disaster mitigation and management reserch

7/28/2019 Disaster Mitigation and Management Reserch

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DISASTER CONCEPT,

DISASTER PREVENTION, MITIGATION AND

PREPAREDNESS

Maann Sharla M. Bautista

Dolores District

Abstract:

Philippines is one of the most disaster prone countries of the world. It has had some of the

worlds most severe droughts, landslides, typhoons, floods, earthquakes, rail accidents, sea

accidents and road accidents. Disaster is a sudden, calamitous event bringing great damage, loss,and destruction and devastation to life and property. In simple terms we can define disaster as a

hazard causing heavy loss to life, property and livelihood. This paper deals with types ofdisasters and mitigation and management methods at and after the time of disasters.Vulnerability, Hazards and Risk reduction are the main key points involved in Disasters. This

paper deals with main aspects involved in each and every type of disaster for managing and

mitigating their effects.

Research Background:

The earth has been an unstable proposition throughout its existence. Man who entered the scene

has been exploring during his short existence to unravel the various mysteries which are

mysteries till date. These mysteries have been understood by and confined to the intellectual

community.

But, when the victims of the mysteries are the people then they need to know what the mysteriesare and the impact the mysteries can have on them.This paper discusses how disaster can be managed through awareness and suggests a

methodology to mitigate disaster. But before discussing this let us discuss what a disaster is?

What disaster management is? How disasters can be managed by spreading awareness aboutdisasters?

What is a Disaster?According to each, disaster is defined as many ways, so, there is no particular definition for a

Disaster.Overall, disaster is defined as:

Disaster is a sudden, calamitous event bringing great damage, loss, and destruction anddevastation to life and property.

WHO defines Disaster as "any occurrence that causes damage, ecological disruption, lossof human life, deterioration of health and health services, on a scale sufficient to warrant

an extraordinary response from outside the affected community or area.


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It is a natural accident, which causes great damage to life, property and Structures which cannot

be reused.

It may also be termed as a serious disruption of the functioning of society, causing widespread

human, material or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected society to cope

using its own resources.

Damages by Disasters:

Damages done by disasters are inevitable and they cannot be reduced and predicted and only

method is to manage them and mitigate them. The damage caused by disasters is immeasurable.

The damage caused by disasters depends on:

Geographical location of place, Climate of the place, Type of Surface of Earth and Degree of Vulnerability.

This influences the mental, socio-economic, political and cultural state of the affected area.

A disaster may have the following main features:-

Unpredictability, Unfamiliarity, Speed, Urgency, Uncertainty and Threat

Vulnerability, Hazards and Risk are the main key points when ever disaster mitigation and

management is considered.

Types of Disasters:

Disasters are simply defined as any over helming ecological disruption which disturbs

environmental and economical positions.

Disasters are mainly divided as two types:

Natural Disasters and Artificial Disasters.

Artificial Disasters are also called as Man Made Disasters.


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Natural Disasters:

Disasters that are caused by Natural causes are called as Natural Disasters.

Earthquakes, Landslides, Floods, River erosion, Cyclones, Tsunami, Forest Fires etc

Artificial Disasters:

These are the disasters that are occurred due to man made changes over the surface of the Earth.

Nuclear Disasters, Chemical Disasters, Mine Disasters, Biological Disasters.

These are an example of manmade disasters.

Natural Disasters:

Earthquakes:

Earthquakes are nothing but any sudden movement over the surface of the Earth which shakes

Earth vigorously that destroys the structures resting on the Earth.

We are not about to predict earthquakes. As one door closes, another opens. If we cant

predict earthquakes, then lets learn to live safely with them.

The main safeties behind Earthquakes are:

We should know safe spot in each and every room of our house, Decide where your family will reunite if separated, Maintain emergency food, water, medicine, first aid kit, tools, and clothing.

During an Earthquake:


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Take cover. Go under a table or other sturdy furniture; kneel, sit, or stay close to thefloor. Hold on to furniture legs for balance. Be prepared to move if your cover moves.

If no sturdy cover is nearby, kneel or sit close to the floor next to a structurally soundinterior wall. Place your hands on the floor for balance.

Typhoons:

Typhoon is defined as:

Rapid inward circulation of air masses about a low pressure centre; circling

counter clockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern.

Keep watch on weather and listen to radio or TV. Keep alert about the communitywarning systemsloudspeakers, bells, conches, drums or any traditional warning system.

