Tehran University of Medical Sciences Institute of Public Health Research Health in Emergency & Disaster Department (HE&DD) D isaster: Basic Terminology and Concepts Ali Ardalan MD, MPH, PhD Assistant Professor

Lecture objectives: To present an overview about disaster basic terminology To discuss about the basic concept of disaster management To discuss the evolution process in the practice of crisis or disaster management

Hazard A potentially damaging physical event, phenomenon or human activity that may cause the loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental degradation. Natural –Geological –Hydrometeorological –Biological Induced by human processes –Environmental degradation –Technological hazards

Hazard Classification

Vulnerability The conditions determined by physical, social, economic, and environmental factors or processes, which increase the susceptibility of a community to the impact of hazards. For positive factors, which increase the ability of people to cope with hazards, see definition of capacity.

Risk The probability of harmful consequences, or expected losses (deaths, injuries, property, livelihoods, economic activity disrupted or environment damaged) resulting from interactions between natural or human-induced hazards & vulnerable conditions. Risk = Hazards x Vulnerability

Disaster A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources. A disaster is a function of the risk process. It results from the combination of hazards, conditions of vulnerability and insufficient capacity or measures to reduce the potential negative consequences of risk.

30 years continuous evolution in the practice of Crisis or Disaster Management Civil defense Emergency assistance Disaster response and relief Humanitarian assistance Emergency management Civil protection Disaster mitigation and prevention Total disaster risk management

Disaster risk reduction (disaster reduction) The conceptual framework of elements considered with the possibilities to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout a society, to avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation and preparedness) the adverse impacts of hazards, within the broad context of sustainable development.

Disaster risk management The systematic process of using administrative decisions, organization, operational skills and capacities to implement policies, strategies and coping capacities of the society and communities to lessen the impacts of natural hazards and related environmental and technological disasters.

Crisis Management versus Disaster Risk Reduction

Basic terms Capacity –Combination of strength & resources (Physical, Institutional, Social or Economic, Skilled personal, Collective attributes such as leadership & management) Coping capacity –Means to use available resources & abilities both in normal times & during crises or adverse conditions Resilience/resilient –Capacity of adaptation, by resisting or changing in order to reach & maintain an acceptable level of functioning and structure –Determined by the degree of learning from past disasters Counter measures –Structural –Non-structural

Basic terms Capacity –Combination of strength & resources (Physical, Institutional, Social or Economic, Skilled personal, Collective attributes such as leadership & management) Coping capacity –Means to use available resources & abilities both in normal times & during crises or adverse conditions Resilience/resilient –Capacity of adaptation, by resisting or changing in order to reach & maintain an acceptable level of functioning and structure –Determined by the degree of learning from past disasters Counter measures –Structural –Non-structural

Preparedness Response / Relief Recovery Mitigation

Preparedness Response / Relief Recovery Mitigation Contingency planning Early Warnings

Preparedness Response / Relief Recovery Mitigation Immediate Short-term Protracted

Preparedness Response / Relief Recovery Mitigation Rehabilitation & Reconstruction Restoring or improving pre-disaster conditions

Preparedness Response / Relief Recovery Mitigation Measures undertaken to limit adverse impact of hazards

Preparedness Response / Relief Recovery Development Mitigation

Contact info: Office/Fax: Mobile: Ali Ardalan MD, MPH, PhD Assistant Professor Health Emergency & Disaster Department (HE&DD) Institute of Public Health Research Tehran University of Medical Sciences