EXPOSURE

AND
VULNERABI
ELEMENT EXPOSED TO HAZARD
EXPOSURE – refers to the element at risk from a
natural or man-made hazard event. Elements at
risk include the following:
1) Human beings;
2) Dwellings or households and communities;
3) Buildings and structures;
4) Public facilities and infrastructure assets;
5) Public and transport system;
6) Agricultural commodities; and
7) Environmental assets.
1. Demographic factors
 Population density
 Age of population
 Distribution of population
2. Socio-economic factors
 Wealth
 Education
 Nature of society
 Understanding of the area
3. Community preparedness
Building codes
Scientific monitoring and early warning systems
Communication networks
Emergency planning
4. Dealing with the after-effects
 Insurance cover
 Emergency personnel
 Aid request

4 MAIN TYPES OF VULNERABILITY

1. Physical Vulnerability
2. Social Vulnerability
3. Economic Vulnerability
4. Environmental Vulnerability
Element at Risk and Exposed to
Hazards
Persons, houses, buildings, infrastructures,
transportation system, financial establishment, crops,
environmental sources of living, and others like societal
components exposed to known hazard, which are likely to
be adversely affected by the impact of a hazard.

Risk Factors
Risk signifies the possibility of adverse effects in the
future. It is derived from the interaction of social and
environmental processes, from the combination of
physical hazards and the vulnerabilities of exposed
elements. The following is a discussion of the three factors
of risk presented in a Triagram.
Triagram of Disaster Risk
(Source: Geoscience, Australia)

Earthquake
Tsunami

Vu
Floods Engineering
Cyclones

d
Economic

lne
Bushfires
ar
Social
Landslides

ra
az
Volcanoes
RISK

bi
H

lity
Exposure
People
Buildings
Business
Infrastructure
BASIC CONCEPT
OF HAZARD
Definition of Hazard
Hazards -are “those elements of the physical
environment, harmful to man and caused by forces
extraneous to him” (Burton et al 1978).

Standards Australia (2000) defines a hazard as:

“A source of potential harm or a situation with a
potential to cause loss.”

Asian Disaster Preparation Center (ADPC) describe

hazard as:
“A natural event that has the potential to cause
harm or loss.”
General Classification of Hazards
1. Natural hazards
Such as earthquakes or floods arise from purely
natural processes in the environment.

2. Quasi-natural hazards
Such as smog or desertification that arise through
the interaction of natural processes and human
activities.
3. Technological (or human-made) hazards
Such as the toxicity of pesticides to agricultural
lands, accidental leaks of chemical from chemical
laboratories or radiation from a nuclear plant.
These arise directly as a results of human
activities.
Types of Hazards
Hewitt and Burton (1971) provides a typology of hazards as follows:
1. ATMOSPHERIC ATMOSPHERIC
(Single Element) (Combined Elements/Events)
• Excess Rainfall • Hurricanes
• Freezing Rain (Glaze) • ‘Glaze’ storm
• Hail • Thunderstorms
• Heavy Snow Falls • Blizzards
• High Wind speed • Tornadoes
• Extreme temperature • Heat/Cold Stress

2. HYDROLOGIC 3. GEOLOGIC
• Floods – river and coastal area • Mass movement
• Wave action Landslide
• Drought Mudslides
Avalanches
• Rapid glacier advance • Earthquake
• Volcanic Eruption
• Rapid sediment movement

