Disaster and Disaster Risk

It is a threat or harm that has the potential to cause damage (e.g., injury, destruction of properties, environmental degradation) to a community.

• Hazard

• Disaster

It is any even that causes widespread human, economic, and environmental losses or impacts that seriously disrupt the normal functioning of a community.

• Hazard

• Disaster

Determines the tendency of a community to face disasters. These are the effects of the disaster.

• Disaster

• Disaster Risks

Examples are collapse of houses from landslides, typhoons, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, earthquake and volcanic eruption.

• Natural disaster

• Man-made disaster

Examples are bomb explosions, chemical spills, oil spills, and war.

• Natural disaster

• Man-made disaster

These are effects that direct situations arising from the disaster itself like flooding and destruction of houses.

• Primary effects

• Secondary effects

These are effects resulting from the primary effects like a strong typhoon that has hit a village is the disruption of electrical and water services because of damage to power and water lines.

• Primary effects

• Secondary effects

After a disaster takes place, the number of casualties is assessed. There may be missing persons who may be presumed dead. The number of people injured or number of deaths. Which of the following affected components is stated in the situation?

• Economy

• People

Buildings and homes that are considered affected by disasters are those that have been damaged structurally or architecturally, have collapsed, or have been leveled to the ground and even buried, rendering them inhabitable. Which of the following affected components is stated in the situation?

• People and Economy

• Buildings and Infrastructures

It involves all sectors of society such as business, transportation, and communication. Hence, when a disaster strikes a community, it is among the first to be affected because of the loss of livelihood, employment, and even tourism opportunities for the community.

• Economy

• Environment