Reviewer NSTP Chapter 4 Notes PDF

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CHAPTER 4Disaster ManagementGaining full information about disaster management is important in dealing with man- made and natural disasters. Natural disasters are inevitable; however, with modern technology, we could prepare and minimize the damage that it will cause to our lives and properties. Lik...

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CHAPTER 4 Disaster Management Gaining full information about disaster management is important in dealing with manmade and natural disasters. Natural disasters are inevitable; however, with modern technology, we could prepare and minimize the damage that it will cause to our lives and properties. Likewise, humanmade disasters can be prevented if the community is more careful and oriented properly on what they can do in times of crises. According to the United Nations Disasters Relief Office (UNDRO), there is an increasing number of people who are affected by disasters all over the world. Not only the poorest of the countries are afflicted with disasters but also the richest countries in the world. In the Philippines, poor communities are the ones that suffer most damages brought about by disasters and calamities.

Disasters 1. Natural Disasters a. Earthquakes/tsunamis b. Landslides c. Typhoons d. Floods. e. Drought f. Volcanic eruptions

2. Human-Made Disasters a. Air and water pollution (“red tide”) b. Industrial accidents (“oil spills”) c. Fire d. Civil disturbances

There are five reasons for this:

e. War

1. Rapid population growth.

f. Poverty

2. Concentration of populations in high-risk areas, like floodplains, landslide-prone slopes, and seismic zones.

g. Bomb threats

3. Capital development – destruction of marshes by real estate developers. 4. Man-made destruction, for example deforestation, that lessens ecosystem resilience to disaster; and 5. Growing poverty, which means more lives in increasingly substandard housing (i.e., not typhoonresistant). Let us now be acquainted with the various disasters that may afflict and destroy humankind.

h. Accidents, like transport, nuclear, or biological 3.

3. Categories of Severity a. Accident (individual) b. Emergency (limited) c. Disaster (widespread) d. Catastrophe (collapse)

Key Concepts that Can Be Helpful 1. Risk. The probability that a disaster will occur

3. Vulnerability. The inability to withstand, protect oneself, or recover rapidly from a potentially damaging event. 4. Prevention. Measures designed to avert a

2. Hazard. The specific nature of a threat potential hazard 5. Preparedness. Measures that ensure an effectiv disaster response

6. Mitigation. Measures that reduce the harmful effects of a disaster 7. Response. Actions taken in the aftermath of a disaster to assist victims and to rehabilitate society

2. Natural Forces a. Typhoons (more than 20 per year) b. Drought (rainfall dependent on monsoonal winds) c. Torrential rains with flooding

Situations in the Philippines

d. Earthquakes (the Philippines being one of the most active fault lines in the world)

There are contributing factors that make disaster happen and cause severe damages to live and properties. These are as follows:

e. Volcanic terrain (23 active volcanoes)

1. Poverty and Marginalization

Assessment/Reporting on Preparedness

a. Malnutrition

- As a response to the occurrence of natural and human-made disasters, there is a need to learn how to assess and report disaster situations.

b. Poor health c. Inadequate basic services: water, sanitation, drainage, light, education d. Unemployment, low wages 2. Resource Depletion a. Forest denudation b. Soil erosion c. Genetic erosion d. Marine pollution e. Agrochemicals f. Air and water pollution

The need for preparedness in damage assessment and reporting involves: 1. Knowledge of pre-disaster situations 2. Capability to assess: a. Medical/nutritional situation b. Agricultural situation c. Infrastructure situation d. Structural stability e. Relief operation capabilities

These factors can lead to the following:

3. Established lines of communication (physical, organizational)

1. Human-Made Disasters

4. Established data collection points

a. Flood

5. Established format of reporting (forms, exercise)

b. Civil war

6. Established procedures

confirmation/verification

7. Established authority for releasing reports

Relief (Preparedness/Organization)

a. Cool and unbiased assessment: analysis of

Operations

1. Disaster times are emergency situations, so during these times, certain operational qualities of the key players are needed: reporting (Who is reliable? Is the information convincing