Get to know the nearest typhoon shelter / safe houses and the safest route to reach theseshelters,

Prepare a first aid kit, emergency tools for saving ourselves, dry food.During a Typhoon:

Disconnect all electrical appliances and turn off gas. If the building starts crumbling, protect yourself with mattresses, rugs or blankets under a

strong table or bench or hold on to a solid fixture (e.g. a water pipe)

Listen to your transistor radio for updates and advice.Floods:

All your family members should know the safe route to nearest shelter/ raised puccahouse.

If your area is flood-prone, consider alternative building materials. Mud walls are morelikely to be damaged during floods. You may consider making houses where the walls

are made of local bricks up to the highest known flood level with cement pointing.

During Floods:

Drink boiled water.

Keep your food covered, dont take heavy meals. Use raw tea, rice-water, tender coconut-water, etc

During a Landslide:

Stay alert and awake. Many debris-flow fatalities occur when people are sleeping. Listento a Weather Radio or portable, battery-powered radio or television for warnings of


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intense rainfall. Be aware that intense, short bursts of rain may be particularly dangerous,

especially after longer periods of heavy rainfall and damp weather.

If you are in areas susceptible to landslides and debris flows, consider leaving if it is safeto do so. Remember that driving during an intense storm can be hazardous. If you remain

at home, move to a second story if possible. Staying out of the path of a landslide or

debris flow saves lives.

After the Landslide:

Stay away from the slide area. There may be danger of additional slides. Check for injured and trapped persons near the slide, without entering the direct slide

area. Direct rescuers to their locations.

Help a neighbor who may require special assistance - infants, elderly people, and peoplewith disabilities. Elderly people and people with disabilities may require additional

assistance. People who care for them or who have large families may need additional

assistance in emergency situations.

Disaster management means:

Emergency management is the discipline of dealing with and avoiding risks. It is a discipline

that involves preparing for disaster before it occurs, disaster response (e.g., emergency

evacuation,quarantine,mass decontamination, etc.), and supporting, and rebuilding society afternaturalorhuman-madedisasters have occurred. In general, any Emergency Management is the

continuous process by which all individuals, groups, and communities manage hazards in an

effort to avoid or ameliorate the impact of disasters resulting from the hazards. Effective

Emergency Management relies on thorough integration of emergency plans at all levels ofgovernment and non-government involvement.

Disaster management involves a cycle namely Emergency Cycle.

Experts, such as Red-Cross, have long noted that the cycle of Emergency Management must include long-

term work on infrastructure, public awareness, and even human justice issues.

The process of Emergency Management involves four phases:

1. Mitigation2. Preparedness3. Response4. Recovery.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_evacuationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_evacuationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarantinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarantinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarantinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_decontaminationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_decontaminationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_decontaminationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_hazardshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_hazardshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man-made_hazardshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man-made_hazardshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man-made_hazardshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Hazardshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Hazardshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Hazardshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man-made_hazardshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_hazardshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_decontaminationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarantinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_evacuation


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This is named as Emergency Management Cycle since it works in a cyclic process.

Mitigation:

Mitigation efforts attempt to prevent hazards from developing into disasters altogether, or

to reduce the effects of disasters when they occur. The mitigation phase differs from the otherphases because it focuses on long-term measures for reducing or eliminating risk.

Mitigative measures can be structural or non-structural. Structural measures use technological

solutions, like flood levees. Non-structural measures include legislation, land-use planning and

insurance. Mitigation is the most cost-efficient method for reducing the impact of hazards;

however it is not always suitable. Mitigation does include providing regulations regardingevacuation, sanctions against those who refuse to obey the regulations (such as mandatory

evacuations), and communication of potential risks to the public. Some structural mitigation

measures may have adverse effects on theecosystem.

A precursor activity to the mitigation is the identification of risks. Physicalrisk assessmentrefers

to the process of identifying and evaluating hazards. The hazard-specific risk (Rh) combines boththe probability and the level of impact of a specific hazard. The equation below states that the

hazard multiplied by the populations vulnerability to that hazard produces a risk Catastrophe

modeling. The higher the risk, the more urgent that the hazard specific vulnerabilities are

targeted by mitigation and preparedness efforts. However, if there is no vulnerability there willbe no risk, e.g. an earthquake occurring in a desert where nobody lives.

Preparedness:

Preparedness is a continuous cycle of planning, organizing, training, equipping,exercising, evaluation and improvement activities to ensure effective coordination and the

enhancement of capabilities to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate

the effects of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_assessmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_assessmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_assessmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catastrophe_modelinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catastrophe_modelinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catastrophe_modelinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Em_cycle.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catastrophe_modelinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catastrophe_modelinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_assessmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem


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In the preparedness phase, emergency managers develop plans of action to manage and counter

their risks and take action to build the necessary capabilities needed to implement such plans.