4. BIOLOGIC 5. TECHNOLOGIC
• Epidemic in Humans • Transportation accident
• Epidemic in plants • Industrial explosions and fire
• Epidemic in animals • Accidental release of toxic
elements
• Locusts • Nuclear accidents
• Collapse of public buildings
• Cyber terrorism
IMPACTS OF VARIOUS HAZARDS ON
DIFFERENT EXPOSED ELEMENTS
According to the International Center for
Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) the
impacts of various hazards vary in severity and
vary in regard to how long they last.
The following are common long term impacts of
natural hazards like earthquake, typhoon,
flashflood, volcanic eruption, fire, etc.:
PHYSICAL IMPACT
• Death of people
• Destruction and loss of vital infrastructure like
transport system, roads, bridges, power lines,
and communication lines
• Widespread loss of housing
PHYCOLOGICAL IMPACT
• Grief and psychological trauma – Post Traumatic
Severe Disorder (PTSD)
• Marital conflicts
• Depression due to loss of loved ones and properties
• Chronic anxiety among children severely affected
SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACT
• Displacement of populations
• Loss of cultural identity
• Forced adoption of new sets of culture
• Ethnic conflicts
ECONOMIC IMPACT
• Loss of job due to displacement
• Loss of harvest and livestock
• Loss of farms, fish cages, and other sources of living
• Loss of money and other valuables like jewelries,
furniture and appliances
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
• Loss of forest due to forest fires
• Loss of fresh water due to salination – intrusion of
salt water to fresh water sources
• Disturbance of biodiversity
• Loss of natural rivers and other tributaries
BIOLOGICAL IMPACT
• Epidemic to people, flora and fauna
• Chronic and permanent illnesses due to nuclear
radiation
• Mental disorder developed from consumption of
contaminated foods
• Proliferation of different viral and bacterial diseases
EARTHQUAKE
HAZARD
WHAT IS AN EARTHQUAKE?
An earthquake (also known as quake, tremor or
temblor) is the perceptible shaking of the surface of the
Earth, resulting from the sudden release of energy in the
Earth’s crust that creates seismic waves. (US Geological
Science – USGS)

POTENCIAL EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS

Geologists explain that an earthquake is a type of
hazard that depends on the strength of seismic activity,
along with such factors as local topographic and built
features, subsurface geology and groundwater. A large
earthquake will always be followed by a sequence of
aftershocks and normally aggravates its effect on human and
material elements like buildings and infrastructure.
The following are different hazards that normally result
from the occurrence of an earthquake:

1. Ground Shaking or Ground Motion

2. Ground or Surface Rupture
3. Liquefaction
4. Earthquake-induced ground subsidence and
lateral spreading
5. Tsunami
6. Earthquake-induced Landslides
Natural Signs of an Impending Tsunami
1. Animal Behavior
2. Drawback
How Drawbacks are Formed
All waves have a positive and negative peak,
a ridge and a trough. In the case of propagating
wave like tsunami, either may be the to arrive. If the
first part to arrive at shore is the ridge, a massive
breaking wave or sudden flooding will the first effect
notice on land. However, if the first part to arrive is
a trough, a drawback will occur as the shoreline
recedes dramatically, exposing normally
submerged areas. Drawback can exceed hundreds
of meters, and people an aware of the danger
sometimes remain near the shore to satisfy their
curiosity or to collect fish from the exposed seabed.
A typical wave period for a damaging tsunami is
about 12 minutes. This means that if the
drawback phase is the first part of the wave to
arrive, the sea will recede, with areas will below
sea level exposed after 3 minutes. During the
next 6 minutes the tsunami wave trough builds
into a ridge, and during this time the sea is filled in
and destruction occurs on land. During the 6
minutes, the tsunami wave changes from a ridge
to a trough, causing flood waters to drain and
drawback to occur again. This may sweep victims
and debris some distance from land. This process
repeats as the next wave arrives.
The Seismometer – The main tool in detecting
and monitoring an earthquake.
What to Do Before, During and After an
Earthquake

Before an Earthquake
1.) Engage yourself in training activities that promote safety
and disaster preparedness.
2.) Participate in government-initiated earthquake drills and
evacuation drills.
3.) Some private companies provide training on emergency
response skills Participate. This is part of your preparation.
4.) Share your acquired knowledge and skills to your family
and friends.
During an Earthquake

1.) Stay indoors if you are within a structurally sound

building or home.
2.) If you feel the building were not safe, quickly
open the door for exit.
3.) If you’re caught inside a room or building, duck
under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on to it, or
protect your hands or arms.
4.) Stay away from glass windows, shelves,
cabinets, and other heavy object.
5.) Beware of falling objects. Be alert and keep your
eyes open.
6.) Meanwhile, those who are outside should move
to an open area, and follow these safety measures
(PHIVOLCS)
• Stay away from trees, power lines, posts, and
concrete structures.
• Move away from steep slopes which may be
affected by landslide.
• If near the shore and feeling an earthquake,
especially a strong one, quickly move to higher
grounds in anticipation of possible tsunamis.

