Disaster are often times described as a result of the combination of the following :

1. Exposures to hazard
2. The condition of vulnerability that are present and
3. Insufficient capacity or measures to reduce or cope with the potential
negative consequences

Natural Phenomena and Hazards

Hazard is a situation or an occurrence with capacity to bring damages to lives,
properties and environment. It may be in the form of natural, man-made or the
combination of the two.
As what you have learned from Earth Science, then Philippine hosts frequent
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because of its position within the “Ring of Fire”
which is at the edge of the most dynamic tectonic plates. It also lies along the
Western edge of the Pacific Ocean which lies along the natural path of the Planet
fiercest typhoons. However natural phenomena do not automatically become hazards,
much less cause disaster. A natural event can be considered hazards if it will pose a
threat of damage, injury, and even death.

A Hazard and a Disaster

A disaster occurs when a hazard strikes a vulnerable population or community whose
capacity is in adequate to withstand ore cope with its adverse effects, resulting in
damages, loss and disruptions in community/society functioning. Disasters are hazards
or events, natural, human made or combination of that strikes a vulnerable
community, the effect of which is beyond what the community can withstand. This
means that a hazard can’t be a disaster unless it strikes a vulnerable community, and
the damage are beyond the normal capacity of the community to sustain.

Disaster Risk
Recognizing that no two personas are alike, there are also no two disasters are
alike. May be some are definitely similar but appreciating then differences in terms of
their nature and magnitude of triggering hazards, expose elements at risk and
vulnerabilities will help us deal with potential disasters. The risk associated with
disaster can be estimated and can be expressed quantitatively. This provides a way of
comparing past and future disasters.
When more people encroach on hazardous areas and urban centers continues to grow
along the path of hazard events the magnitude of disasters is expected to increase.
Disaster Risk is expressed as a function of hazards, exposure and vulnerability:
Disaster Risk = function [Hazard, Exposure, Vulnerability]
Disaster Risk = Hazard x Exposure x Vulnerability

Disaster Risk Model

Exposure
Hazard

In understanding Disaster Risk, it is important to review and understand the following

terms: hazard, vulnerability, capacity, risk disaster, and their interrelationship.

Disaster
Risk

 Disaster: The serious disruption of the functioning society causing

widespread human, material or environmental losses, which exceed the
ability of the affected communities to cope using their own resources
Disaster occur when the negative effects of the hazard are not well-
managed.
 Hazard: Any phenomenon, a substance or situations, which has the
potential to cause disruption or damage to infrastructure and services,
people, their properly and their environment.

Vulnerability

 Capacities: The resources and skills people possess can develop, mobilize
and access, which allow them to have more control over shaping their own
future and coping with disaster risk.
 Vulnerability: Describes factors or constraints of an economic social
physical or geographic nature, which reduce ability to a community to
prepare for and cope with the impact of hazards.
 Risk: The probability that the negative consequence may arise when hazards
interact with vulnerable areas, people, property and environment.
 Disaster Risk: It is a chance of likelihood of suffering harm and loss as a
result of hazardous event. It depends upon the exposures of a person or a
community to the hazard.
  Risk Reduction Measures: These are various activities, projects and
programs that the community may identify after assessing and analyzing the
risks that they face. These measures are specifically intended to reduce the
current and present future risks in the community.

Vital Components in Determining Risks

These are the important components in determining risks. Each should be separately
rated.
v Hazard occurrence probability is the like hood of experiencing a natural or
technological hazard at a given location or region. Quantifying hazards probability
involves assessing not only the probability of occurrence but the probability of
magnitude.
v Elements at Risk: Identifying and making an inventing of people or buildings and
other elements which would be affected by the hazard of it occurs, and when
required, estimating their economic value.
v Vulnerability of the elements at risk. Effect on school building, students or some
others elements if they experience some levels of hazards impact. Vulnerability is the
relationship between the severeness of hazard impact and the degree of caused
damage.

Pre and Post Loss Management

These are the action designed to keep the losses at the minimum in society, structural
and economic aspects.
v Pre-disaster loss managements area activities focusing on seducing the community
vulnerability to hazards. Action must be done for improving the prevention for
hazards.
v Post-disaster loss management focuses on the energy response and widening the
range of support given to given to the victims.
The occurrence of natural disaster like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions cannot be
prevented, but reducing exposure and vulnerability can minimize their impact. The
level of vulnerability and exposure can be reduced by keeping people and property
away as far as possible away from hazards.
These are many different ways of classifying hazards Natural hazards such
as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Secondary hazards are consequences of other
hazards. Landslide. Liquefaction, tsunami, fire, damages, damage,
power interruptions are example of secondary hazards.