Common preparedness measures include:

Communication plans with easily understandable terminology and methods.

Proper maintenance and training of emergency services, including mass human resourcessuch ascommunity emergency response teams.

Development and exercise of emergency population warning methods combined withemergency sheltersandevacuation plans.

stockpiling, inventory, and maintain disaster supplies and equipment Develop organizations of trained volunteers among civilian populations. Professional

emergency workers are rapidly overwhelmed in mass emergencies so trained; organized,

responsible volunteers are extremely valuable.

Eg: National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Red Cross,

Another aspect of preparedness iscasualty prediction, the study of how many deaths or injuriesto expect for a given kind of event. This gives planners an idea of what resources need to be in

place to respond to a particular kind of event.

Response:

The response phase includes the mobilization of the necessary emergency services and first

responders in thedisaster area.

This is likely to introduce:

1. firefighters2. police3. ambulance4. disaster relief operation(military)5. Non combatant evacuation operation6. Special rescue teams

at the site of the disaster prone areas.

A well rehearsed emergency plan developed as part of the preparedness phase enables

efficient coordination of rescue. There is a need for both discipline (structure, doctrine,

process) and agility (creativity, improvisation, adaptability) in responding to a disaster.

Recovery:

The aim of the recovery phase is to restore the affected area to its previous state. It differs

from the response phase in its focus; recovery efforts are concerned with issues and decisions

that must be made after immediate needs are addressed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_emergency_response_teamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_emergency_response_teamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_emergency_response_teamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_population_warninghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_population_warninghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_shelterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_shelterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_evacuationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_evacuationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_evacuationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockpilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockpilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualty_predictionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualty_predictionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualty_predictionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disaster_areahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disaster_areahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disaster_areahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disaster_areahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualty_predictionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockpilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_evacuationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_shelterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_population_warninghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_emergency_response_team


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Recovery efforts are primarily concerned with actions that involve rebuilding destroyed property,

re-employment, and the repair of other essential infrastructure.

Efforts should be made to "build back better", aiming to reduce the pre-disaster risks inherent in

the community and infrastructure.

An important aspect of effective recovery efforts is taking advantage of a window of

opportunityfor the implementation of mitigative measures that might otherwise be unpopular.

Recently the Government has formed the NDRRMC . This group represents a public/privatepartnership, and aimed at improving the general response of communities to emergencies, in

addition to those incidents which might be described as disasters.

4Rs is a term used to describe the emergency management cycle locally. In Philippines thefour phases are known as:

Reduction = Mitigation Readiness = Preparedness Response Recovery

Risk Assessment

The evaluation of risk for a tropical cyclone is a relatively straightforward process. A hazard mapshould be prepared for any given year. The following information could be used to estimate theprobability of storms of cyclones of various intersections that may strike different parts of the

county.

Analyses of climatologically records to determine how often tropical cyclones have struck-their intensities and locations.

History of wind strengths, frequencies, height and location of storm surges frequencies offlooding.

Information about tropical cyclone occurrences in the past 50-100 years over the oceanadjoining the part of the country in question.

a) An Integrated Warning/Response System

Specific preparedness measures to counter the impact of tropicaltyphoons may be classified into

two categories:

Those of long term or seasonal nature, which need to be planned, implemented andoperationally tested and co-coordinated by means of simulation exercise well before a


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seasonal threat commences. Among these are pre-season co-ordination meetings at

headquarters, district and local levels, at which operational contingency plans are reviewedand amended, training and community preparedness programs conducted and communitylifelines.

Those of a short-term nature, which relate to a state of readiness to cut in once acontemporary cyclone threat is announced. Among these are domestic, vocational and

animal husbandry arrangements to safeguard the survival, property assets and livelihoods ofindividual families and communities.

b) Public Warning System

The three main objectives in a tropical typhoon warning are:

To alert the people to the danger by announcing the existence of a threat due to a typhoon To identify the areas where people will be actively threatened by typhoon and where

communities should monitor further warning announcements, and To call the people to action by recommending specific preparedness activities, which may

be part of, and integrated warning/response plan to protect vulnerable resources.

Disaster management Team Cycle:


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Research Methodology:

Dolores is very blessed for its geographical location and position. It is one of those towns inQuezon that is least affected by some disasters. But this does give Dolores any chance of not to

be prepared should any disaster strikes in this town.