7.) Those who are in a moving vehicle should stop

and get out. Do not attempt to cross bridges,
overpasses, or flyovers which may have been
damaged.
After an Earthquake
Immediately after an earthquake

1. Take the fastest and safest way out of the

building
2. Do not use elevators
3. Do not enter damaged buildings
4. Do not use telephones unless necessary
5. Most of all, do not panic
VOLCANIC
HAZARDS
VARIOUS VOLCANO-RELATED HAZARDS
Volcanologist are always working to understand how
volcanic hazards behave, and what can be done to avoid
them. USGS Bulletin enumerates a few of the more common
volcanic hazards, and some of the ways in which they are
formed and behave.
LAHAR
Lahars are a specific kind of mud flow made up of
volcanic debris. They can form in a number of situations,
namely, 1) when small slope collapses gather water on their
way down a volcano, 2) through rapid melting of snow and
ice during an eruption, 3) from heavy rainfall on loose
volcanic debris, 4) when a volcano erupts through a crater
lake, or 5) when crater lake drains because of overflow or
wall collapse.
Destructive Characteristics of Lahars
1. Lahars move rapidly down valleys like rivers of concrete.
2. Lahars can occur with or without a volcanic eruption.
3. Lahars pick up material as they travel, which can cause
damage to structures in their path.
4. Lahars and excess sediment cause serious economic
and environmental damage to river valleys and flood
plains.
Ash Fall
Volcanic ash consists of fragments of pulverized rock,
materials and volcanic glass, created during volcanic
eruptions and measuring less than 2 mm (0.079 inches) in
diameter. The term volcanic ash is also often loosely used to
refer to all explosive eruption products (correctly referred to
as tephra), including particles larger than 2 mm. Volcanic
ash is formed during explosive volcanic eruption when
dissolved gases in magma expand and escape violently into
the atmosphere.
PYROCLASTIC FLOWS
Pyroclastic flows contain a high-density mix of hot lava
block, pumice, ash and volcanic gas. They move at very
high speed down volcanic slopes, typically following valleys.
Most pyroclastic flows consist of two parts:
A lower (basal) flow of coarse fragments that moves
along the ground, and a turbelent cloud of ash that rises
above the basal flow. Ash may fall from this cloud over a
wide area downwind from the pyroclastic flow.

Pyroclastic flows form in different ways:

• Collapse of eruption column
• “Boiling over” from eruption vent
• Collapse of lava domes of flows
VOLCANIC GASES
Magma contains dissolved gases, which provide the
driving force that causes most volcanic eruptions. As
magma rises towards the surface and pressure decreases,
gases are released from the liquid portion of the magma
(melt) and continue to travel upward and are eventually
released into the atmosphere.