Types of Hazards and Example for Each

Geologic Hydrologic Atmospheric Biologic Man-made
Earthquake: Floods-River Typhoons orEpidemic Transport accident
 Vibration and coastalHurricane to
 Ground areas humans
Rupture
 Liquefaction
 Landslide
  Tsunami
Volcanic Eruption Wave Action Thunderstorm Epidemic Industrial explosion
 Lava flow in plants and fires
 Volcanic gas
release
 Pyroclastic
flow
 Tephra fall
 Lahar
 Volcanic
debris
 Avalanche
Rainfall- InducedDrought Excessive Epidemic Accident release of
Landslide rainfall in toxic chemicals,
animals radiological
material, biological
material and oil
Rapid SedimentRapid GlacierTornadoes Locust Nuclear accident
movements advance

Hazard mapping is the process of identifying the special variation of hazard events or
physical conditions. Through this process, one side of the hazard, exposure,
vulnerability risk triangle may be displayed in the hazard map.

A hazard map is quite useful in communicating vital information about spatial

variation of size and potential intensity of particular hazard.
Earthquake is characterized by ground shaking due to sudden slipping of rock
formation at or below the surface of the earth. It moves and can felt on the earth’s
surface. An earthquake is tectonic or volcanic. Tectonic means that movement of the
earth’s surface due to the slippage along a fault while volcanic is induced by the
eruptions/ movement of volcano near the area’s surface. In some cases, there are
earthquakes that resulted by man-made activities such as mining
activities and detonation of explosives that you can feel with low range of shaking or
usually tremors.
A severe earthquake is associated with two kinds of shocks: the foreshocks which
are series of light shakings that occur before the main earthquake and the
aftershocks, which are tremors after or following the main shock. Aftershocks are
weaker than the main shocks but it can cause further damages to buildings that were
weaker by the foreshocks and the main shock.
A geologic hazard like an earthquake destroys properties, establishments and might
result to loss of lives. The earthquake hazards are the following:
 Ground Shaking or vibration is what we feel when energy built up by the
application of stress to the lithosphere is released by faulting during an
earthquake.
 Ground Rupture – when an earthquake is strong enough, faulting initiated
at depths may breach the Earth’s surface to form a ground rupture. Faulting
tends to occur along zones of weakness such as old or pre-existing faults,
fractures or along bedding planes. The earthquake generating faults may
propagate to the surface to form ground ruptures. Other faults are called
blind faults of their ruptures do not reach the surface.
The ground rupture length depends on the magnitude of 6.5 or greater are generally
strong enough to produce large-scale of ground rupture. There is no clear-cut
relationship between ground rupture length and earthquake magnitude but the
larger
earthquakes tend to have ranges of longer ground rupture. Ground raptures may form
more complex surface fault patterns complexity varies along the length of ground
ruptures. Thus the zone of deformation could include subsidiary branches and narrow
main break.

 Liquefaction – When the ground shakes, some areas especially those made
of wet fine sands are subjected to liquefaction. The sinking of the weight
marks the occurrences of liquefaction. The increase in pore water pressure
allows sand particles to move freely, without hindrance from nearby
particles until a point when liquid consistency is attained. The three factors
required for liquefaction:
a) Loose gradular sediment areas with deposits that are young enough to be loose
near sea level, coastlines marshes and artificial fills.
b) Saturation of sand and silt sediments by ground water.
c) An earthquake strong enough to liquefy susceptible sediments.
Liquefaction not be damaging if only man is able to adapt to the kind of disturbance
this phenomena brings. Avoidance of or evacuation from liquefaction prone areas is
an option for some but not for others. Liquefaction potential may be reduced through
densification and improvement of soil drainage.
 Earthquake-Induced Landslide- many known devastating landslide has been
triggered by earthquake. Slopes are prone to widespread failure during
earthquakes because of the sudden shaking of hilly and mountainous areas.
What a prolonged period of rainfall cannot do to slopes as accomplished by
a strong earthquake that may last only for one, minute. This is
demonstrated, for instance by the occurring landslide in the mountainous
region in northern Luzon during 1990 Luzon earthquake.

