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Concept of disaster, hazard, vulnerability, exposure, capacity
The document discusses key concepts related to disasters including definitions of disaster, hazard, vulnerability and risk. It defines disaster as any occurrence that causes damage, loss of life or deterioration of health on a large scale requiring an extraordinary response. A hazard is defined as a natural or human-made event that has the potential to cause disruption, while a disaster is the consequence of a hazard being realized. Vulnerability is described as characteristics of a community, system or asset that make it susceptible to harm from hazards. Risk is a function of threats exploiting vulnerabilities and is the probability that a hazard will damage assets or disrupt a community based on their nature and proximity. The document also categorizes different types of natural and human-made disasters and provides a
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Concept of disaster, hazard, vulnerability, exposure, capacity
- 1. Dr Fayaz A.Malla Assistant Professor, Environmental Sciences GDC Tral Higher Education Department, Govt. of J&K Email: nami.fayaz@gmail.com
- 2. • Disastersare asoldas Mankind. • The first description of Disaster and its management comes from mythological “Noah” and his ark. • Similar Flood tales are widespread in- Greek Mythology, Puranas, Mesopotamian stories, and many cultures.
- 3. 4 • Originated fromGreek • dus = bad aster = star • Calamity due to position of a planet or a star. • Then evolved in Italian as disastro • To become French désastre (de.zastʁ) & then disaster .
- 4. Disaster Any occurrence thatcauses damage, ecological disruption, loss of human life, deterioration of health and health services on a scale, sufficient to warrant an extraordinary response from outside the affected community or area. (WHO) A disaster can be defined as an occurrence either nature or man made that causes human suffering and creates human needs that victim cannot alleviate without assistance. (American Red Cross) 5
- 5. Hazard • Any phenomenonthat has the potential to cause disruption or damage to people and their environment. • A hazard is Natural or Anthropogenic event while the disaster is its consequence. • A hazard is perceived natural event which threatens both life and property • A disaster is a realization of hazard. -John Whittow • When hazard involves elements of risks, vulnerabilities and capacities, they can turn into disasters. • Hazards may be inevitable but disasters can be prevented.
- 6. WHAT IS Vulnerability describesthe characteristics and circumstances of a community, system or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard. There are many aspects of vulnerability, arising from various physical, social, economic, and environmental factors.
- 7. According to UNESCO/UNDRO(1982) Definitions of Hazard & Risk Vulnerability (V) is the degree of loss to a given element or set of elements at risk resulting from the occurrence of a hazardous phenomenon of a given magnitude. It is expressed on a scale from 0 (no damage) to 1 (total loss). WHAT IS
- 8. Vulnerability = Exposure+ Resistance + Resilience Exposure: at risk property and population Resistance: Measures taken to prevent, avoid or reduce loss Resilience: Ability to recover prior state or achieve desired post-disaster state
- 10. The probability thata community’s structure or geographic area is to be damaged or disrupted by the impact of a particular hazard, on account of their nature, construction, and proximity to a hazardous area. Risk is a function of threats exploiting vulnerabilities to obtain, damage or destroy assets. Thus, threats (actual, conceptual, or inherent) may exist, but if there are no vulnerabilities then there is little/no risk.
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- 12. Risk Disaster Index(R) = (H + V + E) – C H= Hazard Index V= Vulnerability Index E= Exposure Index C= Capacity & Measure Index
- 13. Progression of vulnerability Rootcauses Dynamic pressures Unsafe conditions Limited Access to - • Power • Structure • Resources Ideologies- • Political - system • Economic - system Lack of – •Local institutes •Training •Appropriate skills •Local investment •Local market •Media freedom •Ethical standards in public life Macro forces- •Rapid population growth •Rapid urbanization •Arms expenditure •Debt repayments •Deforestation •Decline in soil productivity Fragile physical environment •Dangerous locations •Unprotected buildings & infrastructure Fragile local - economy •Livelihoods at risk •Low income levels Vulnerable society •Special groupsat risk Public actions •Lack of preparedness •Endemic disease Earthquake High winds Hurricane Cyclone Typhoon Flood Volcanic- eruptions Landslides Drought Virus Bacteria Pests Fire Chemicals Radiation Armed- conflicts Hazards NOT PREVENTED
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- 15. 10 Meteorological Disasters • Floods • Tsunami •Cyclone • Hurricane • Typhoon • Snow storm • Blizzard • Hail storm T opographical Disasters • Earthquake • Volcanic Eruptions • Landslides and Avalanches • Asteroids • Limnic eruptions Environmental Disasters • Global warming • ElNiño- Southern Oscillation • Ozone depletion- UVB Radiation • Solar flare
- 16. Technological • Transport failure • Publicplace failure • Fire Industrial • Chemical spills • Radioactive spills Warfare • War • Terrorism • Internal conflicts • Civil unrest • CBRNE
- 17. The SMAUG modelprovides an effective means of prioritizing hazard risks based upon the aforementioned criteria. SMAUG stands for Seriousness, Manageability, Acceptability, Urgency and Growth are the criteria used for prioritization of hazard risks. Seriousness can be defined as "The relative impact in terms of people and dollars." This includes the potential for lives to be lost and potential for injury as well as the physical, social and as mentioned, economic losses that may be incurred Manageability can be defined as "the relative ability to mitigate or reduce the hazard (through managing the hazard, or the community or both)". Acceptability - The degree to which the risk of hazard is acceptable in terms of political, environmental, social and economic impact Urgency This is related to the probability of risk of hazard and is defined in terms of how imperative it is to address the hazard Growth This is the potential for the hazard or event to expand or increase in either probability or risk to community or both. Should vulnerability increase, potential for growth may also increase.
- 18. An example ofthe numerical ratings for each of the four criteria is shown below:
- 19. “The ability ofpeople, organizations and systems, using available skills and resources, to face and manage adverse conditions, emergencies or disasters“ The capacity to cope requires continuing awareness, resources and good management, both in normal times as well as during crises or adverse conditions. Coping capacities contribute to the reduction of disaster risks (UN-ISDR, 2009).
- 21. ‘Risk’ is essentiallythe level of possibility that an action or activity will lead to lead to a loss or to an undesired outcome, when ‘vulnerability’ is a weakness that makes one susceptible to an attack, a loss or an undesired outcome.