Disaster Readiness and Risk

Reduction
Quarter 1 – Module 1: Basic
Concept of Disaster and Disaster Risk
Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 – Module 1: Basic Concept of Disaster and Disaster Risk First Edition, 2020

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Published by the Department of Education

Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones
Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Rodgem A. Barairo

Ginalyn H. Aquino
Editors: Josefina M. Fabra
Anne Marielle R. Del Mundo
Vanessa R. Ambas
Reviewers: Dolorosa S. De Castro
Cristeta M. Arcos
Richard Brian L. Tutor
Illustrator: Leumel M. Cadapan
Ronan DC Vergara
Layout Artist: Leumel M. Cadapan
Maria Elinor F. Hemedes
Management Team:
Wilfredo E. Cabral
Job S. Zape Jr.
Eugenio S. Adrao
Elaine T. Balaogan
Rosemarie D. Torres
Ernesto D. Lindo
Dolorosa S. De Castro
Cristeta M. Arcos

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 What I Need to Know

This module is intended to help you understand the concept of disaster. Disasters
are reality. Perhaps our most potent response to it must be awareness, knowledge,
and understanding of this reality. Hence, this first lesson provides you, our dear
learners with a basic but thorough grounding on the concept of disaster and how
and when an event turns into a disaster.

The Module is intended to equip you with knowledge to explain the basic concept
of disaster.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Understand the meaning of disaster.
2. Justify different kinds of disasters that are common; the Philippines has
experience.
3. Observe surroundings and every situation that you may encounter.
4. Appreciate the significance of knowing disaster risks and how it may affect
one’s life.

What I Know

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of
paper.
1. What is this inherently unexpected and happening that comes quickly
without any warning?
a. disaster
b. hazard
c. phenomenon
d. risk

2. A natural disaster is a(n) event.

a. expected
b. planned
c. scheduled
d. unexpected

3. It is also called as the Circum-Pacific belt, the zone of earthquakes

surrounding the Pacific Ocean where about 99% of the world’s
earthquake occurs.
a. locust
b. drought
c. ring of fire
d. subsidence

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4. All of the following show effect of disasters EXCEPT .
a. displacement of populations
b. damage to the ecological environment
c. destruction of a population’s homeland
d. sustained public attention during the recovery phase

5. Which of the following is an example of man-caused disaster?

a. storm surges
b. flooded coastal areas
c. landslide on mining sites
d. oil spills from shipping boat

Lesson
What is Disaster and
1 Disaster Risk?
In this module, the learners will hold an understanding about disaster
and develop a firm grasp of a very crucial factor that has direct bearing on
disaster and disaster risk.

What’s In

Philippines: A Country Prone to Natural Disasters

The Philippines has experienced from an inexhaustible number of

deadly earthquakes, volcano eruptions, and other natural disasters. This is
due to its location along the Ring of Fire, a large Pacific Ocean region where
many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.

Activity 1: “Count Me In”

Direction: Write five (3) disastrous events in the Philippines in the last five
years that you could still recall. Write your answer on a separate sheet of
paper.
1.

2.

3.

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 WHAT’S IN IT

Disaster is "a sudden, calamitous occurrence that causes great harm,

injury, destruction, and devastation to life and property”. It disrupts the usual
course of life, causing both physical and emotional distress such as an intense
feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. A preceding definition of disaster
stresses that two elements are affected – life (whether human or animal) and
property. The effects vary – it maybe a minor damage (like broken windows
and doors), major damage (like torn rooftops, collapsed walls), total
destruction (like completely destroyed houses and structures rendering them
useless and inhabitable) and the worst scenario, it can lead to death. (Asian
Disaster Preparedness Center, ADPC, 2012)
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2008),
disaster is “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”.
Any adverse episode or phenomenon can exploit a vulnerability in the
affected population or community to create damage and this awareness will
form the basis for an adequate intervention.

Meanwhile, the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster

Reduction defines disaster as 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.

Disasters are often a result of the combination of: the exposure to a

hazard; the conditions of vulnerability that are present; and insufficient
capacity or measures to reduce or cope with the potential negative
consequences.

Its impacts may include loss of life, injury, disease and other negative
effects on human physical, mental, and social wellbeing, together with
damage to properties, destruction of assets, loss of services, social and
economic disruptions, and environmental degradation.
Mahar, Patrick, et.al, “Disasters and their Effects on the Population: Key Concepts,” Accessed (01
June 2020), https://www.aap.org/en-us/Documents/disasters_dpac_PEDsModule1.pdf

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 Image 1. Different kinds of Natural Disasters

Classification of Disasters:

Disasters can be divided into 2 large categories:

A. Natural Disasters – a natural phenomenon is caused by natural forces, such as

earthquakes, typhoon, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, fires, tornados, and extreme
temperatures. They can be classified as rapid onset disasters and those with progressive
onset, such as droughts that lead to famine. These events, usually sudden, can have
tremendous effects.
B. Man-made - Disasters caused by man are those in which major direct causes are
identifiable intentional or non-intentional human actions.

