LESSON 1 – DISASTER

A disaster is a sudden, calamitous event that seriously disrupts the functioning of a community
or society and causes human, material, and economic or environmental losses that exceed the
community's or society's ability to cope using its own resources. Though often caused by nature,
disasters can have human origins.

Disaster Risk. According to the terminology of UNDRR, disaster risk is defined as “the potential
loss of life, injury, or destroyed or damaged assets which could occur to a system, society or a
community in a specific period of time, determined probabilistically as a function of hazard,
exposure, and capacity.”

Natural disasters are large-scale geological or meteorological events that have the potential
to cause loss of life or property. These types of disasters include:

Human-caused Disaster

Examples include industrial accidents, shootings, acts of terrorism, and incidents of mass
violence. As with natural disasters, these types of traumatic events may also cause loss of life
and property

LESSON 2 – EXPOSURE AND VULNERABILITY

Hazard:
 A process, phenomenon, or human activity.
 May cause loss of life, injury, property damage, social and economic disruption, or
environmental degradation.
 Characterized by location, intensity/magnitude, frequency, and probability.

Exposure:
 The situation of people, infrastructure, housing, production capacities, and other
tangible human assets.
 Located in hazard-prone areas.
 Capacity:
 Resources to cope using its own resources
 Can be combined with vulnerability and exposure to estimate risks.

Vulnerability
  It refers to the conditions determined by physical, social, economic, and environmental
factors that increase the susceptibility of individuals, communities, assets, or systems to
the impacts of hazards. It is a multi-dimensional concept influenced by various
interconnected factors.

Disaster Risk Reduction

 Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) aims to prevent new and reduce existing disaster risks,
managing residual risks to strengthen resilience and achieve sustainable development.
It is the policy objective of disaster risk management, with goals defined in strategies
and plans.

Disaster Risk Management

 Is the application of disaster risk reduction policies and strategies, to prevent new
disaster risks, reduce existing disaster risks, and manage residual risks, contributing to
the strengthening of resilience and reduction of losses.

o PAGASA – Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration

o PHILVOCS – Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
o DOST – Department of Science and Technology
o BFP – Bureau of Fire Protection

LESSON 3 – BASIC CONCEPT OF HAZARD

 Hazards can be profiled in different ways (Hazard profiling)

1. Magnitude of event (high- scale or low-scale),
2. Frequency (number of times in a year),
3. Duration (short-term or long-term), and
4. Causality effects (direct or indirect).

Impacts of Hazards (Socio-economic)

• The positive impacts of hazards on the socioeconomic elements may be in the form of
introducing new habits, practices, systems, or values that may be geared toward the
values of resiliency and recovery. The impacts will induce adaptation on the part of
the affected community.

Impacts of Hazards (Environmental)

• Just like other exposed elements, perhaps the initial impact of hazard to the
ecosystems and other organisms in them may be disastrous.

LESSON 4 – EARTHQUAKE HAZARD

How do Tectonic Plate move on Earth surface?

- Plate movement refers to the phenomenon where the Earth's lithospheric plates shift
and interact with each other, resulting in various geological activities such as
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and mountain formation. The movement of these
plates is driven by forces within the Earth's mantle.
• Convection Cell:
o Circular movement within the mantle.
o Hotter, less dense material rises.
o Cooler, denser material sinks.
o Drives plate movement as the cells move.

• Ridge Push:
o Occurs at mid-ocean ridges.
o Newly formed crust is hotter and less dense.
o As it cools, it becomes denser and slides down the ridge.
o This "push" contributes to plate movement away from the ridge.

Earthquake Strength

- Earthquake strength can be described in terms of intensity and magnitude. Intensity

measures the effects of an earthquake on the Earth's surface, humans, objects of nature,
and man-made structures. Magnitude relates to the amount of seismic energy released
at the hypocenter of the earthquake.

• Intensity:
o Measures the effects of an earthquake.
o Qualitative scale based on observed damage.
• Magnitude:
o Measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake.
o Quantitative scale.

Earthquake Hazards

- Earthquake hazards refer to the potential dangers and risks associated with earthquakes.
These hazards can cause significant damage to infrastructure, the environment, and can
result in loss of life. Understanding these hazards is crucial for effective mitigation and
preparedness efforts.

• Ground Shaking:
o The most widespread earthquake hazard.
o Intensity depends on magnitude, distance from epicenter, and local geology.
o Can cause buildings to collapse and infrastructure to fail.
• Ground Surface Rupture:
o Occurs along the fault line during an earthquake.
o Can cause severe damage to structures built directly on the fault.
o Buildings, roads, and utilities can be torn apart.
 Liquefaction:
o Occurs when saturated soil loses strength and stiffness due to shaking.
o Soil behaves like a liquid, causing buildings and other structures to sink or tilt.
o Common in areas with loose, sandy soils and a high water table.
• Earthquake-Induced Landslide:
o Ground shaking can trigger landslides and rockfalls, especially in mountainous areas.
o Can bury homes, block roads, and damage infrastructure.
o Susceptibility depends on slope steepness, soil type, and water content.

