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DISASTERS&

EMERGENCIES

DEFINITIONS

Training Package

WHO/EHAPanafrican Emergency Training Centre, Addis Ababa

Updated March 2002 by EHA

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WORLDWIDENumber of People Affected by Disasters

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Year

M illion

2000 IFRC World Disaster Report

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Definition :

DISASTER :

A disaster is an occurrence disruptingthe normal conditions of existence andcausing a level of suffering thatexceeds the capacity of adjustment ofthe affected community.

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It is the peoplewho matter most, and

without the peoplewe have no disaster.

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Reconstruction

Rehabilitation

Response

Prevention

Preparedness

DISASTER

THE DISASTER -DEVELOPMENTC O N T I N U U M

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RELIEF-DEVELOPMENTCONTINUUM

Disaster prevention, mitigation &preparedness safeguard development.

Good response facilitates recovery anddevelopment.

Africa’s hazards and vulnerabilities havebeen the targets of 30 years of

development: their persistence testifies toas many failures.

Today, ever-increasing resources arespent for disaster relief, at the expense of

development.

But only development can reducevulnerabilities, and the hazards arising

from the socio-economic structure.

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THE DISASTER-DEVELOPMENTCONTINUUM

Disasters and crisis (“emergencies”)

are not aberrant phenomena.

They are reflections ofthe ways societies

structure themselvesand allocate their resources.

(R. Kent, 1997)

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DISASTER MORTALITY IN RELATION TO DEVELOPMENT STATUS

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

low income middle income high income

Gross Domestic Product per capita

Source: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, Belgium

deaths/1,000 population

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Every yearWestern Governments spend

USD 100 billionsubsidizing power stations

(i.e. Global Warming)

USD 300 billionsubsidizing agriculture

(i.e. Deforestation and Overgrazing)

USD 50 billionsubsidizing fisheries

(i.e. Overfishing)

(Worldwatch Institute, 1996)

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EMERGENCY

a state in whichnormal procedures

are suspendedand

extra-ordinary measures are takenin order to avert a disaster

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Definition:

HAZARD

A natural or human-made eventthat threatens to adverselyaffects human life, property oractivity to the extent of causinga disaster.

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HAZARDS AND DISASTERS: CLASSIFICATIONSTORM

HEAT WAVE

FREEZE

EARTHQUAKE

VOLCANIC ERUPTION

LANDSLIDE

DROUGHT

FLOOD

EPIDEMIC

PEST

FIRE

EXPLOSION

COLLISION

SHIPWRECK

STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

WAR

ECONOMIC CRISIS

SUDDENOCCURRENCE

MONOCAUSAL

PROGRESSIVEOCCURRENCE

MULTICAUSAL

SUDDENOCCURRENCE

MONOCAUSAL

PROGRESSIVEOCCURRENCE

MULTICAUSAL

BY NATURALCAUSES

BY HUMANCAUSES

DISASTER

INSUFFICIENTCAPACITY OFRESPONSE

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A disaster occurs when hazards and vulnerability meet

Trigger event

EarthquakeHigh winds, stormFloodsLandslideVolcanic eruptionDroughtWar, civil strifeEconomic crisisTechnological accident

Vulnerability + Hazard =DISASTER

Underlying causes

PovertyLimited access to- power structures- resourcesIdeologiesEconomic systemsAgeSexIllness and disabilities

Dynamic pressures

Lack of- local institutions- education- training- appropriate skills- local investments- local markets- services- press freedom

Macro-forces- population expansion- urbanization- environment degradation

Unsafe conditions

Fragile physicalenvironment- dangerous locations- dangerous buildings, etc.