Harmful Effects of Volcanic Gases

By far the most abundant volcanic gas is water vapor,
which is harmless. However, significant amounts of carbon
dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen
halides can also be emitted from volcanoes. Depending on
their concentrations, these gases are all potentially
hazardous to people, animals, agriculture, and property.
The harmful effects of these gasses
1. Carbon dioxide (CO2) trapped in low-lying areas can be
lethal to people and animals
2. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is irritating to eyes, skin and
respiratory system.
3. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is very toxic in high
concentrations.
4. Hydrogen halides (HF, HCI, HBr) are strong toxic acids.
Lava Flows
Lava flows are streams of molten rock that pour or ooze
from an erupting vent. Lava is erupted during either non-
explosive lava fountains. The speed at which lava moves
across the ground depends on several factors, including
(1) Type of lava erupted and its viscosity; (2) steepness of the
ground over which it travels; (3) whether the lava flows as a
broad sheet, through a confined channel, or down a lava
tube; and (4) rate of lava production at the vent.
Devastating Effects of Lava Flows
1. Lava flows may instigate other types of hazards.
2. Everything in the path of an advancing lava flow will be
knocked over, surrounded, buried, or ignited by the
extremely hot temperature of lava.
3. When lava erupts beneath a glacier or flows over snow
and ice, melt water from the ice and snow can result in
far-reaching lahars.
4. If it enters a body of water or water enters a lava tube,
the water may boil violently and cause an explosive
shower of molten spatter over a wide area.
5. Methane gas, produced as lava buries vegetation, can
migrate in subsurface voids and explode when heated.
6. Thick viscous lava flows, especially those that build a
dome, can collapse to form fast-moving pyroclastic
flows.
Ballistic Projectiles
Volcanic explosions can propel rock
fragments on ballistic trajectories that may
differ from the wind direction. These are
known as ballistic projectiles.
Ballistic projectiles are rocks that an
erupting volcano may hurl into the air. These
blocks and bomb travel like cannonballs and
usually land within 2km of the vent. These
events may occur without warming eruption.
Devastating Effects of Ballistic
Projectiles
Tephra falls and ballistic projectiles endanger life and
property by:
(1) The forced of impact of falling fragments, but this occurs
only close to an eruption;
(2) Loss of agricultural lands if burial is greater than 10 cm
depth;
(3) Producing suspensions of fined-grained particles in air
and water which clogs filters and vents of motors, human
lungs, industrial machines, and nuclear power plants;
(4) Carrying of noxious gases, acids, salts, and close to the
vent, heat; and
(5) Burial by tephra can collapse roofs of buildings, break
power and communication lines and damage or kill
vegetation.
Signs of an Impending Volcanic
Eruption
The following are some of the observable
signs volcanologist have identified when a
volcano is about to erupt:
• Most volcanoes provide various types of
warnings before eruptions begin.
• People living near volcanoes may detect
premonitory events before an eruption.
• Measurement of Changes in Heat Flow
• Detection and Interpretation of
Precursory Events
Other Related
Geological Hazards
Geological hazards are natural phenomenon
that cause major problems all over the world. The
expansion and development of cites lead to an
increase in impact the damage due to geological
hazards. In general, most of the geological hazards
are related to natural conditions, although some
may be due to human activities.
Causes of Landslide
Landslides occur when the slope changes from a
stable to an unstable condition. A change in the stability of a
slope can be caused by a number of factors, acting together
or alone.
Natural causes of landslides include:
• Groundwater (pore water) pressure acting to destabilize
the slope
• Loss or absence of vertical vegetative structure, soil
nutrients, and soil structure (e.g. after a wildfire)
• Erosion of the toe of a slope by rivers or ocean waves
• Weakening of a slope through saturation by snow melt,
glaciers melting, or heavy rains
• Earthquake adding loads to barely stable slope
• Earthquake-caused liquefaction destabilizing slopes
• Volcanic eruptions
Landslides are also aggravated by human
activities, such as:
• Deforestation, cultivation and construction,
which destabilize the already fragile slopes.
• Vibration from machinery or traffic
• Blasting (e.g. as miners normally do)
• Earthwork which alters then shape of a slope, or
which imposes new loads on an existing slope
• In shadow soils, the removal of deep-rooted
vegetation that binds colluvium to bedrock (e.g.
kaingin farming system)
• Construction works, agricultural or forestry
activities (e.g. logging) which change the
amount of water infiltrating the soil.
SINKHOLES

Sinkholes are common where the rock below

the land surface is limestone, carbonate rock, salt
beds, or rocks that can naturally be dissolved by
groundwater circulating through them. As the rock
dissolves, spaces and caverns develop
underground. Sinkholes are dramatic because the
land usually stays intact for a while until the
underground spaces just get too big. If there is not
enough support for the land above the spaces then
a sudden collapse of the land surface can occur.
These collapses can be small, or they can be huge
and can occur where a house or road is on top.
Signs of Impending Geological Hazards
The following are some of the observable
signs that a landslide is possible to occur in a
particular area:
A. LANDSLIDE
1) Earlier Landslide as an indicator
Observing old landslides is a good indication
that the area has unstable geology, and that more
landslides are likely in the future. Multiple landslide
events in the same place can be retrogressive,
piecemeal, or reactivated. A reactivated landslide is
where something change at an old, semi-stable
landslide, triggering a new failure at the same
location.
2) TENSION CRACKS