Has it been verified?) b. Swift and decisive action: knowledge of resources, procedures, coordination c. Balanced response d. Leadership (faster, better, leading, not restrictive) e. Discipline for operational reliability

victims and to restore essential public activities and services. - Plans should include rehabilitation, which refers to the restoration of community members’ economic independence and their physical, social, and emotional well-being.

g. Rehabilitation already envisaged/planned

- With or without disasters, communities need plans and activities for long-term, balanced and sustained economic, political, and sociocultural growth.

h. Planning already accomplished

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation

f. Resource management

2. Food relief: Is it really necessary? Relief is the enemy of rehabilitation. It can destroy selfsufficiency, neighborhood relations, self-help initiative, eating habits, agriculture, and marketing channels. - Four ways in which food relief can be distributed: a. General food distribution b. Mass feeding c. Supplementary feeding (schools, hospitals, evacuation centers) d. Intensive or therapeutic feeding (hospitals, etc., only)

- Measures need to be drawn to minimize the loss and destruction of life and property. These include the formulation and implementation of long-range policies and programs to prevent or eliminate the occurrence of disasters based on risk analysis. - The measures cover legislation and regulatory measures principally in the fields of physical and urban planning, public works, and construction. Drills and shelters for times of disaster are also needed. Among the activities that may minimize the impact of disasters are: 1. Identification of areas most prone to typhoons and some other calamities. 2. Display and teaching of structural improvements

3. Food for work: Experience shows that people do not want to be parasites. Food-for-work programs offer a dignified way by which disaster victims can help themselves.

Rehabilitation/Construction Emergency Preparations

and

- Communities need to tap all resources, government and nongovernment, in a concerted effort to provide emergency assistance to calamity 1. Principles

3. Preparation of educational materials 4. Community systems; and 5. Media liaison

Disaster Preparedness Certain principles of disaster preparedness will guide us to be more responsive and alert in times of crises. • Incidence of hazard occurrence must be calculated.

a. The risk must be known. • Secondary risks must be identified. • Potential hazards must be identified.

b. Vulnerability must be known. • Who and what are at risk must be determined. • Likely damage and disruption must be assessed. • Human needs must be anticipated. c. Mitigation measures must be in place. • Structural mitigation measures must be built. • Nonstructural mitigation measures required must be instituted. d. Preparedness system must be in readiness. • All parties should be in a state of readiness. • A focal point for preparedness must exist. • A management system for emergency response must be in place. • Plans must exist, and planning occurs regularly. • Training and practice must be routine. • Effective warning systems must be on alert. • Authorities and the public must be fully informed.

2. Effective Warning Message a. Clear, simple language b. Consistent content

3. Land-Use Planning (Risk Zoning). - While there are maps that show the paths of typhoons throughout the year, and earthquake faults and areas hit by tidal waves, there is a dearth of information regarding risk areas in the barangay and even in the municipal level. Communities need: a. Surveys of mountainsides, riverbanks, coastal areas for their suitability as housing sites, farming, mining, and any other productive activities b. Rational plans for urban centers, showing industrial sites c. Identification of areas for reforestation, forest preservation, and some other nature conservation measures d. Building codes regulating height, type of materials, and any other specifications for structures, particularly in risk areas 4. Public Awareness a. Mitigation Awareness. When risk is high but perception/preparedness is low, people need technical explanations about causes, possible effects, and mitigating strategies. b. Preparedness Awareness. When a risk is imminent, the community needs detailed explanation of what is going to happen and how, and what to and what not to do.

c. Convincing d. Community-(or site)specific – includes clearly stated precautions and action e. Information on technical consequences f. Repetitiveness

c. Emergency Response Awareness. After the disaster has struck, people need to know what to do next. In order that everyone will be seriously aware of the devastating effect of calamities and disasters, the full text of RA 1012 is included here (see Appendix B) to give information on how we can act concertedly to reduce the risk in the lives of many people in times of disasters and calamities....