 DISASTER – a serious disruption of the functioning of  Hydrometeorological hazards are of atmospheric,

a community or a society at any scale due to hydrological or oceanographic origin.

hazardous events interacting with conditions of (Ex. tropical cyclones (also known as typhoons
exposure, vulnerability, and capacity, leading to one and hurricanes); floods, flash floods; drought;
or more of the following: human, material, economic heatwaves and cold spells; and coastal storm
and environmental losses, and impacts. surges.)
 DISASTER RISK - the potential loss of life, injury, or - It may also be a factor in other hazards such as
destroyed or damaged assets which could occur to a landslides, wildland fires, locust plagues, epidemics
system, society, or a community in a specific period and in the transport and dispersal of toxic
of time, determined probabilistically as a function of substances and volcanic eruption material.
hazard, exposure, vulnerability and capacity  Technological hazards originate from technological
 HAZARD - a process, phenomenon or human activity or industrial conditions, dangerous procedures,
that may cause loss of life, injury or other health infrastructure failures or specific human activities.
impacts, property damage, social and economic (Ex. industrial pollution, nuclear radiation, toxic
disruption, or environmental degradation wastes, dam failures, transport accidents,
factory explosions, fires and chemical spills.)
TYPES OF HAZARDS ACCORDING TO ITS ORIGIN
- It also may arise directly as a result of the impacts
 Natural hazards are predominantly associated with
of a natural hazard event.
natural processes and phenomena.
 Anthropogenic hazards, or human-induced hazards,
 EXPOSURE TO HAZARD
are induced entirely or predominantly by human
- The situation of people, infrastructure, housing,
activities and choices.
production capacities and other tangible human
assets located in hazard-prone areas.
Note: Several hazards are socionatural, in that they are
 DISASTER VULNERABILITY
associated with a combination of natural and
- The conditions determined by physical, social,
anthropogenic factors, including environmental
economic and environmental factors or processes
degradation and climate change.
which increase the susceptibility of an individual, a
community, assets or systems to the impacts of
TYPES OF HAZARDS BASED ON THE SENDAI
hazards.
FRAMEWORK
 CAPACITY IN DISASTER
 Biological hazards are of organic origin or conveyed
- The combination of all the strengths, attributes,
by biological vectors, including pathogenic
and resources available within an organization,
microorganisms, toxins and bioactive substances.
community or society to manage and reduce
(Ex. bacteria, viruses or parasites, venomous
disaster risks and strengthen resilience.
wildlife and insects, poisonous plants and
 COPING CAPACITY DURING DISASTERS
mosquitoes carrying disease-causing agents.)
- The ability of people, organizations, and systems,
 Environmental hazards may include chemical,
using available skills and resources, to manage
natural and biological hazards. They can be created
adverse conditions, risk, or disasters.
by environmental degradation or physical or
- The capacity to cope requires continuing
chemical pollution in the air, water and soil.
awareness, resources, and good management, both
- Some processes and phenomena may be termed
in normal times as well as during disasters or
drivers of hazard and risk, such as soil degradation,
adverse conditions. Coping capacities contribute to
deforestation, loss of biodiversity, salinization, and
the reduction of disaster risks.
sea-level rise.
 Geological or geophysical hazards originate from
internal earth processes.
(Ex. earthquakes, volcanic activity and
emissions, and related geophysical processes
PROGRAMS
such as mass movements, landslides, rockslides,
surface collapses and debris or mud flows.)
Ready to Rebuild: Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery - People who have low confidence in their ability to
Program affect change or who have “lost heart” and feel
- enhances the capacity of national and local defeated by events they cannot control are harder
government to recover better and faster from hit by disasters than those who have a sense of their
natural disasters and climate risks even before it ability to bring the changes they desire.
happens.
- National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management DISASTER PERSPECTIVES
Council (NDRRMC), Office of Civil Defense (OCD),  Physical - the presence of tangible objects and
and the World Bank (WB). infrastructure affects people and the environment.
GeoRiskPH Physical factors refer to structures such as
- a web-based platform that serves as the evacuation centers, sea and river walls, fire exits, fire
government’s central source of information for hydrants and objects such as signages which could
accurate and efficient hazard and risk assessment. help people during disaster.
