DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT Achala Dahal Nepal Administrative Staff College

Learning objectives Having gone through this session participants will be able to:  Tell the operational definition of disaster  Prepare a list of basic terminologies and their brief description  Understanding of Disaster Risk Management 04/10/2015 2

3 Basic Terminologies

Hazard A dangerous phenomenon, substance, human activity or condition that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and economic disruption, or environmental damage.

Natural Hazards : part of the natural environment 1.Hydro-meteorological hazards  Typhoons  Storm surges  Floods 2.Geologic hazards  Earthquake  Landslides 3.Oceanic Hazards  Tsunami  Tidal Surges 4.Biological Hazards  Epidemics  Insect Infestation Types of Hazard

Man-made Hazards : human induced hazards 1.Socio-natural Hazards  Forest denudation  Famine  Increased occurrences of natural hazards 2.Socio-political Hazards  War  Civil unrest 3.Technological Hazards  Transport accidents  Toxic substance poisoning  Contamination of food and water sources Types of Hazard

A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources. Disaster

Exposure People, property, systems, or other elements present in hazard zones that are thereby subject to potential losses

Vulnerability The characteristics and circumstances of a community, system or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard. A set of prevailing or consequential conditions which adversely affect people’s ability prevent, mitigate, prepare for and respond to hazardous events.

Factors of Vulnerability Physical / Material Vulnerability  Hazard-prone location of community houses, farmlands, infrastructure, basic services  Design and construction materials of houses and buildings  Insecure and risky sources of livelihood  Lack of basic services: education, health, safe drinking water, shelter, sanitation, roads, electricity, communication  Exposed to violence (domestic, armed conflicts)  Age and disability

Factors of Vulnerability Social / Organizational Vulnerability  Weak family / kinship structures  Lack of leadership and initiative to solve problems or conflicts  Exclusion of certain groups from decision- making or unequal participation in community affairs  Absence or weak community organizations  Social status (castes, ethnicity, gender)  Neglect from government and civil institutions

Factors of Vulnerability Motivational / Attitudinal Vulnerability  Negative attitude towards change  Passivity, fatalism, hopelessness  Lack of initiative  Dependence on external support  Lack of knowledge and skills  Extremism

Capacity The combination of all the strengths, attributes and resources available within a community, society or organization that can be used to achieve agreed goals. …. resources, means and strengths, which exist in households and communities and which enable them to cope with, withstand, prepare for, prevent, mitigate, or quickly recover from a disaster.

Factors of Capacity Physical / Economic Capacity  Money / Cash  Real Properties  Stable sources of income and livelihood  Safe infrastructures  Food security  Balanced natural environment  Limited number of hazards events

Factors of Capacity Social / Organizational Capacity  Relationship with relatives and family  People – centered government  Strong civil society / empowered community  Functional community based and civic organizations  Optimum availability of basic social and health services  Strong social networks and institutions

Factors of Capacity Motivational / Attitudinal Capacity  Knowledgeable and skillful  Confidence and self-esteem  Proactive attitude  Open to change and new ideas  Continual learning  Building on experiences  Positive perception in life

Disaster Risk The potential disaster losses, in lives, health status, livelihoods, assets and services, which could occur to a particular community or a society over some specified future time period.

HAZARDS ? DISASTERS? WHICH IS WHICH?

what is not a disaster?  Earthquakes  Floods  Landslides  Fire  Drought  Typhoon If no societal elements are affected; like people, services, infrastructures and livelihoods. These remain as natural hazards.

When do hazards become disasters ?  Hazards impact societal elements;  Level of vulnerability conditions is high;  Very low capacity to prepare for and cope with the hazard events.

DISASTER RISK HAZARDVULNERABILITY CAPACITY X :

Capacity Hazard Risk Vulnerability

Take Away Messages  Hazards become disasters when it impacts society;  Hazards will always be with us, these don’t have to become disasters;  Disasters don’t just happen, it is caused by several factors;  Vulnerability contributes to disasters  Vulnerability is about the lack of capacity  Capacity is the opposite of vulnerability;  Capacity is about resources;  Disaster risks is related to hazards, vulnerability and capacity

HAZARDS will always be with us, but these don't have to become DISASTERS!

Critical Infrastructure The primary physical structures, technical facilities and systems which are socially, economically or operationally essential to the functioning of a society or community, both in routine circumstances and in the extreme circumstances of an emergency.

The outright avoidance of adverse impacts of hazards and related disasters. Prevention

The lessening or limitation of the adverse impacts of hazards and related disasters. Mitigation

The knowledge and capacities developed by governments, professional response and recovery organizations, communities and individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from, the impacts of likely, imminent or current hazard events or conditions. Preparedness

Response The provision of emergency services and public assistance during or immediately after a disaster in order to save lives, reduce health impacts, ensure public safety and meet the basic subsistence needs of the people affected

04/10/ The restoration, and improvement where appropriate, of facilities, livelihoods and living conditions of disaster- affected communities, including efforts to reduce disaster risk factors. Recovery

Disaster Management (DM), Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Disaster Risk Management (DRM), Disaster Risk Management (DRM),

Disaster Management Disaster Management is a collective term encompassing all aspects of planning for and responding to disasters. Refers to the management of both the risks and consequences of disasters.

Disaster Risk Reduction The conceptual framework to:  minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout a society;  avoid or to limit the adverse impacts of hazards;  done within the broad context of sustainable development.

DRR Framework 1.Risk awareness and assessment  VCA  Emergency assessments  DRM planning 2.Knowledge development  IEC materials  Training and public awareness  Research and documentation 3.Public commitment and institutional frameworks  Community based approaches  Policy development and implementation 4.Application of measures  Mitigation  Prevention  Recovery 5.Early Warning  Early warning systems In the broader context of sustainable developme nt

Disaster Risk Management The systematic process of using administrative directives, organizations, and operational skills and capacities to implement strategies, policies and activities to lessen the adverse impacts of hazards and the possibility of disaster.

Prevention Mitigation Preparedness Response Operations Recovery Activities Development DRM DRR Every day DM Events

Take Away Messages  DM = a collective term of all disaster related activities  DRM = a systematic process of using resources to manage the risk of disasters  DRR = a conceptual framework to reduce vulnerabilities in the context of sustainable development

HAZARDS Floods Landslides Earthquake Fire Health related Conflict DISASTER ROOT CAUSES Social injustice Unequal use of resources Economic monopoly Political dogma (beliefs) DYNAMIC FACTORS Lack of basic services Discrimination Unsustainable use of common resources Political turmoil Concentration of wealth UNSAFE CONDITIONS Illiteracy Unchecked spread of disease Displacement Ecological imbalance Hazard prone locations of residence and livelihood Decreasing access to shelter, food and water Emergence of armed groups Disaster as a Social Phenomenon

HAZARDS Hazard mitigation and prevention CREATING SAFER CONDITIONS Safer conditions through disaster preparedness, response and recovery interventions ADDRESSING DYNAMIC PRESSURES Reduction of pressures through sustainable development interventions CHALLENGING UNDERLYING CAUSES Addressing underlying causes through social, economic, political reforms Disaster Risk Management Disaster as a Social Phenomenon

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