Subdivided into three categories:

1. Technological/industrial disasters - Unregulated industrialization and inadequate safety
standards increase the risk for industrial disasters.

EXAMPLE: leaks of hazardous materials; accidental explosions; bridge or road collapses,

or vehicle collisions; Power cuts

2. Terrorism/Violence - the threat of terrorism has also increased due to the spread of
technologies involving nuclear, biological, and chemical agents used to develop weapons of
mass destruction. EXAMPLE : bombs or explosions; release of chemical materials; release
of biological agents; release of radioactive agents; multiple or massive shootings; mutinies

3. Complex humanitarian emergencies - the term complex emergency is usually used to describe
the humanitarian emergency resulting from an international or civil war. In such
situations, large numbers of people are displaced from their homes due to the lack of
personal safety and the disruption of basic infrastructure including food distribution,
water, electricity, and sanitation, or communities are left stranded and isolated in their
own homes unable to access assistance.

EXAMPLE: conflicts or wars and Genocide the deliberate killing of a large group of people,
especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation

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“Disasters and their Effects on the Population: Key Concepts,”, Accessed on 02 June 2020,
pages 7-10, https://www.aap.org/en-us/Documents/disasters_
dpac_PEDsModule1. pdf .

The damage caused by disaster cannot be measured. It also differs with the kind
of geographical location, climate, earth’s specific characteristics, and level of
vulnerability. These determining factors affect generally the psychol ogical, socio –
economic, political, and ethnical state of the affected area.

Risk and Disaster Risk

Risk has various connotations within different disciplines. In general, risk is

defined as “the combination of the probability of an event and its negative
consequences” (UNISDR, 2009). The term risk is thus multidisciplinary and is
used in a variety of contexts. It is usually associated with the degree to which
humans cannot cope (lack of capacity) with a situation (e.g. natural hazard).

The term disaster risk refers to the potential (not actual and realized)
disaster losses, in lives, health status, livelihoods, assets, and services which could
occur in a community or society over some specified future time period.

Disaster risk is the product of the possible damage caused by a hazard due to the
vulnerability within a community. It should be noted that the effect of a hazard (of a
particular magnitude) would affect communities differently (Von Kotze, 1999:35).

It can also be determined by the presence of three variables: hazards (natural

or anthropogenic); vulnerability to a hazard; and coping capacity linked to the
reduction, mitigation, and resilience to the vulnerability of a community.

What’s More

Activity 1.2 FIX ME!!!

Instruction: Arranged the given jumbled letters to identify the correct
terminology. The definition will help you to derive the correct answer.
Answering this activity will develop your visual and analysis skills. Write
your answer in your answer sheet.

JUMBLED LETTERS DEFINITION

A sudden calamitous event, bringing great

1. RTAIESSD
damage, loss, destruction, and devastation.

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 A path along the Pacific Ocean characterized by
2. GRNI FO IEFR
active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes.

An event causing great and often sudden

3. TALAYMIC
damage or distress.

Shaking of earth caused by waves moving on

4. AQRHTEKEAU
and below the earth's surface.

When lava and gas are discharged from a

5. ICNLOVAC IPREOUTN
volcanic vent.

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Activity 1.3 Understanding Natural and Man-Made Disaster
Direction: Identify the given set of images if it is Natural or Man Made. Put
your answer on the blank space below each picture.

Classifying Disaster
(Natural or Man-Made)

"Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines" by “Military convoy" by chelmonette is

ochacolombia is licensed under CC BY- licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
NC-ND 2.0

"File:Ezra Acayan Mayon pic.jpg" by "Toxic Metal Barrel" by azzajess is

Ezra Acayan, licensed under CC BY-SA licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
4.0

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 "Motor Vehicle Accident at Clinton and "6.0 Magnitude Earthquake in the City
Lafayette Ave" by cisc1970 is licensed of Napa" by Cal OES is licensed under
under CC BY-NC 2.0 CC BY-NC 2.0

Guide Question:

Based on the presented images, how will you differentiate natural from man -
made disasters? Explain your answer in 2-3 sentences. Write your answer on
a separate sheet of paper.

Given the table, give a natural disaster you experienced within your locality
or you had heard from the news recently. What makes it a natural disaster?
1. Give a man-made disaster you experienced within your locality or you had
heard from the news recently.

Natural Disaster Man-made Disaster

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Activity 1.4 Understanding Disaster Risk

Direction: In this activity, you must identify the classification of disaster as

well as the disaster risk of a given disaster situations. Accomplish the table
below. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Classification of Disaster
Disaster Risks
Disasters (Natural or Man-Made)
(Effects)
1. typhoon
2. war conflicts
3. volcanic eruption

4. chemical leakages
5. vehicular accident
6. earthquake
7. drought
8. thunderstorms
9. tuberculosis
10. rainfall-induced
landslide
11. floods in rivers
and coastal areas
12. avalanche
13. tsunami
14. bomb explosion
15. house

Stop and Reflect

Now review your previous Activity number 1.3 and 1.4. Do you think the
given ideas/concepts are clear for you to understand different kinds of
disasters that the country has experienced including its disaster risks?
Agree or Disagree?