- The Department of Science and Technology- - In contrary, it also refers to objects and structures
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology which could contribute in harming and disrupt
(DOST-PHIVOLCS) people’s life and intensify the effect of disaster such
Plan Smart web application as hanging debris, exposed wirings etc.
- an automated planning tool that will systematically  Psychological - the mental health is affected as well.
generate Rehabilitation and Recovery Plans using Stressors caused by certain type of disasters can
science-based information from GeoRiskPH persist longer than the physical effects. Facing grief,
integrated system and pro-forma templates. fear and unexpected intrapersonal and societal
- DOST-PHIVOLCS, OCD and the WB changes can be tough to people.
 Sociocultural - includes religion and faith, societal
VULNERABLE SECTORS traditions, perceptions and social standings. Culture
They are the community members whose capacities are can become a factor for communities’ survival from
low and not sufficient to withstand and overcome the disasters and can be a barrier for effective risk
damaging and adverse effects of disasters (farmer, the reduction activities. Familial support, faith-based
urban poor, laborers, indigenous peoples, persons with resiliency, positivity, flexibility and sense of humor are
disabilities (PWDs), women and children). Moreover, some coping mechanisms that most Filipinos do to
they are also the abused-sector and those at the lowest respond to the demands of unexpected or terrifying
level of society. disasters.
 Economic - physical damages on assets, machineries
 PHYSICAL/MATERIAL VULNERABILITY and livestock, property loss, environmental damage,
- These are people who have few physical and material trauma, health, loss of lives and disruption of
resources. Economically challenged people often live communities can severely affect economic activity in
in marginal lands; they don’t have any savings or periods depending on the extent of damage.
insurance; they are in poor health. These factors Economic factors include assets and liabilities,
make them more vulnerable to disasters, meaning income, economic class, etc. Normal business,
they have difficulty surviving and recovering from a establishments and work processes such as
calamity than people who are better off manufacturing, delivering and processing can stop
economically. during disasters.
 SOCIAL/ORGANIZATIONAL VULNERABILITY  Political - government structure and political actions
- People who have been marginalized in social, can change depending on the need. Political actions
economic, or political terms are vulnerable to during and after a disaster can be ways to update
suffering from disasters, whereas groups that are existing laws, rules and physical aspects of the
well organized and have a commitment to their government. Resources and funds can be realigned
members suffer less during disasters. Weakness in to focus on building local resilience and for
social and organizational areas may cause disasters. rehabilitation and reconstruction.
 ATTITUDINAL / MOTIVATIONAL VULNERABILITIES
 Biological - disaster can affect plant and animal d. Horizontal Displacement - this happens when there
habitats which can change the way our biosphere is lateral movement from side to side; one side goes
work. Our environment heals itself as it has faced to left or right or both move sideways in different
several disasters long before we existed in this directions.
planet. Most causes of disasters came from 3. LIQUEFACTION (Primary hazards)
manmade activities. Definitions: transformation of the behavior of a body
of sediments or soil form to liquid form. It is a process
POTENTIAL EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS caused by water pressure which makes soil more
An earthquake is a natural phenomenon wherein the compact. It decreases the ground’s ability to support
surface of the Earth moves or vibrates due to a sudden structures.
release of energy that is caused by the movements of Effect: sinking and/or titling of structure above it; sand
the plates. Earthquakes are usually formed along boil; fissuring
faults, which are fractures on the Earth’s crust. The 4. TSUNAMI (Secondary earthquake hazards) – fire.
seiche
spot where an earthquake began is termed as the
Definition: series of waves caused by an earthquake
focus. From the focus, the energy created moves
under the sea.
outward in all directions in a form of seismic waves.
Wave’s height could be greater than 5 meters. It is also
The epicenter of an earthquake is the point on the
known as tidal waves.
Earth’s surface located directly above the focus.
