the susceptibility of a community to the impact of hazard
d. by keeping people and property as distant as possible from hazards
7. Which of the following risk factors affect with inequality?
a. poverty c. weak governance
b. climate change d. globalized economic development
8. Unwillingness to assume their roles and responsibilities in governing disaster
risk unit, falls under which of the following risk factors?
a. climate change c. poverty and inequality
b. weak governance d. environmental degradation
9. Which among the groups suffer more adverse effects when an earthquake
causing disaster occurs?
a. men and women c. old persons and women
b. children and women d. old persons and children
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10. The occurrence of landslides in the Philippines is increasing. This kind of
disaster will fall under which of the following risks?
a. poverty and inequality
b. climate change and weak governance
c. climate change and environmental degradation
d. climate change and globalized economic development
11. The ages below are average years ranges affected by specific situations
happening as a disaster occurs. Which of the following age ranges are “Most
Stressed-Out” after a disaster according to Asian Disaster Preparedness
Center (ADPC)?
a. 16-20 b. 20-30 c. 30-40 d. 40-60
12. Which of the following risk factors is the result in an increased polarization
between the rich and poor on a global scale?
a. climate change c. environmental degradation
b. poverty and inequality d. globalized economic development
13. Which of the following is NOT a contributor to the worst outcomes when a
disaster happened?
a. displacement c. death of someone close
b. can handle stress d. massive loss of property
14. Who among the following groups of people are more likely to live in
hazard-exposed areas and are less able to invest in risk-reducing measures
based on most studies in Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC)?
a. middle class c. young professionals
b. senior citizens d. impoverished people
15. It is a risk factor that is both a driver and a consequence of disasters,
reducing the capacity of the environment to meet social and ecological needs,
what is it?
a. climate change c. poverty and inequality
b. weak governance d. environmental degradation

Lesson
Differentiating Risk Factors
1 Underlying Disaster
In this module, the learner will understand that disaster can bring about many
devastating effects. Upon identifying the risk factors underlying disaster, this will
provide ideas to mitigate the effects of disasters that can lead to death, destruction of
infrastructures, loss of livelihoods, and even non-physical events like emotional and
psychological aspects.

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What’s In
At Risk…
Disaster can affect everyone. It does not discriminate between and among social
classes, gender, creed, race, and nationality. But certain risk factors put those affected
in a position where they will have graver or longer-lasting post-disaster stress reactions.
These aggravating factors contribute to evident differences in the stress reactions of
certain individuals with certain characteristics.
Activity 1.1:
Gina, an 18-year-old resident of
Tacloban City, just got laid off from
her job as a sales clerk in a
mediumsized hardware store. She
and her siblings could barely survive
each day with their limited
resources. Then Typhoon Yolanda
struck, it killed her 2 younger
sisters. Their home was destroyed
by the storm surge. In her barangay
alone, 2000 residents were killed,
including her
childhood friends and
former playmates .

Direction: Read the scenario below. Based on your understanding of disaster from the
previous module, enumerate or list down the risks that are reflected from the text.

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 Identified Risks:
1. __________________________________ 4. __________________________________
2. __________________________________ 5. __________________________________
3. __________________________________
What’s New

Activity 1.2 Identifying Risk Factors

Direction: Read the news article about an earthquake. After you have read the article,
answer the guide questions.
6.4-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Southern Philippines
MANILA • A strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake shook the southern Philippines
yesterday, sending frightened residents fleeing from buildings, officials and
eyewitnesses said.
The quake struck off the coast of the southern town of Manay at 3.16 pm at a depth of
14km, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said in a
statement.
While there were no immediate reports of serious destruction, the institute said it
expects the earthquake to have caused some damage.
A lot of people ran from their homes because a lot of items were falling inside," The
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) is a service institute of
the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that is principally mandated to
mitigate disasters that may arise from volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunami and
other related geotectonic phenomena. PHIVOLCS science researcher John Deximo said.
The Philippines lies on the so-called Ring of Fire, a vast Pacific Ocean region where
many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.
At least two people were killed and scores injured when a 6.5-magnitude quake struck
the central Philippines in July last year.
The most recent major quake to hit the Philippines was in 2013, when a 7.1magnitude
quake left more than 220 people dead and destroyed historic churches in the central
islands.
France-Presse, Agence, “6.4-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Southern Philippines”THE STRAIT TIMES ASIA, 09
September 2018, SGT
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/64-magnitudeearthquake-shakes-southern-philippines
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Guide Questions:
1. What risk/s can you identify from the news article?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. What do you think are the factors that affect the disaster risks from the preceding
article?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

What is It

RISK FACTORS

Disaster risk as defined in the first module, has three important elements
such as:
1. Exposure - the “elements at risk from a natural or man-made hazard
event (Quebral, 2016).
2. 2. 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.
3. 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 (Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United nation, FAO 2008).
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 are processes or conditions, often development-related, that
influence the level of disaster risk by increasing levels of exposure and vulnerability
or reducing capacity.