Types of Landslides based on Movements

 Topples- occurs suddenly when massive part of very steep slopes breaks
loose and rotate forward.
 Rock falls –involve chunks of detached rock that fall freely for some
distance or bounce and roll down the steep slope.
 Slides – involve large blocks of bedrocks that break free and slide down
along a planar or curved surface.
 Lateral Spreads – are triggered by earthquakes and effect gentle slopes
with less than 10 degrees inclination slope material loses cohesion through
liquefaction caused by the shaking during earthquakes.
 Flows – involved downslope motion of fine grained clay, silt, and fine sand
made mobile by water saturation. This include mudflows, and earthflows.
This is common during rainy season.

Effects of Earthquake- Induced Landslide

Ground shaking is widely considered to be the primary cause of damage
to structures, crops, loss of lives, and injuries due to earthquake. A substantial part to
these damage may be attributed to burial and debris impact caused by earthquake-
induced landslides.
 Tsunami – is a giant water wave coming from the sea that is a result of
volcanic eruptions and earthquakes under the seabed. This water
phenomena only occurs when an earthquake is too strong enough to cause
seabed movements creating pressures in the water to rise above the sea
level going to the areas that surrounds the shore. Although tsunamis are
triggered by various factors, the effects are similar on the coastal areas.
Large sea wave are forming through the lowering of the water level of the sea pulling
the seawater away by a strong pressure will drive the sea water toward the coastal
area that will result a giant wave sweeping all that it passes by.
Tsunamis are one of the most killer hazards especially when the community is not
prepared for it. If washes away houses, people, animals, trees and even sea vessels to
the shore. It creates flooding that will become a cause to the drowning of properties
and living things resulting to a disaster. However a tsunami occurrence can be
identified if the ground is shaking, you heard loud gurling sounds from the sea, and
you see that sea water is getting lower and is pulled backwards from the seashore.
What to do when there is an Earthquake:
Before the Earthquake
1. Know if your area or location is above or near fault line.
2. Prepared for your survival kit like whistle, flash light, potable water, ready
to eat foods, extra clothing, cell phones and dust masks.
3. Participate an earthquake drills.
4. Find and designate an area where you can run to in case of an earthquakes
which safe from all kinds of hazards.
5. Store harmful and flammable materials, chemicals in place where they will
not fall, spill or explode.
6. Know the evacuation area and plan
7. Know emergency hotlines.
8. Create an evacuation plan for the family
9. Stay away from electrical post, falling debris and bodies of water.
10.Know the fire exit of your school, home and other establishments.
11.Identify sturdy tables, chairs and etc. So you can use them to be refuge,

During the Earthquake

1. Stay calm, alert and focus.
2. Protect yourself by doing Drop, Cover and Hold (drop to the floor, cover your head,
and hold a strong object nearest on you).
3. Never use an elevator because there will be power failures that may cause you to
get stranded.
4. Stay away from falling objects and go under a desk or table.
5. When you are inside which stay at the side of the road never cross bridges.
6. Go to an open area or field.
7. Stay away from breakable materials such as glasses.
8. Move away from mountains or high areas that may be affected by the landslide.
9.Observe the sea if your living near so you can prepare if tsunamis happens.

After the Earthquake

1. Stay calm, alert and observe your surroundings.
2. Look for any means of communication and source for public announcement.
3. If you are inside the building go out fast for the foundation of the building is
weaken and might collapse.
4. Check yourself and other members of the family for injuries and go to the nearest
medical assistance booth.
5. Watch out for any chemical and fire hazard that spilled and occurred in the area.
6.Inspect your house before going back with your family. See to it that it is safe for all
of you.
Last modified: Friday, 18 February 2022, 9:33 AM

LET'S UNDERSTAND
The different volcanic hazards are the following Lava flows, volcanic gases,
pyroclastic flows, tephra, falls and ballistic projectiles, lahars and volcanic debris
avalanche.
v Lava Flows or simply lava is a product of quiet effusion of molten rock or magma
from beneath a volcano. One would not dare to go near a red hot lava flow or
fountain. When the lava flow comes out of a volcanic vent, its temperature ranges
from 200 to 1,200°C. However it is not so worrisome to many because of its
extremely low speed. Most of the magma and the lava from volcanoes however are
formed at plate boundaries. The heat in the mantle forms convection cells that drive
the motion of tectonic plates. It is during this motion that basalts lava comes out of
divergent plates margins or mid-oceanic ridges volcanoes also form when a plate dives
under another plate along convergent boundaries called subduction zones.

