6,300 - Fatalities due to Typhoon Yolanda

Italian word disastro: dis - bad, astro - star

Disaster

serious disruption of the normal functioning of a community or society due to hazardous events
that cause widespread damage, destruction, and suffering.

often results in significant loss of life, property, livelihood, and the environment, exceeding the
community's ability to cope using its own resources.

UNISDR - United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction

"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."

UNISDR KEY CONCEPTS

Serious Disruption - A disaster disturbs the normal functioning of a community or society. This means
essential services such as transportation, electricity, healthcare, and communication may be damaged
or destroyed.

Exceeds the Ability to Cope - A disaster happens when the scale of damage is beyond what the
affected community can handle on its own. This means local resources, emergency services, and
government agencies may be overwhelmed.

Community or Society - A disaster affects a group of people living in the same area or sharing
common resources.

The impact depends on the population's vulnerability and preparedness.

OTHER DESCRIPTION FOR DISASTERS

Small-scale Disasters - These affect a limited area or a small community, causing localized damage.

Example: A fire in a residential area that displaces a few families.

Large-scale Disasters - These impact a wide area, multiple communities, or an entire country, causing
massive destruction and requiring national or international assistance.
Frequent/Infrequent Disasters - These occur often in a certain location, usually due to natural
conditions or human activities.

- These occur often in a certain location, usually due to natural conditions or human activities.

Slow-onset Disasters - These develop gradually over time, often due to environmental or socio-
economic factors.

Example: Droughts that lead to water shortages and food insecurity, such as the El Niño-induced
droughts in the Philippines.

IMPACTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS

1.
SOCIOCULTURAL AND POLITICAL IMPACTS
Natural disasters often highlight existing social inequalities and vulnerabilities. They can
exacerbate social issues such as poverty and discrimination, as certain groups may be more
exposed or have less access to resources and aid.

Disasters can affect political stability by challenging the legitimacy of governments. If a

Disasters can bring communities together but also create tensions, especially if resources are
scarce or if there are perceived injustices in aid distribution
2.
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL IMPACTS
Natural disasters cause significant direct economic costs, including damage to infrastructure,
homes, and businesses. These costs are often covered by a combination of public and private
funds.

Indirect costs include disruptions to businesses, loss of productivity, and impacts on supply
chains.

Over time, some areas may experience economic growth due to rebuilding efforts, but this can
vary by disaster type.

While some areas may see long-term economic benefits from increased investment and
infrastructure improvements, others may struggle with ongoing economic challenges, especially
if they lack resilience or face repeated disasters.
3.
PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL IMPACTS
People affected by disasters often experience immediate psychological distress, including
feelings of fear, panic, and grief.

Long-term psychological impacts can include chronic anxiety, depression, PTSD, and grief. The
availability of support systems plays a crucial role in recovery.
 Communities can develop resilience over time, but ongoing support is essential to help
individuals cope with the aftermath of disasters.
4.
PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Natural disasters cause immediate physical damage to buildings, infrastructure, and natural
environments. This can include loss of life, injuries, and displacement

Disasters can lead to environmental degradation, such as soil erosion, pollution, and loss of
biodiversity. This can have long-term effects on ecosystems and human health.

Physical recovery involves rebuilding infrastructure and restoring ecosystems. Building resilience
into new infrastructure can help mitigate future disaster impacts

DISASTER RISK AND HAZARD

Disaster Risk - The potential loss of lives, injuries, or destroyed and damaged assets that could occur
to a system, society, or a community in a specific period due to hazardous events. It is determined by
the interaction of hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and capacity.

Hazard - A process, phenomenon, or human activity that may cause loss of life, injury, or other health
impacts, as well as damage and destruction to property, infrastructure, and the environment.

Hazards can be natural (e.g., earthquakes, typhoons, floods), technological (e.g., industrial accidents,
nuclear radiation), or human-induced (e.g., armed conflicts, pollution).

IFRC - The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

defines natural hazards as: "Natural processes or phenomena that may cause loss of life, injury, or
other health impacts, as well as damage and destruction to property, infrastructure, and the
environment."

Natural Hazards - These hazards arise from natural events and are categorized based on their causes:

1.
Geophysical Hazards (Earth-related)
Caused by movements and activities beneath the Earth's surface (earthquake, volcano eruption)
2.
Climatological Hazards (Long-term climate patterns)
Related to climate conditions over long periods (El Niño (drought), air pollution , climate change)
3.
Meteorological Hazards (Weather-related)
Caused by weather patterns and atmospheric conditions (tornado , hurricane, wildfire)
4.
Hydrological Hazards (Water-related)
Linked to water movement and distribution (floods, storm surges, tsunamis)
 5.
Biological Hazards (Living organisms)
Caused by diseases, pests, and organisms affecting human health (Covid-19, bites or saliva,
vectors, airborn, contaminated, food-born, direct contact)

Anthropogenic Hazard - These hazards result from human activities and actions. They often occur due
to negligence, poor planning, or technological failures.

Examples:

Technological Hazards - Industrial accidents, nuclear radiation, oil spills

Environmental Hazards - Deforestation, pollution, global warming

Societal Hazards - War, terrorism, cyberattacks

Natural Phenomenon - A natural event that happens on Earth but does not necessarily cause harm
(Heavy rain in the forest, Strong winds over the sea, A volcano erupting on an uninhabited island)

Natural Hazard - A natural event that can cause damage to people, property, or the environment (an
earthquake in a city)

THE LEVEL OF EFFECTS - NATURAL OR HUMAN-MADE PROCESSES

1.
PRIMARY EFFECTS (DIRECT AND IMMEDIATE)
These are the initial impacts that happen right away when a disaster occurs. They result directly
from the event itself and cause the most immediate damage.

Examples:

Earthquake - Buildings collapse, people get injured, roads crack

Typhoon - Strong winds destroy houses, storm surges flood cities

Oil Spill - Marine life dies, water becomes polluted

1.
SECONDARY EFFECTS (INDIRECT AND SHORT-TERM)
These are the consequences of the primary effects that happen shortly after the disaster (hours
to days later).They can worsen the situation and cause more harm.

Examples:

Earthquake - Gas leaks causing fires, aftershocks leading to more damage

Oil Spill - Fishing industry collapses, toxic fumes affect human health

1.
TERTIARY EFFECTS (LONG-TERM AND PERMANENT)
These are the long-lasting effects that can remain for months or years after a disaster. They affect
economies, societies, and environments in the long run.

Examples:

Earthquake - Economic recession, people permanently displaced from their homes

Typhoon - Farmlands destroyed, leading to food shortages for years

Oil Spill - Marine ecosystems permanently damaged, tourism declines