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 The following are also taken into consideration when risk factors underlying
disaster are involved:
⚫ Severity of exposure - which measures those who experience disaster
firsthand which has the highest risk of developing future mental problems,
followed by those in contact with the victims such as rescue workers and
health care practitioners and the lowest risk are those most distant like
those who have awareness of the disaster only through news.
⚫ Gender and Family - the female gender suffers more adverse effects. This
worsens when children are present at home. Marital relationships are
placed under strain.
⚫ Age - adults in the age range of 40-60 are more stressed after disasters but
in general, children exhibit more stress after disasters than adults do.
Magbool, Irfan, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, ADPC, 31 December 2012,
https://www.adpc.net/igo/contents/adpcpage.asp?pid=1266&dep=RIG

⚫ Economic status of country - evidence indicates that severe mental

problems resulting from disasters are more prevalent in developing
countries like the Philippines. Furthermore, it has been observed that
natural disasters tend to have more adverse effects in developing countries
than do mancaused disasters in developed countries.
Magbool, Irfan, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, ADPC, 31 December 2012,
https://www.adpc.net/igo/contents/adpcpage.asp?pid=1266&dep=RIG

Factors which underlie disasters:

1. Climate Change - can increase disaster risk in a variety of ways – by altering
the frequency and intensity of hazards events, affecting vulnerability to hazards,
and changing exposure patterns. For most people, the expression “climate change”
means the alteration of the world’s climate that we humans are causing such as
burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and other practices that increase the carbon
footprint and concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This is in line
with the official definition by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) that climate change is 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”
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, “Climate Change and Disaster Risk
Reduction”, September 2008
https://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/dra/vcp/documents/7607_Climate-Change-DRR.pdf

2. Environmental Degradation - changes to the environment can influence the

frequency and intensity of hazards, as well as our exposure and vulnerability to
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these hazards. For instance, deforestation of slopes often leads to an increase in
landslide hazard and removal of mangroves can increase the damage caused by
storm surges (UNISDR, 2009b). It is both a driver and consequence of disasters,
reducing the capacity of the environment to meet social and ecological needs. Over
consumption of natural resources results in environmental degradation, reducing
the effectiveness of essential ecosystem services, such as the mitigation of floods
and landslides. This leads to increased risk from disasters, and in turn, natural
hazards can further degrade the environment.
Prevention Web. Editor, “Environmental Degradation”, Prevention Web. The Knowledge
Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, 12 November 2015
https://www.preventionweb.net/risk/environmental-degradation

3. Globalized Economic Development - It results in an increased polarization

between the rich and poor on a global scale. Currently increasing the exposure of
assets in hazard prone areas, globalized economic development provides an
opportunity to build resilience if effectively managed. By participating in
risksensitive development strategies such as investing in protective infrastructure,
environmental management, and upgrading informal settlements, risk can be
reduced. Dominance and increase of wealth in certain regions and cities are
expected to have increased hazard exposure (Gencer, 2013).
Prevention Web. Editor, “Globalized Economic Development”, Prevention Web. The
Knowledge Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, 12 November 2015
https://www.preventionweb.net/risk/globalized-economic-development

4. Poverty and Inequality - Impoverished people are more likely to live in

hazardexposed areas and are less able to invest in risk-reducing measures. The lack
of access to insurance and social protection means that people in poverty are often
forced to use their already limited assets to buffer disaster losses, which drives
them into further poverty. Poverty is therefore both a cause and consequence of
disaster risk (Wisner et al., 2004), particularly extensive risk, with drought being
the hazard most closely associated with poverty (Shepard et al., 2013). The impact
of disasters on the poor can, in addition to loss of life, injury and damage, cause a
total loss of livelihoods, displacement, poor health, food insecurity, among other
consequences. Vulnerability is not simply about poverty, but extensive research
over the past 30 years has revealed that it is generally the poor who tend to suffer
worst from disasters (DFID, 2004; Twigg, 2004; Wisner et al., 2004; UNISDR,
2009b).
Prevention Web. Editor, “Poverty and inequality”, Prevention Web.
The Knowledge Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, 12 November
2015 https://www.preventionweb.net/risk/poverty-inequality

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5. Poorly planned and Managed Urban Development - A new wave of
urbanization is unfolding in hazard-exposed countries and with it, new
opportunities for resilient investment emerge. People, poverty, and disaster risk are
increasingly concentrated in cities. 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. Growing concentrations of people and economic activities in many cities are
seen to overlap with areas of high-risk exposure.
Prevention Web editor, “Poorly planned and managed urban development “, Prevention Web. The
Knowledge Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, 12 November 2015
https://www.preventionweb.net/risk/poorly-planned-managed-urban-development

