Terms
Hazard vs Disaster:
As per UNISDR, 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; can be
termed as a hazard.
As per UNISDR, 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; can be termed as a disaster.
A disaster is the result of a hazard’s impact on society.
All disasters are hazards, but not all hazards are disasters.
Risk:
As per UNISDR, The combination of the probability of an event and its negative consequences.
Associated with the degree to which humans cannot cope (lack of capacity) with a particular situation and is used to quantify the
probability of a hazard turning into a disaster.
Risk Analysis & Management:
Former involves Strategic assessment like Vulnerability of Critical facilities, usage of science and technology and the later involves
implementing Proper settlement planning, Land use planning, Building codes, Awareness, Preparedness … to improve coping
capacities in order to lessen the adverse impacts of hazards and the possibility of disaster.
Vulnerability: The characteristics and circumstances of a community, system or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects
of a hazard.
Critical facilities: 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.
Coping capacity: The ability of people, organizations and systems, using available skills and resources, to face and manage adverse
conditions, emergencies or disasters.
ACCEPTABLE RISK/ TOLERABLE RISK: THE LEVEL OF LOSS A SOCIETY OR COMMUNITY CONSIDERS ACCEPTABLE GIVEN EXISTING SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, CULTURAL, TECHNICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS.
RESIDUAL RISK: THE RISK REMAINING AFTER PROTECTIVE MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN.
EXTENSIVE RISK: THE RISK OF LOW-SEVERITY, HIGH-FREQUENCY HAZARDOUS EVENTS AND DISASTERS, MAINLY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHLY LOCALIZED HAZARDS.
INTENSIVE RISK: THE RISK OF HIGH-SEVERITY, MID- TO LOW-FREQUENCY DISASTERS, MAINLY ASSOCIATED WITH MAJOR HAZARDS.
Mitigation:
The lessening or minimizing of the adverse impacts of a hazardous event.
Contingency Planning:
A management process that analyses disaster risks and establishes arrangements in advance to enable timely, effective and
appropriate responses.
Mitigation vs Contingency
Both are steps used in the larger risk management process
Former acts as first level of defense and the latter is the action planned in advance for the risks identified irrespective of the
occurrence.
Emergency Management:
The organization and management of resources and responsibilities for addressing all aspects of emergencies, in particular
preparedness, response and initial recovery steps.
PREPAREDNESS: THE KNOWLEDGE AND CAPACITIES DEVELOPED BY GOVERNMENTS, PROFESSIONAL RESPONSE AND RECOVERY ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO EFFECTIVELY ANTICIPATE,
RESPOND TO, THE IMPACTS OF LIKELY, IMMINENT OR CURRENT HAZARD EVENTS OR CONDITIONS.
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.
RECOVERY: THE RESTORATION, AND IMPROVEMENT WHERE APPROPRIATE, OF FACILITIES, LIVELIHOODS AND LIVING CONDITIONS OF DISASTER-AFFECTED COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING EFFORTS TO REDUCE
DISASTER RISK FACTORS.
RESILIENCE: THE ABILITY OF A SYSTEM, COMMUNITY OR SOCIETY EXPOSED TO HAZARDS TO RESIST, ABSORB, ACCOMMODATE TO AND RECOVER FROM THE EFFECTS OF A HAZARD IN A TIMELY AND EFFICIENT
MANNER, INCLUDING THROUGH THE PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION OF ITS ESSENTIAL BASIC STRUCTURES AND FUNCTIONS.