Tension cracks are created by the stress of

geological material pulling apart. They often mark
the eventual landslide scarp, the top edge of the
failure zone. They can be identified as road
segments that constantly need long, thin patches,
or out in the wild as actual cracks in the ground.
Tension cracks above an existing landslide can hint
at a future reactivation. However, if tension cracks
are found on flat ground, they’re still being created
by extensional stress, but are more likely related to
a fault than a landslide.
3) THINGS MOVING
Observable movement and deformation of
things are also indicators of an impending
landslide. The most common among these is that
trees are bending up in a J-curve as a sign that the
ground slips out from under them.
B. SINKHOLES
Sinkholes rarely strike without giving some
warning in the surrounding environment or in a
nearby home. Here are some signs to watch for
they may indicate a problem about the present and
imminent danger of sinkhole:
• Trees or fence posts that tilt or fall
• Foundations that slant
• New small ponds that appear after rain
• Cracks in the ground
• Sudden drainage of a pond
• Rapid appearance of a hole in the ground
• Dips, depressions, slopes that appear in a yard
• Dead patches of grass or plants
• Sinkholes in the neighborhood
• Wilted vegetation in a limited area
• Well water that is discolored or contaminated
with debris
• Cracking or buckling of homes concrete slab
• Presence of odd bugs like slugs and centipedes
in the home.
• Earthy odor in home after rain
• New or widening cracks
• Separation between walls and ceiling or
floors
• Cracks in interior walls
• Cracks around door and windows frames
• Cracked grout between tiles
• Cracked tiles
• Stair step cracks in blocks or bricks
• Uneven floors, warping of hardwood,
bulging or sagging sections
• Doors or windows that don’t open or close
easily
• Cracks in sheetrock near doors or windows
Hydrometeorologic
al
Hazards
Hydrometeorological hazards are processes
or phenomena of atmospheric, hydrological or
oceanographic nature that may cause loss of life,
injury or other health impacts, property damages,
loss of livelihoods and services, social and
Potential Hydrometeorological
Hazards
 Cyclone
A cyclone is an intense low pressure system
which is characterized by strong spiral winds
towards the center, called the “Eye” in a counter-
clockwise flow in the northern hemisphere.
Classification of cyclone:
• Tropical Depression- maximum winds from
35 kilometers per hour (kph) to 63 kph
• Tropical Storm- maximum winds from 64 kph
to 118 kph
• Typhoon- maximum winds exceeding 118 kph
Typhoon
A typhoon is a large, powerful and violent tropical
cyclone. It is a low pressure area rotating counter-clockwise
and containing rising warm air that forms over warm water in
the Western Pacific Ocean. Less powerful tropical cyclones
are called Tropical Depressions and Tropical Storms. A
typhoon is called a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, a
cyclone in the Indian Ocean and wily-wily in Australia.
Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm is a weather condition that produces
lightning and thunder, heavy rainfall from cumulonimbus
clouds and possibly a tornado. It is a violent local
atmospheric disturbance accompanied by lightning,
thunder, and heavy rain, and often by strong gusts of wind,
and sometimes by hail.
Tornado
A tornado is described as a violently rotating
column of air extending form a thunderstorm to the
ground.
Flash flood
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of
geomorphic low-lying areas like washes, rivers, dry
lakes and basins. It may caused by heavy rain
associated with a severe thunderstorm, hurricane,
tropical storm, or melt water from ice or snow
flowing over ice sheets or snowfields.
Flood
Flood is the inundation of land areas which
are not normally covered by water.
Storm Surge
Storm surge is a rise of seawater above normal sea
level on the coast, generated by the action of weather
elements, such as cyclonic winds and atmospheric pressure.
Sea level is raised and driven towards the coast.
El Niño and El Niña
El Niño and El Niña are complex weather patterns
resulting from variations in ocean temperatures in the
Equatorial Pacific. These two phenomena are opposite
phases of what is known as the El Niño-Southern
Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. The ENSO cycle is a scientific
term that describes the fluctuations in temperature between
the ocean and atmosphere in the east-central Equatorial
Pacific (approximately between the International Date Line
and 120 degrees West).
La Niña
is sometimes referred to as the cold phase of
ENSO and El Niño as the warm phase of ENSO.
These deviations from normal surface temperature
can have large-scale impacts not only on ocean
processes, but also on global weather and climate.
El Niño and El Niña
episodes typically last nine to 12 months, but
some prolonged events may last for years. While
their frequency can be quite irregular, El Niño and El
Niña events occur on average every two seven
years. Typically, El Niño occurs more frequently than
El Niña .
Landfall – The eye of the storm:

