Understanding Disasters and Disaster Risk
Give two examples of natural disasters that frequently occur in the Philippines.
Typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, etc.
How does weak governance increase disaster risk?
A) Enforces safety laws
B) Fails to enforce policies and services
C) Improves infrastructure
D) None of the above
B) Fails to enforce policies and services
What are the 4 ways to deal with risk?
Risk acceptance, avoidance, reduction, and transfer
How many typhoons does the Philippines average yearly?
A) 5
B) 12
C) 20
D) 30
C) 20
What kind of hazard includes terrorism, war, and oil spills?
Human-made hazards
What makes informal settlements more vulnerable to fires?
Poor infrastructure, overcrowding, flammable materials
How does panic affect disaster response?
It leads to poor decisions and injury risk.
Give an example of social vulnerability.
Inaccessible roads or communication breakdown during floods.
Low-income families living in informal settlements (slums).
TRUE or FALSE
Human negligence can cause man-made disasters like oil spills or building collapse.
TRUE
Which perspective relates to job loss and damaged businesses?
Economic perspective
Name one human factor that increases a community’s vulnerability to disasters.
poverty, lack of education, poor infrastructure, etc
Name one government agency in the Philippines responsible for disaster response.
NDRRMC or PAGASA or PHIVOLCS
Identify two elements at risk if a major road is cut off by an earthquake.
Transportation and emergency response
Explain how environmental degradation worsens disaster impacts and its link to poverty.
Environmental degradation weakens nature’s protection (e.g., forests, mangroves), leading to worse floods and landslides; it’s linked to poverty because poor communities depend heavily on natural resources and have less capacity to recover.
Compare risk reduction and risk avoidance and give an example of each.
Risk reduction means taking measures to lower risk. Risk avoidance means avoiding risky places or situations.
Discuss how exposure affects disaster response planning.
Exposure identifies who and what is at risk, helps design evacuation plans, allocate resources, and prioritize protection measures.
Explain how coping capacity affects disaster risk.
Coping capacity reduces risk by enabling better preparation, response, and recovery.
Why is understanding multiple disaster impact perspectives important for disaster management?
Because disasters affect people physically, emotionally, economically, politically, and biologically, understanding all perspectives ensures that responses are comprehensive, effective, and improve resilience and recovery.
Why is inclusive disaster planning important? Give examples.
Inclusive plans ensure vulnerable groups receive timely aid and can evacuate safely. Without inclusion, people with disabilities or special needs may be left behind, increasing harm.
Why is the Philippines especially vulnerable to disasters?
Location in typhoon belt, rugged terrain, poverty, long coastline, and economy all increase exposure and vulnerability.