MODULE 2: RISK FACTORS UNDERLYING DISASTERS Flashcards
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.
the “elements at risk from a natural or man-made hazard event
(Quebral, 2016).
Exposure
-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.
Hazard
- 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)
Vulnerability
3 Important Elements of Disaster Risk
Exposure
Hazard
Vulnerability
processes or conditions, often development-related, that
influence the level of disaster risk by increasing levels of exposure and vulnerability
or reducing capacity.
Risk Factors
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.
Severity of Exposure
- the female gender suffers more adverse effects. This
worsens when children are present at home. Marital relationships are placed
under strain
Gender and Family
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
Age
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 man-caused disasters in developed countries
Economic Status of Country
Factors which underlie disasters
Climate Change
Environmental Degradation
Globalized Economic Development
Poverty and Inequality
Poorly planned and Managed Urban Development
Weak Governance
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.
Climate Change
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”
(UNFCCC)
Climate Change
changes to the environment can influence the
frequency and intensity of hazards, as well as our exposure and vulnerability to these
hazards.
Environmental Degradation
It results in an increased polarization
between the rich and poor on a global scale.
Globalized Economic Development
Impoverished people are more likely to live in hazard-exposed areas and are less able to invest in risk-reducing measures
Poverty and Inequality
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.
Poorly Planned and Managed Urban Development
These 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 [ANSWER]
(UNISDR, 2015a)
Weak Governance
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).
Disaster Risk Governance
. The elements at risk from a natural or man-made hazard event.
EXPOSURE
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
DISASTER RISK
The conditions determined by physical, social, economic, and
environmental factors or processes, which increase the susceptibility of a
community to the impact of hazard
VULNERABILITY
Damage to both public and private infrastructures
INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE
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
POTENTIAL DISPLACEMENT