Types of Lava Flow

1. Basaltic Lava Flow is the fastest flowing lava because of its relatively low
viscosity. Lava flow style are Pahoehoe and A’a. Pahoehoe is composed of
thin flows with smooth surface that sometimes feature ropy folds. Ropy
surface is the result of folding of the surface as the inner parts flows
continuously. A’a flows have sharp, shiny surfaces. This is the result when
the lava harden more quickly than it flows.
2. Andesitic Lava is typically associated with strato volcanoes and commonly
formed lava domes. The volume of andesitic lavas is small, so they do not
usually go beyond the foot of the volcano. Because of their viscous nature
the surface is compressed of smooth-sided fragments. This flow travels only
at a speed of no more than 5 m per day.

Rhyolitic Lava Flows have higher viscosity that is why these are a lot slower than
andesitic and basaltic flows. Rhyolitic
1. flows are usually associated with violent eruptions involving pyroclastic
flows and with very steep landforms such as lava domes and lava spines.

Effects of Lava Flows

v Lava flows bring damage or total destruction to land property by burying, crushing
or burning everything in their paths.
v Death attributed to lava flow is often due to related causes, such as explosive
shower of molten spatter over a wide area when lava interacts with water.
v Explosion of toxic methane gas produced by lava burial of negation.
v Heat due to lava flow can cause burns and other injuries.
v Volcanic Gas is what makes volcanic eruptions work magma is composed not only of
melted materials. It also has volatile fraction-substances that may become gaseous or
give off gases, As magma rises toward the surface can lead to explosive eruptions.
Volcanic gases expand enormously when magma rises to the earth’s surface and
erupts. The tremendous expansion of volcanic gases drives explosive eruptions.

Dangerous Volcanic Gas Components and their Effects

 1. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) can be hazardous when the concentration is high. An
overdose of CO2 may cause asphyxiate (symptoms-headache, dizziness,
shortness of breath, muscular weakness, downness and ringing of ears.)
2. Carbon Monoxide (CO) affects the hemoglobin in the blood causes shortness
of breath mental exhaustion, impairment of vision and hearing or results in
unconsciousness.
3. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) affects upper respiratory tract causing inflammation
and initiation of nose and throat.
4. Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) higher concentration of this gas can cause irritation
of upper respiratory tract and for long exposure may cause pulmonary
edema and sometimes bronchopneumonia.
5. Sulfuric Acid (H2S4) causes severe burns with rapid destruction of tissue,
inflammation of upper respiratory tract and dermatitis.
6. Ammonia (NH3) causes eye irritation, conjunctivitis, swelling of eye lids,
irritation of mucous membrane of nose and throat, coughing and vomiting.
7. Fluorine – this yellow gas is a very powerful caustic (Fe2) intent,
conjunctivitis, skin irritation, bone degermation and mottling of teeth.
8. Hydrofluoric – extremely irritating and corrosive to acid (HF) the skin and
mucous membrane. Inhalation of the vapor may cause ulcers of the upper
respiratory tract.
9. Hydrochloric – initiates mucous membranes of eyes and acid (HCl)
respiratory tract. Irritation of throat after short exposure. Long exposure
may cause pulmonary edema and often laryngeal spasm.

Personal protection measures that can be taken against gases (Volcanic gas)
1. Drink fluids to encourage loosening of secretions and coughing.
2. Avoid contact of people who have colds.
3. Avoid smoking an inhaling second hand smoke.
4. Avoid over exertion or limit physical activities.
5. In heavy pollution, stay indoors, close windows and doors, turn on air
conditions or purifier.
6. Use gas masks.
7. Keep medication on hand and readily available.
8. If some symptoms develop contact a doctor as soon as possible.
9. Neutralize acid rain catchment by adding baking soda to neutralize acidity.

Pyroclastic Flows are among the most harmful volcanic hazards. Pyroclastic flows are
hot mixtures of fresh lava, gas, rock pumice and ash that moves down the sides of a
volcano crater at high speed during the eruption. The mobility and speed of
pyroclastic flows are derived from its gas contents and from the heat of its
components that further generates more gases.

Types of Pyroclastic Flows

1. Merapi Type – gravitational dome collapse produces black and ash deposit.
 2. Pelean Type –explosive dome collapse because of high density block and
ash pyroclastic flow deposits are limited to few tens of kilometers
distance.
3. Pumice flows – are formed by the collapse of an eruption column forming
vesiculated fragments (pumice).