The methodology used in this research is Qualitative Methods in data gathering through surveys

and interviews as well as team planning.

The following tables represent the data gathered and specific actions for the identified hazards

and problems.


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Counter Disaster Plan of Dolores District

SY 2012-2013; 2013-2014

Disaster-Related

Problems &

Issues in the

Community/School

Area

Household/School

Affected

Objectives Strategies Resources

Needed

And Sources

SCHEDULE

Vehicular accidents Dolores Central School

Don Eulogio Capino

Elementary School

Don Severo Felismino

Elementary School

Bulakin Elementary

School

Dolores Central School

Annex

Boundary between

Brgy. Silanganan and

Pinagdanglanyan

To train the students of

these said schools

regarding traffic rules

To prevent vehicular

accidents

Orientation on road

safety

Repainting / Creation of

pedestrian lanes in all

roads

Creation of road safetypatrol

Creation of Road Signs

and Installation of light

posts

SPG Officers

Key Teachers

Head Teachers

Principal

Police Officers

*Pamphlets regarding

road safety

*School Fund

Barangay Officers

Municipal Engineering

Office

*Barangay Fund

Barangay Police Officers

Barangay Officers


Office

*Barangay Fund

January 2013

June 2013

April 2013

January 2013

December 2012


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Floods Households in the

boundary of San Mateo

and Antonino

Entire Dolores drainage

and canals

To improve the flood

gates

To prevent accidental

drowning in the Dolores

Canal System

Elevation of the roads

between San Mateo

and Antonino

Installation of metal

barriers in the open

canal

Barangay Officers


Office

*Barangay Fund


Office

*Municipal Road

Improvement fund

April 2013

April 2013

Landslide Kinabuhayan

Elementary School

Don Eulogio Capino

Elementary School

To strengthen some

portions the hills

surrounding

Kinabuhayan

To evaluate the

situation of some

portion of DECES which

situated just above

Creation of a barrier to

prevent stones from

falling to the school and

other house

surrounding the school

Soil Testing and Ground

Evaluation on some

classroom of DECES

located near the lake

Barangay Officers

PTA Officers

*Barangay Fund

Principal

Teachers

PTA Officers

*School Fund

March 2013

March 2013


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RE-ENTRY PLANNING OF DOLORES DISTRICT

SY 2012-2013; 2013-2014

ACTIVITY OBJECTIVES TARGET

BENIFICIARIES

TIME

FRAME

PERSON/S

RESPONSIBLE

RESOURCES

NEEDED

REMARKS

Disaster Concept

,Mitigation, Prevention

and PreparednessOrientation Seminar

To educate the

school community

regarding thedifferent disaster

To help the school

in identifying and

preparing in the

different hazards

that may be

present in their

school

Dolores District

Educative

Community

May 2013 Red Cross Volunteers

Key Teachers

Head Teachers

Projector

Laptop

PPT regardingDisaster

Re- Echo on Disaster

Concept ,Mitigation,

Prevention and

Preparedness

Orientation Seminar

To educate the

community

regarding the

different disaster

To help the

community in

identifying the

different hazards

that may be

present in their

barangay

To prepare the

barangay in the

different disaster

Different sectors in

the barangay

June 2013 Key Teachers

PTA officers

SGC Members

Projector

Laptop

PPT regarding

Disaster


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First Aid Seminar To equip key

teachers and SPG

officers regarding

some basic first

aid.

Dolores District

Educative

Community

July 2013 Key Teachers

Selected SPG Officers

Red Cross First Aid

Volunteers

First Aid

Paraphernalia

Laptop

Projector

PPT regarding First

Aid

Earthquake and Fire

Drills

To educate the

students regarding

what to do should

the said disaster

strikes

Dolores District

Educative

Community

July 2013

December 2013

Key Teachers

Selected SPG Officers

Preparation of Hazard

Map

To identify the

different hazards

that may be

present in the

community

Entire Barangay August 2013 Barangay Officials

Key Teachers

Red Cross Volunteers

Map of the

barangay

Creation of Counter

Disaster Plan

To mitigate or

prevent disaster

from striking in the

community

Entire Barangay September 2013 Barangay Officials

Key Teachers

Counter Disaster

Plan


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Conclusion:

We cannot predict any of the disasters, but we can prevent them by mitigation and

management techniques.

So, to keep DOLORES safe from all the disasters, we should have minimum knowledge about

disasters and their mitigation and management techniques.

Save greenery and DOLORES from all the disasters.

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