Just as the storm reaches its peak, the

winds begin to slacken, and the sky starts to
brighten. The rain ends abruptly, and the
clouds break and blue sky is seen.
FIRE HAZARD
Fire hazards include all types of live flames,
causes of sparks, hot objects, and chemicals
that are potential for ignition, or that can
aggravate a fire to become large and
uncontrolled.
Common Fire Hazards
The following fire hazards are common at
home, in public places, transports and work places:
• All types of flames used for any work
• Electric wires, higher loads, loose connections
and old electrical equipment
• All cooking and heat generating appliances
• All works and situations where fire is essential
such as welding, cutting, metal casting etc.
• Improper storage of tools, equipment and items
during and at the end of the day’s work
• Smoking and personal lighters and matches
• Fireworks, pyro-techniques, ammunitions and
explosives
• Improper and unauthorized storage of
flammable and hazardous materials and
chemicals especially the flammable ones
• Insufficient capacity and numbers of
emergency exits and stairs
• Hindrance to sight or reach fire fighting
equipment, markings and alarm systems
• Insufficient numbers and types of fire
extinguishers
• Absence of fire detection and alarm
system
• Violation of building and fire codes
ELEMENTS OF THE FIRE TRIANGLE
The fire triangle or combustion triangle is a
simple model for understanding the necessary
ingredients for most fires. The triangle illustrates
the three elements a fire needs to ignite: heat, fuel,
and an oxidizing agent (usually oxygen). A fire
naturally occurs when the elements are present
and combined in the right mixture, meaning that fire
is actually an event rather than a thing.

OXYGEN
HEAT
O2 CHEMICA
L
REACTION

FUEL
TOP CAUSES OF FIRE
• Kitchen Stoves
• Faulty Wiring
• Smoking in Bed
• Lighting
• Flammable Liquids
• Candles
• Children are playing with Fire
Disaster Risk
Reduction
and
Management
Disaster risk reduction (DRR) is defined as “is a systematic
approach to identifying ,assessing and reducing the risk of
disaster. It aims to reduce socio-economic vulnerabilities to
disaster as well as deal with the environmental and other
hazards that trigger them”(Asian Disaster Reduction Center-
ADRC).DRR is very wide-ranging. Its scope is much broader
and deeper than conventional emergency management.
There is potential for DRR initiatives in just about every sector
development and humanitarian work. The most commonly
cited definition of DRR is the used by United Nations agencies
such as UNISDR, also known as the UN Office for Disaster
Risk Reduction ,and United Nations Development Program
(UNDP) “The conceptual framework of elements considered
with the possibilities to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster
risk throughout a society ,to avoid (prevention) or to
limit(mitigation and preparedness) the advice impact of
hazards, within the broad context of sustainable
development.”
Key Concepts of DRR
The following are key concepts of DRR as explained
by the Asian Disaster Risk Center (ADRC).
• Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).
• Disaster risk reduction is about choices.
• Disaster risk reduction is everyone’s business.
• Basic Principles of DRR.