Fragile local economy- low levels of income- livelihoods at risk

Public actions

VULNERABILITY HAZARD DISASTER

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VULNERABILITY

the predispositionto suffer damage

due to external events

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SUSCEPTIBILITY

exposure to danger

RESILIENCE

adaptability,capacity to recover

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Poverty, population growth andurbanization force

living in unsafe areas

Site after pressures from population growth and urbanization

Site

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Disaster Management and EmergencyManagement

Reconstruction

Rehabilitation

Response/Relief

Mitigation/Prevention

Preparedness

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Post-disaster: recoveryPre-disaster: risk reduction

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

DEVELOPMENT RELIEF

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AIMS OF DISASTERMANAGEMENT

� reduce (avoid, if possible) thepotential losses from hazards

� assure prompt and appropriateassistance to victims whennecessary

� achieve rapid and durablerecovery

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CAPACITY

ability, ableness to do

Capacity for emergencymanagement is made of:

� INFORMATION

� AUTHORITY

� INSTITUTIONS

� PARTNERSHIPS

� PLANS, RESOURCES AND PROCEDURES TO ACTIVATE THEM

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MITIGATION:

permanent reduction of the risk ofdisaster

“Primary Mitigation”

� reducing the PRESENCE of theHazard

� reducing VULNERABILITY

“Secondary” Mitigation:

� reducing the EFFECTS of the Hazard(Preparedness)

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PREPAREDNESS

the measures that ensure

the organized mobilization of

personnel,

funds,

equipment and supplies

within a safe environment

for effective relief

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RESPONSE

the set of activities implemented after theimpact of a disaster in order to

� assess the needs

� reduce the suffering

� limit the spread and the consequences of the disaster

� open the way to rehabilitation

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REHABILITATION:

The restoration of basic social functions.

RECONSTRUCTION:

The full resumption of socio-economicactivities plus preventive measures.

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ELEMENTS OF DISASTERMANAGEMENT

� disaster preparedness planning

* vulnerability and risk assessment

� disaster response

* disaster assessment

� rehabilitation & reconstruction

� disaster mitigation

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Disaster management: leading activities and related terms

Dis

aste

r occ

urre

nce

Disaster Management

Disaster Mitigation Disaster Response

Risk Assessment Prevention Preparedness Relief Rehabilitation Reconstruction

Hazardassessment

Vulnera-bilityassessment

Structuralmeasures

Non-struct.measures

Contin-gencyplanning

Warningand

evacuation

• Search & rescue• Security• Food• Water• Shelter & sanitation• Clothes & blankets• Health carePre-disaster Post-disaster

Hazard assessment:mapping, monitoring

Vulnerability assessment:assessment of vulnerabilityfor all elements exposedto the hazard

Risk assessment:calculation of expectedlosses

Structural measures:special building codes,dams, floodwalls, etc.

Non-structuralmeasures:land use planning, laws,insurance, publiceducation, etc.

Contingency planning:plan of action in caseof disaster, trainingof teams

Warning and Evacuation:development ofindicators& early warning systems,simulation exercises

Immediate intervention.Duration:…by definition,short-term

Reconstruction.Full resumption ofsocio-economicfunctions, pluspreventivemeasures.Duration:…monthsto years

Rehabilitation.Restoration ofbasicsocial functions.Duration:… weeksto months

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Comparing the natural history of disaster with the disaster-development continuum

PRE-PATHOGENIC PERIOD PATHOGENIC PERIOD

Population

Environment

Hazards

IMPACT

Political awareness

Level of suffering

deathsextintiondisintegrationdisappearance ofthe community

recovery andresumptionof development

the length ofthe latency willbe a functionofPreparednessand Readiness

VULNERABILITY ALERT READINESS R E L I E F REHABILITATION RECONSTRUCTION

PREVENTION PREPAREDNESS R E S P O N S E RECOVERY

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

PREVENTION& MITIGATION RESPONSE & RECOVERY

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

(Health Promotion and) SECONDARY TERTIARYPRIMARY PREVENTION PREVENTION PREVENTION

H E A L T H C A R E

PRE-DISASTER DISASTER POST-DISASTER

DISTANT IMMEDIATE LATECY EMERGENCY IMMEDIATE DISTANT