6. Weak Governance - weak governance zones are investment environments in

which public sector actors are unable or unwilling to assume their roles and
responsibilities in protecting rights, providing basic services and public services.
Disaster risk is disproportionately concentrated in lower-income countries with
weak governance (UNISDR, 2015a). Disaster risk governance refers to the specific
arrangements that societies put in place to manage their disaster risk (UNISDR,
2011a; UNDP, 2013a) within a broader context of risk governance (Renn, 2008 in
UNISDR, 2015a). This reflects how risk is valued against a backdrop of broader
social and economic concerns (Holley et al., 2011).
Prevention Web. Editor, “ ”Prevention Web. The Knowledge Platform for Disaster Risk
Reduction. Nov. 12, 2015 https://www.preventionweb.net/risk/weak-governance
Certain factors are related to a survivor’s background and recovery is
hampered if survivors: were not functioning well before the disaster; have no
experience dealing with disasters; must deal with other stressors after the disaster;
have low self-esteem; feel uncared for by others; think they exercise little control
over what happens to them; and unable to manage stress.
More factors contributory to worse outcomes: death of someone close; injury
to self or family member; life threat; panic, horror, or similar feelings; separation
from family; massive loss of property; and displacement.

What’s More
Activity 1.3: What is the Risk Factor?
Direction: Analyze the given situation by identifying the correct risk factor. Write
only the letter that corresponds to your answer. To facilitate your task, accomplish
the given table below:

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 A. Climate Change
B. Environmental Degradation
C. Globalized Economic Development
D. Poverty and Inequality
E. Poorly planned and Managed Urban Development
F. Weak Governance

Situation Factor Underlying

Disaster
unwillingness to assume their roles and responsibilities in
governing disaster risk department
rising sea levels
cities located in low-altitude estuaries such as Marikina
City, Philippines are exposed to sea-level rise and flooding.
houses are built with lightweight materials
effects in developing countries
deforestation that can lead to landslide
global Warming
garbage slide killed that over 200 people in an informal
settlement in Manila, the Philippines,
fragmented responsibilities for drought risk management

Stop and Reflect

Now review your previous activities 1.3. Do you think
that the given ideas/concepts are clear for you to
differentiate risk factors underlying disasters? Agree or
Disagree?

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Now that you have already learned and understand the lessons, focusing on risk
factors underlying disasters. It is time to work to demonstrate your learning gains.
Are you ready? Sure, you are!

What I Can Do
Activity 1.4 Am I Ready?
Direction: Suppose you are invited by the SK Chairman in your barangay as a
resource speaker to your fellow age group during an Environmental Awareness
Activity and you were asked to give emphasis on the risk factors underlying
disasters so that young people will be equipped with knowledge on how to mitigate
the effects of a disaster. Have a concept in mind of how you are going to deliver the

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information. Write down what you want to deliver to the audience. The given rubrics
below will be used for scoring.
Rubrics for creating a speech.
4 3 2 1

The speech The speech is The speech is

but on topic and The speech is
adheres to on topic the the neither on topic
Content the nor has
substance
theme/topic. satisfactory. is substance is substance.
fair.
Ideas and pieces
The speech is Some pieces of information
very well of seem to be
Organization organized Clear words information randomly
of Thoughts and are used. are not clear
and hard to arranged and
informative. follow. improvement is
needed.
Cox, Janelle. "Writing Rubrics." ThoughtCo, Feb. 19, 2020,
thoughtco.com/writingrubric-2081370.

Additional Activities

Activity 1.5 Fill Me!

Direction: Supply the missing letters to complete the word/s that described
the various effects of disaster. Statements are provided as clues.
1. The elements at risk from a natural or man-made hazard event.
_X__S__E
2. These are processes or conditions, often development-related,that
influence the level of disaster risk by increasing levels of exposure and
vulnerability or reducing capacity.
D_S___E_ R___

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

4. Damage to both public and private infrastructures

I_F__S_R__T_R_ D__A_E

5. Many people must abandon their homes and seek shelter in other regions
which may cause large influx of refugees that disrupt accessibility of
health care and education, as well as food supplies and clean water
P__E_T__L D_S__A__M_N_

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 Answer Key

What I Know Activity 1.3

1. A 6. D 11. D 1. F 6. B
2. C 7. A 12. B 2. A 7. A
3. C 8.C 13. B 3. E 8. D
4. C 9. A 14. D 4. D 9. E
5. C 10. C 15. D 5. C
Activity 1.5
1. EXPOSURE
2. DISASTER RISK
3. VULNERABILITY
4. INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE
5. POTENTIAL DISPLACEMENT

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