Earthquakes

• Overview: Earthquakes are the result of sudden releases of energy in the Earth's crust that
create seismic waves. They can range in size from those that are so weak that they cannot be
felt to those violent enough to destroy entire cities. Earthquakes are usually caused when
underground rock suddenly breaks along a fault.

• Cause of Earthquakes
o Sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere.
o Primarily caused by tectonic plate movement.
o Can also result from volcanic activity, landslides, and human activities like mining and
nuclear explosions.
• Faults
o Fractures in the Earth's crust where movement has occurred.
o Types: Normal, reverse (thrust), and strike-slip faults.
o Earthquakes typically occur along faults.
• Seismic Waves
o Energy waves that travel through the Earth.
o Generated by earthquakes, explosions, or volcanic eruptions.
o Used to study the Earth's interior structure.

LESSON 5 – VOLCANO HAZARD

 Hot Spot Volcanoes

Hot spot volcanoes are precise because they shape inside the center of tectonic plates rather
than at plate boundaries. They arise when molten cloth from deep within the Earth's mantle
rises and penetrates the lithosphere. This process creates volcanic islands together with the
Hawaiian Islands.

Unlike different volcanoes that shape because of subduction or divergence at tectonic barriers,
hot spot volcanoes remain stationary while the tectonic plates move over them.

 Impact of Volcanic Gases on Health

Volcanic gases, including sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S),
may be hazardous to human fitness. Exposure can motive respiratory troubles, eye infection,
and skin troubles.

High concentrations of volcanic gases can lead to acid rain and air pollution, negatively
impacting both human health and the environment.

 Volcanic Eruptions and Acid Rain

Volcanic eruptions release gases like sulfur dioxide (SO₂) into the ecosystem. When these gases
blend with water vapor, they form sulfuric acid, leading to acid rain.

Acid rain can damage plants, corrode buildings, and contaminate water assets.

 Ballistic Projectiles from Volcanoes

Ballistic projectiles are big fragments of rock ejected explosively in the course of a volcanic
eruption. These rocks can journey at excessive speeds and pose a big threat to regions near the
volcano.

Unlike ash, which could tour fantastic distances via the air, ballistic projectiles fall towards the
volcano because of their weight.

 Signs of an Impending Volcanic Eruption

Several warning signs suggest a ability volcanic eruption, such as:

1. Increase of seismic activity
2. Deformation of volcano
3. Gases that come out of fumaroles
4. If plants nearby die suddenly, if the colour of any lakes or ponds nearby changes
5. Changes in thermal images of volcanic areas

LESSON 6 – HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL HAZARD

Potential Hydrometeorological Hazards

- The following are the most common Hydrometeorological hazards as defined by the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):

A. Cyclone E. Tornado
B. Typhoon F. Flash Flood
C. Flood G. Thunderstorm
D. Storm Surge H. El Niño and La Niña

Hydrometeorological Hazards
 - Hydrometeorological risks, along with typhoons, floods, and droughts, can cause
enormous damage. Monitoring these dangers is essential for mitigating capacity losses.
- By tracking climate patterns, authorities can enforce early caution structures and
disaster preparedness strategies to reduce economic disruption, assets damage, and loss
of existence.

Difference between Flash Floods and Regular Floods

- Flash floods arise rapidly and with little warning, regularly due to intense rainfall over
a brief duration. Regular floods, on the other hand, may also develop extra regularly
and persist for prolonged intervals.
- The speed of onset makes flash floods specially dangerous, requiring quick response
measures to protect groups.

ENSO Cycle (El Niño-Southern Oscillation)

- The ENSO cycle describes fluctuations in oceanic and atmospheric situations inside the
Equatorial Pacific. It has 3 phases: El Niño, La Niña, and Neutral.
- El Niño can cause droughts in a few regions and heavy rainfall in others, whilst La Niña
often outcomes in the contrary consequences.

Hydrometeorological Influence on Landslides and Wildfires

- Extreme weather situations can make a contribution to each landslides and wildfires.
- Heavy rainfall saturates soil, growing the chance of landslides.
- Dry conditions and high temperatures create ideal conditions for wildfires to unfold.

Effects of Droughts on Communities and Ecosystems

- Droughts result from prolonged durations of decreased rainfall, main to enormous

environmental and societal consequences.
- Water shortage can affect consuming water substances, agriculture, and ordinary
environment fitness.
- Crops may fail, main to meals shortages and economic problem for affected groups.