Effect: flooding, coastal erosion; drowning of people
and damage to properties
POTENTIAL EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS
1. GROUND SHAKING (Primary hazards)
Two Types of Tsunamis
Definitions: disruptive up, down, and sideways
 Local tsunamis are confined to coasts within a
vibration or movement of the ground during an
hundred kilometers from the source. It is usually
earthquake.
generated by earthquakes and landslide or
Effects: Damage, falling, or collapse of the structure pyroclastic flow. It can reach the shoreline within 2
resulting from ground shaking. Ground shaking is a to 5 minutes.
hazard created by earthquakes and at the same time,  Far field or distant tsunamis can travel from 1 to 24
it can also trigger other hazards such as liquefaction, hours before reaching the coast of the nearby
landslides, and fires. countries.
- It is measured in terms of the (a) Velocity, (b) 5. EARTHQUAKE-INDUCED LANDSLIDE (Primary
Acceleration, (c) Frequency and (d) Duration. hazards)
2. GROUND RUPTURE/ GROUND DISPLACEMENT Definition: down slope movements of rocks and other
(Primary hazards) debris commonly triggered by strong shaking. It may
Definition: deformation on the ground that marks the include soil, debris, and/ or rocks. It may include soil,
intersection of the fault with the earth’s surface. debris and or rocks.
Ruptures occur along zones of weakness, such as Effect: erosion, burial and blockage of road and rivers.
preexisting faults or fractures. 6. EARTHQUAKE-INDUCED GROUND SUBSIDENCE
Effects: fissuring, displacement of the ground due to Definition: It is the sinking or settling of the ground
movement of the fault. surface due to various causes, such as extraction of
ground water and natural gas, mining and
Characteristics of Ground Rupture earthquakes.
a. Length - It depends on the magnitude of an Effects: ground subsides; the structures on the surface
earthquake. Earthquakes with 6.5 magnitudes and can tilt or collapse due to weakened foundation.
above will result in larger ruptures.
b. Width - deformation along the length of ground TSUNAMI
rupture also largely depends on the faulting type. Natural Signs of an Impending Tsunami
Two types of Ground Ruptures 1. Feel an Earthquake - If the ground shakes under your
c. Vertical Displacement - occurs when one side of the feet in a coastal region, a tsunami may have been
ground goes up or down or both sides move with caused by strong undersea earthquake.
one side going up and the other going down. 2. See ocean water disappears from the beach, bay, or
 river - before a tsunami arrives, water may recede water, usually triggered by intense rainfall during
from the shoreline before returning as a fast-moving typhoons, monsoons, and thunderstorms. It can
wall of water. happen immediately after an eruption or can
3. Hear an unusual roaring sound - if you hear a loud
become long-term problem if there are voluminous
roar approaching (a bit like a passenger jet or a
train), tell as many people as possible. pyroclastic materials erupted such as the case of
1991 Pinatubo eruption.
 VOLCANIC GASES - These are gases and aerosols
released into the atmosphere, which include water
vapor, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, carbon
monoxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride.
 DEBRIS AVALANCHE OR VOLCANIC LANDSLIDE -
Collapses at the summit or flanks of volcanoes
during major volcanic landslides can create large
horseshoe-shaped craters that open in the
direction of the landslide, like this 2.1 x 3.5 km
crater at Iriga in the Philippines. It was produced by
a massive landslide during the Holocene. The
resulting debris avalanche traveled more than 10
km to the SE and flowed into Lake Buhi at the
upper right. This view is from the south, with the
summit to the left.
 BALLISTIC PROJECTILES - Ballistic projectiles are
fragments of solid (blocks) or fluid (bombs)
material ejected during the range of magmatic or
phreatic (steam) explosive eruptions. They are
centimeters to tens of meters in diameter and
follow near-parabolic trajectories separate from the
VOLCANIC HAZARD main eruption column.
 LAVA FLOW - stream-like flows of incandescent  TSUNAMI - An underwater volcano in the South
molten rock erupted from a crater or fissure. When Pacific erupted on January 15 and 16, causing
lava is degassed and/or very viscous (sticky), it tsunamis to hit the countries of Tonga, Hawaii, and
tends to extrude (push out) extremely slowly, Japan, where entire towns were flooded in the
forming lava domes. immediate aftermath.