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 What I Have Learned

Exit Ticket
Have you learned so much from this module? What are the three things
that you learned today? What are the two things you found interesting?

3 Things I learned Today 1.

2.
3.

2 Things I Found Interesting 1.

2.
1 Question I have 1.

What I Can Do

Now that you’ve already learned and understand the lesson focusing on
disaster and disaster risk, it’s time to work to demonstrate your learning. Are
you ready? Sure, you are!

Activity 1.5 Am I Ready?

Directions: Answer the given question. Write your answer on a separate sheet of
paper.

Do you think you are relatively well prepared when a disaster might affect
your community either natural or man-made as well as to its effects? List
down five (5) important things that you need to prepare in order to lessen the

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possible danger that you and your family might encounter when a disaster
strike. Explain your answers briefly and write it on your answer sheet.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Assessment

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Which of the following is a sudden, calamitous event, bringing great

damage, loss, destruction, and devastation to life and property?
a. disaster
b. hazard
c. phenomenon
d. risk

2. A natural disaster can be a .

a. phenomenon
b. terrorism/Violence
c. technological/industrial issues
d. complex humanitarian emergencies

3. All of the following are the effects of disasters EXCEPT

a. can destroy health infrastructure
b. can cause an unexpected number of deaths
c. can have adverse effects on the environment
d. can cause the ability of every specie to reproduce

4. It is also called as the Circum-Pacific belt, the zone of earthquakes

surrounding the Pacific Ocean where about 99% of the world’s earthquake
occurs.
a. Drought c. subsidence
b. ring of fire d. Bermuda Triangle
5. Which of the following is NOT an example of man-caused hazard?

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 a. mutiny
b. genocide
c. earthquake
d. bombs or explosions

6. It is defined as the source of danger and something that may cause injury
or harm. It is also the uncertain course of events in a country.
a. disaster
b. hazard
c. risk
d. phenomenon

7. Which of the following category is a man-made hazard?

a. storm surges
b. flooded coastal areas
c. Landslide on Mining sites
d. Oil Spills from shipping boat

8. Which of the following is NOT included in the phases of disaster?

a. recovery phase
b. planning phase
c. emergency phase
d. preparedness phase

9. A natural disaster where sea waves of local or distant origin that results
from large-scale seafloor displacements associated with large earthquakes,
major submarine slides, or exploring volcanic hazards is called
a. earthquake
b. flood
c. tsunami
d. typhoon

10. During the initial stage of a disaster, almost all surface means of
transportation within the community are disrupted by broken bridges, roads, and
streets that are rendered impassable by landslides or floods. The restricted
mobility of vehicles makes rescue and other emergency operations doubly
difficult. What is this impact/ effect of disaster?
a. economic impact
b. social and political impact
c. damage to critical facilities
d. disruption of transportation

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Answer Key

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References
Mahar, Patrick, et.al, “Disasters and their Effects on the Population: Key
Concepts,” Accessed (01 June 2020), https://www.aap.org/en-
us/Documents/disasters_dpac_PEDsModule1.

“Disasters and their Effects on the Population: Key Concepts,”, Accessed on

02 June 2020, pp. 7-10, https://www.aap.org/en-
us/Documents/disasters_dpac_PEDsModule1.

“Defining the Concepts”, Introduction to Disaster Risk Reduction, USAID from

the American people, pp.6-13, https://www.preventionweb.
net/files/26081_kp1concepdisasterrisk1.

“National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan”, (NDRRMP), 2011‐

2028,pp. 14-32, http://www.ndrrmc.gov.ph/attachments/article
/41/NDRRM_Plan_2011-2028.pdf

Vergano, Dan, “5 Reasons the Philippines Is So Disaster Prone”, National

Geographic, November 11, 2013, https://www.nationalgeographic
.com/news/2013/11/131111-philippines-dangers-haiyan-
yolanda-death-toll-rises/

Guidance Note on Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction in to the CCA and

UNDAF, UNDG p.107, https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in
/bitstream/10603/97142/10/10_chapter%202.pdf

Prevention Web Editor, “Disaster Risk”, UNDRR Prevention Web, November

12, 2015, https://www.preventionweb.net/risk/disaster-risk

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 USE THIS AS YOUR ANSWER SHEET
DO NOT ANSWER OR WRITE ANYTHING IN THE MODULE

What I know: Activity 1.3

1. _________ 1. ___________
2. _________ 2. ___________
3. _________ 3. ___________
4. _________ 4. ___________
5. _________ 5. ___________

Activity 1.2 Activity 1.4

1. _________ 1. _____________
2. _________ 2. _____________
3. _________ 3. _____________
4. _________ 4. _____________
5. _________ 5. _____________
6. _____________ Effects may vary
Assessment:
1. _____
2. _____
3. _____
4. _____
5. _____
6. _____
7. _____
8. _____
9. _____
10. _____