Elements of DRR
The following is a discussion of Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management(DRRM) as a continuum
indicating the interrelationship of the different elements of
DRR(FAO Series):
1.Disaster Risk Reduction Continuum
• Ongoing development activities- Ongoing DRM
aspects in different development programs
• Risk assessment- Diagnostic process to identify the
risk that a community faces
• Prevention- Activities to avoid the adverse impact of
hazards
• Mitigation- Structural/non-structural measures
undertaken to limit the adverse impact
• Preparedness- Activities and measures taken in
advance to ensure effective response
• Early warning- Provision of timely and effective
information to avoid or reduce risk
2.Immediate Disaster Response
• Evacuation- temporary mass departure of people and
property from threatened locations
• Saving people and livelihood- Protection of people
and livelihoods during emergency
• Emmediate assistance- Provision of assistance during
or immediately after disaster
• Assessing damage and los- Information about impact
on assets and loss to production
3. Post Disaster to Continue
• Ongoing assistance - Continued assistance
until a certain level of recovery
• Recovery – Actions taken after a disaster with
a view to restoring infrastructure and services
• Reconstruction – Action taken after a disaster
to ensure resettlement/relocation
• Economic and social recovery – Measures
taken to normalize the economy and societal
living
• Ongoing development activites – Continued
actions of development programs
• Risk assessment – Diagnostic process to
identify new risks that communities may again
face
Importance of Disaster Risk Reduction
In 2011 alone, almost 30,000 people were killed in
302 disasters, and 206 million people were affected. Beyond
the toll on human life, the costs of disasters were estimated
at more than US$ 2 trillion over the last two decades.
Earthquakes and violent weather-related catastrophes
helped make 2011 the costliest year ever for response and
recovery from disaster (United Nations Development
Program-UNDP).
Yet, many countries are still not investing enough in
prevention and preparedness, and many development
actors are not prioritizing such support to poor countries.
The result is another stark reality that striking inequalities
persist, with global disaster risk disproportionately
concentrated in poorer countries with weaker governance.
From a development perspective, therefore,
disaster risk reduction is vital for building a more
equitable and sustainable future. Making
investments in prevention and preparedness,
including civil defense exercises, is a necessary
part of systematic efforts to increase resilience to
disaster.
From a personal perspective DRR is very
important to prevent loss of life and material
properties. It is also a key factor for socio-economic
survival in these times that natural disasters are
getting worse and becoming more frequent due to
the effect of climate change. Disaster risk reduction
is a proactive step towards prevention which is
believed to be better than “cure”.
Community-based Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management
is defined as “a process in which at-risk
communities are actively engaged in the
identification, analysis, treatment, monitoring and
evaluation of disaster risks in order to reduce their
vulnerabilities and enhance their capacities”.
(ADPC 2003). This means that people are at the
heart of decision-making and implementation of
disaster risk management activities. The
involvement of most vulnerable social group is
considered as paramount in this process, while the
support of the least vulnerable group is necessary
for successful implementation.
Emergency Planning and Management
Recovery
Mitigation
Action taken after an
Efforts reduce the effects
emergency to restore
or risks associated with
and resume normal
hazards.
operations
Recovery Mitigation

Continuity

Response Preparedness
Response Preparedness
Action taken during an Action taken prior to an
emergency to save lives, emergency to facilitate
property , and the response and promote
environment Continuity readiness.
Action taken to protect the campus
mission from disruption. Continuity
influences all four planning phases of
Emergency Management
Monitoring, Evaluating and Reporting
are key activities for the success of an emergency
plan.
The diagram shows the interrelation of monitoring,
evaluating and reporting as basis of improvement for
an implemented community emergency plan.