 ASHFALL OR TEPHRA FALL - Showers of airborne
fine- to coarse-grained volcanic particles that VOLCANIC INSTRUMENT
fallout from the plumes of a volcanic eruption; Parameter to measure: Ground Deformation
ashfall distribution/dispersal is dependent on  Electronic Distance Measurement (EDMs) - are
prevailing wind direction. used to measure the distance from one side of a
 PYROCLASTIC FLOWS AND SURGES (Pyroclastic volcanic fissure to the other. This helps
density current) - Turbulent mass of ejected volcanologists know when a volcano is waking up
fragmented volcanic materials (ash and rocks), because the molten rock is forcing the fissure
mixed with hot gases (200⁰C to 700⁰C to as hot as farther open.
900⁰C) that flow downslope at very high speeds  Global Positioning System (GPS) - deformation on
(>60kph). Surges are the more dilute, more mobile ground is also measured using data of repeated
derivatives or pyroclastic flows. measurements from permanent GPS installed
 LAHAR - Rapidly flowing thick mixture of volcanic around the volcano.
sediments (from the pyroclastic materials) and
Parameter to measure: Geochemistry (Gas, Water, & THE USE OF BODY SENSES IN DETERMINING
Temperature) VOLCANIC ACTIVITY
 Thermometer/Thermocouple, Ph Meter - direct Visual Observation
measurement of temperature and chemistry •Intensified steaming activity
ground water, spring water or lakes. •What used to be white steam slowly or drastically
 X-Ray Fluorescence XRF - collect gas and water change to gray to dark (suggests increasing presence
samples from vents and fumaroles and analyze in of ash)
the laboratory •Drying up of vegetation, drying up of streams, water
 (COSPEC-correlation spectrometer for wells
FlySPEC/ScanDOAS for SO2; and CO2 flux meter •Crater glow at the summit area
for CO2) - remote monitoring Gas monitoring •Increasing frequency of rolling rocks from the
equipment. summit; localized landslides not related to heavy
rains
Parameter to measure: Seismic •Summit area appears to glow or becomes
activity/Seismicity/Volcanic earthquakes incandescent at night
 Seismometer - is the equipment used to detect Auditory Observation
occurrence of volcanic earthquakes. It is an • Hear rumbling sound
instrument that measures ground vibrations caused Olfactory Observation
by a variety of processes. It is the internal part of • Smell of sulfur (rotten eggs)
the seismograph, which may be a pendulum or a Feel (Tactile)
mass mounted on a spring; however, it is often • Ground movement/ volcanic earthquake increasingly
used synonymously with "seismograph". become felt

Parameter to measure: Ground Deformation, Thermal Classification of Volcanoes According to its Eruptive
Distribution, & Topographic Change History
 Satellite Data - New developments in remote- Active Volcanoes - erupted within historical times
sensing techniques have expanded the capability of (within the last 600 years), accounts of these
scientists worldwide to monitor volcanoes using eruptions were documented by man erupted within
satellite. Two types of satellites are used for the last 10,000 years based on the analyses of
monitoring active volcanoes. One is known as material from young volcanic deposits.
"geostationary" while the other satellite is known Potentially Active Volcanoes - morphologically
as "low Earth orbit". young-looking but with no historical or analytical
records of eruption.
Parameter to measure: Volcanic Emissions during the Inactive Volcanoes - no recorded eruptions physical
Actual Eruption form has been intensively weathered and eroded,
 Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer or TOM - bearing deep and long gullies.
Ultraviolet Remote Sensing is used to produce
measurements and data of volcanic emissions Some volcanoes might explode without warning if
during the actual eruption. Thus, Ultraviolet the type of eruption is what is known as phreatic.
remote sensing can be used to monitor the Also known as steam-blast eruptions, these events
emissions of sulfur dioxide and ash contents could occur with little or no warning as superheated
emitted into the atmosphere as volcanic clouds. water flashes to steam.

Mayon is a stratovolcano (relatively steep sides;

cone-shaped) while Taal is a caldera volcano (bowl
shaped depression formed when a volcano
collapses).