Effects of Pyroclastic Flows

1. Burn – the extreme temperatures of rocks and gas inside pyroclastic flows
can burn people, houses and vegetation.
2. Impact and Burial - by its speed, mass and column, pyroclastic flow will
knock down, and shatter, bury or carry away nearly all objects and
structures in its paths.
To prevent all the hazards of pyroclastic flow, stay away from pyroclastic flow
pathways such as valleys upslope.
Tephra Falls and Ballistic Projectiles
Tephra refers to volcanic rock and lava materials that are ejected into the air by
explosions or carried upward by eruption column of hot gases or lava fountain. Large
size tephra falls back to the ground on or close the volcano and the smaller fragments
are carried away from the vent by wind ash can travel hundreds and thousands of
kilometers downwind from a volcano. It often leave a mantle of ash layer over the
landscape that diminishes in the thickness the farther it goes from the volcanic
center. Ash can circle the globe if the eruption column is high enough. Ballistic
projectiles are special kind of tephra. These follows a projectile path as these are
forced out of the vent steep angles. Ballistic projectiles consist of bomb, and
blocks. Bombs are derived from fresh magma while blocks are chips of the walls of the
volcanic vent. Bombs attain smoothness and peculiar shapes are rough with sharp
edges. These are many kinds of tephra that differ in size and density.
a) Ash – 2mm diameter fragments mix with broken glasses and pulverized rock.
b) Lapilli – 2.64 mm diameter- bigger pumice fragments are mixed with finer ash.
c) Blocks and bombs – 64 mm fragments.

Effects of Tephra Falls

 Airborne particles can harm the eyes, damage of lungs, prolonged exposure
and inhalation of silica crystals of ash can cause silicosis.
 Damage of house roofing
 Burial by tephra can break power and communication lines.
 Loss of vegetation and destruction of agricultural lands.
 Cause death and endangered environment.

Mitigating the Effects

The best thing to be done is to stay away from the area close to the crater. During
tephra fall see refuge beyond the reach of its effects and adopt all precautionary
measures to keep safe from harmful effects.

Lahar
 A lahar actually means lava or lava flow, however volcanologist have adopted the
term to refer to this volcanic event. Lahar usually carries fresh eruption materials like
pyroclastic flows, and tephra fall. It also picks older volcanic deposits along the river
channel. Lahar can flow at a rate of tens of a meter per second. The deposit lahar
leave behind are like dry concrete sometimes as big as a house scattered anywhere.

Effects of Lahar
1. Carries large boulders and logs which can cause destruction of houses and
buildings.
2. Can cause serious economic and environmental damage to large flood plain
areas.
3. Destroys crops and agricultural lands and residential areas.
4. Cause deaths of people and animals.

Mitigating Measure
The most effective way to avoid the hazard of lahar is to evacuate the place and
go to the evacuation center as sunction by the government officials which is safe for
you.

Volcanic Debris Avalanche

Volcanic debris avalanches are landslides that occur in volcanic slopes. A debris
avalanche is not the ordinary landslide. Debris are faster and their deposits are far
more reaching. This is due to large materials involve. A debris avalanche deposit may
not be entirely as hot as a lava flow or pyroclastic flow but abnormally large volumes
of volcanic material travlling of great speed will bury areas far and wide.

Effect of Debris Avalanche

1. Debris avalanches greatly alter the pre-existing topography by creating deep
horse-shaped craters and burying and destroying everything in their paths.
2. Debris avalanche that are thick enough can block streams to form lakes.
Sudden breakout of the lake water could generate lahar and floods.
3. Lahar and floods can be a direct result of the debris avalanche deposit can
be saturated with water and may contain snow and ice blocks from the
volcano’s tops.
What to do Before, During and After an Eruption

Before the Eruption

1. Always monitor the status of volcanic activity.
2. Prepare family evacuation plan which should be consistent with that for the
community.
3. Review materials and listen to advisories regarding the primary volcanic
hazard and hazard zones.
4. Fireproof house premises from lava flows and not falling fragments by
clearing flammable objects.
5. Participate in community efforts to prevent or mitigate the effects of
volcanic hazards.
During the Eruption
1. Those within danger zone should evacuate carefully and orderly with your
family to designated evacuation center.
2. Once inside the evacuation center, stay there.
3. Keep doors and windows closed to minimize ash exposure. Be prepared to
take cover under sturdy structures in case earthquake happens.
4. Use gas mask for protection from ashes and gases.
5. Be alert for advisories regarding states of volcanic activity.

After the Eruption

1. Stay where you are and do not attempt to go to danger zone.
2. Allow only adults and responsible members of the community to check on
the safety of the areas affected before going back.
3. Proceed to ones respective area with caution.
4. Participate community effort to ensure availability of safe food and decent
shelter.
5. Assets in maintaining cleanliness, peace and order within the evacuation
center.
Last modified: Friday, 18 February 2022, 10:00 AM

LET'S UNDERSTAND

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