Monitor

Improve

Report Evaluate
What to
Expected from
the State and the
Citizens
The Philippines is highly exposed to natural hazards
because it lies along the Pacific Typhoon Belt and is within
the Pacific Ring of Fire. This is compounded by uncontrolled
settlement in hazard-prone areas, high poverty rate, failure to
implement building codes and construction standards, the
degradation of forests and coastal resources, among others.
The brunt of these natural hazards is felt by 27.6
million Filipino who are among the poorest and marginalized.
They are often trapped in a seemingly never-ending cycle of
disaster, displacement and rebuilding (Asian Disaster
Reduction Center-ADRC).
For a country like the Philippines, a proactive risk
management approach is imperative. ADRC indicates that
more than 40 per cent of Filipinos (37 million) are under 18
years old. Children are the most affected in any disaster and
by this alone, their participation in DRR is very essential.
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
(DRRM)-related Laws and Policies
The Philippines experiences over the years on
different kinds urged the government to come up
with legal measures in order to instituitionalize
disaster risk reduction and management in the
country.
Presidential Decree No. 1566
In 1978, former President Marcos mandated
Presidential Decree No. 1566 to strengthen
Philippine disaster control. It created the National
Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), the focal
organization for disaster management in the country
at that time. It was headed by the Secretary of
National Defense.
To decentralize functions, PD No. 1566 also created
regional, provincial and local disaster coordinating councils.
In terms of funding, the local council were to get their funds
from their 2% unappropriated reserves. This came from the
Local Government Units (LGUs’) estimated revenue from
regular sources for unforeseen expenditures.
From this, all LGUs’ were to program funds to be used
for disaster preparedness including organization of the local
disaster councils – infrastructure, equipment and training of
teams
Republic Act No. 8185
In 1991, Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as
the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991 was enacted.
The LGC enabled the LGUs’ to access 5% of the estimated
revenue from regular sources for unforeseen expenditures
such as the occurrence of calamities. However, access is
only possible if the President declares the area in a state of
calamity.
To better utilized the funds, an act amending
the concerned section, 324 (d), of the LGC was put
into Law in 1996.
Republic Act No. 8185 identified areas of
expenditure such as relief, rehabilitation,
reconstruction and other services with regards to
calamities.
Rather than centralizing the decision-making
process to the President, it gave the power to the
local development council to monitor the use and
disbursement of the local calamity fund.
NDCC Four Point Action Plan
With the current law seen to only focus on
response, the government created the National Four
Action Plan in 2005 to spearhead prevention and
mitigation.
In its plan, it continued: 1) improving forecasting
capability of concerned agencies, 2) engaging the local
disaster councils, 3) holding annual disaster consciousness
month in July and, 4) formalizing stakeholder partnerships
through memoranda of agreement.
Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act
As the paradigm shifts from response to mitigation,
Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine
Disaster Reduction and Management Act, was enacted in
2010.
RA No. 10121, is an act mandated to strengthen
disaster management in the Philippines. It repealed PD No.
1566 and replaced the NDCC with the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as the focal
body.
NDRRMC, now headed by the Office of Civil Defense
(OCD) as its implementing agency, coordinates with the
regional, provincial and local DRRM councils.
As it focus is on prevention and mitigation, the
local DMM fund was established. LGUs are to set
aside 5% of their estimated revenue from regular
sources for their disaster councils
Of the local DRRM fund, 70% of which shall
be used for pre-disaster measures. The rest shall be
allocated as Quick Response FUND which serves
as a stand-by fund for relief and recovery programs.
As the law turns 5 this year, congressional
oversight committee is conducting a sunset review
of RA No. 10121.
DRR-Related Services, Programs and Project (Source:
NDRRMC)
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Plan (NDRRMP) fulfills the requirement of RA
No. 10121 of 2010, which provides the legal basis of polices,
plans and programs to deal with disasters. The NDRRMP
covers four thematic areas, namely,
1) Disaster Prevention and Mitigation
2) Disaster Preparedness
3) Disaster Response
4) Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery
Which correspond to the structure of the National Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). By
law, the Office of Civil Defense formulates and implements
the NDRRMP and ensures that the physical framework,
social, economic and environmental plans of communities,
cities, municipalities and provinces are consistent with such
plan.
The NDRRMP is consistent with National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Framework (NDRRMF), which serves as “the
principal guide to disaster risk reduction and
management (DRRM) efforts to the country…” The
Framework envisions a country of “safer, adaptive
and disaster resilient Filipino communities toward
sustainable development.” It conveys a paradigm
shift from reactive to proactive DRRM wherein men
and women have increase their awareness and
understanding of DRRM, with the end in view of
increasing people’s resilience and decreasing their
vulnerabilities.
The DRRMP sets down the expected
outcomes, outputs, key activities, indicators, lead
agencies, implementing partners and timelines
under each of the four distinct yet mutually
reinforcing thematic areas. The goal of each
thematic area lead to the attainment of the country’s
DRRM vision.
1. Disaster Prevention and Mitigation
Overall responsible agency: Department of
Science and Technology (DOST)
Expected outcome:
Avoid hazards and mitigate their potential
impacts by reducing vulnerabilities and exposure
and enhancing capacities of communities.
2. Disaster Preparedness
Overall responsible agency: Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG)
Expected Outcome:
Establish and strengthen capacities of communities to
anticipate, cope and recover from the negative impact of
emergency and occurrences and disasters.
3. Disasters Response
Overall responsible agency: Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD)
Expected Outcome:
Provide life preservation and meet the basic
subsistence needs of affected population based on the
acceptable standards during or immediately after a
disaster.
4. Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery
Overall responsible agency: National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA)
Expected Outcome:
Restore and improve facilities, livelihood and living
conditions and organizational capacities of affected
communities, and reduce disaster risk in accordance with
the “building back better” principle.

……