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Basics of Disaster

1.1. Understanding the concept and meaning of disaster

Disaster means any occurrence, mishap or calamity, in an area that causes damage to property and loss of human lives (or any other significant loss). This can be considered an odd event that results in extensive losses in terms of people, property and the environment. It can also be defined as a catastrophe, either natural or human-induced, that results in substantial loss of life or human suffering, causalities damage and destruction of the environment; and is of a nature or extent that exceeds the ability of the affected areas' community to cope, for example, an earthquake is a disaster only when it affects the people and their assets. The French word "Disastre", which combines the words "des", which means bad, and "astre" which means a "star" is where the word "disaster" originates. In earlier days, a disaster was considered due to some unfavorable star or misfortune. Nowadays, the term disaster is commonly used to denote any odd event which either natural or human-induced; this brings about immense misery to a region that is highly vulnerable to multiple disasters, and it becomes difficult to cope with the situation through local resources. In this situation, the community needs basic necessities such as shelter, food, clothing, medical assistance and social care. Disaster can be caused by a variety of factors, including environmental degradation, climate change and human activities. It can have wide-ranging and severe impacts on individuals, communities and societies, and results in ecological disruption, damage to buildings, roads, bridges and environmental loss. It can also affect health services and disrupt other essential services. The impacts of disasters can be both immediate and long term, affecting people and the environment. Communities can lessen the effects of catastrophes and improve their protection by being informed of the different kinds of disasters. Disasters are events that cause widespread destruction, loss of life and disruption of the normal life system. Understanding the concept and root causes of disasters, we can together work toward preventing and effectively responding to these catastrophic events by reducing their impact on vulnerable populations to mitigate their impact. While some disasters are unavoidable, many can be prevented or mitigated through effective planning, early warning systems and community preparedness. By understanding the risks and vulnerabilities in a specific area, we can take steps to minimize the impact of disasters and protect the people at risk; therefore, by working together at different levels to support one another, we can better navigate the challenges presented by these disasters.

1.2. Classification of disasters

Disasters are sudden events that strike at any time and can have devastating effects on communities. It is important to understand the different types of disasters and how they are classified to better prepare and effectively respond to them to mitigate their impact. Disasters can be classified into several categories based on their cause and impact. These categories include natural disasters, man-made disasters, technological disasters and environmental disasters.

1. Natural disasters: these are the disasters that are caused by natural activities (processes) or natural phenomena, which means they are under the control of nature. These disasters are caused by natural forces, for example, droughts, tsunamis, floods, hurricanes, wildfires volcanic activities and earthquakes are exclusively of natural origin. These disasters can cause widespread damage to property and loss of life.
2. Human-induced disasters: these are the events that are triggered by human activities or result from human negligence or error. They are also called man-induced or anthropogenic disasters and are associated with human actions, such as industrial accidents, dam failure terrorist attacks, explosions, leakage of toxic or poisonous substances and oil spills. These disasters can also have serious impacts on humans and require immediate action to mitigate their impact. Human interaction with the environment has also resulted in some of the most major accidents.

1.2.1. Other categories of disasters

1. Minor disaster: a minor disaster is an event that causes limited damage and has a relatively low impact on the affected population, for example, small-scale localized incidents such as a minor fire, a small-scale industrial accident or a localized flood that affects a small community.
2. Moderate disaster: a moderate disaster is an event that causes a higher level of damage and has a more significant impact on the affected population, compared to a minor disaster. These may include larger scale incidents such as a moderate earthquake, a significant industrial accident affecting a larger area or a flood that affects several communities.
3. Major disaster: a major disaster is an event that results in extensive damage, poses a severe threat to human life and requires a substantial and coordinated response from local, regional or national authorities. These may include large-scale natural disasters such as tsunamis and earthquakes, or man-induced disasters such as a major industrial accident, large-scale transportation accidents and wars.
4. Sudden or rapid onset disasters: these include earthquakes, tsunami, floods, tropical storms, volcanic eruptions and landslides (mostly geological and climatic disasters).
5. Slow onset disasters: these include drought, famine, climate change, desertification, deforestation and pest infestation.

Table 1.1. An overview of natural and human-induced disasters

1.3. Aggravating factors of disasters

Numerous elements can intensify disasters, leading to increasing their impact and severity in terms of deaths, damage and destruction to the affected population. The following are some typical aggravating factors:

1. Population growth and rapid urbanization: if a disaster strikes in a region with a dense population, especially in developing countries, there will be more impact in terms of loss of lives, damage and destruction to structures. Furthermore, if people from rural regions relocate to cities in pursuit of job prospects and safety, there are fewer safe and appealing locations for these migrated people to build their homes. Once more, societal conflicts might result from competing for limited resources.
2. Poverty and inequality: poor sections of the population are more vulnerable to disasters compared to wealthy people, as they are able to recover quickly. Economically disadvantaged communities are often forced to live in more vulnerable areas such as flood plains, across borders and other disaster-prone areas; they face greater challenges both in terms of preparing for and recovering from disasters.
3. Climate change and environmental degradation: the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events due to climate change can amplify the impact of disasters, leading to more widespread devastation and destruction to people and the environment, which leads to environmental degradation through activities such as deforestation, soil erosion, desertification and poor conservation techniques; these can increase the susceptibility to natural disasters such as floods, landslides and droughts.
4. Lack of awareness and information: this is related to inadequate information to people and some people are unaware about safety measures and procedures to be implemented before and after disasters, and may not know about risk reduction measures and steps to take during emergencies.
5. Inadequate disaster preparedness and infrastructure: lack of disaster preparedness, early warning systems, evacuation plans and emergency supplies can worsen the impact of disasters, leading to increased vulnerability during disasters. The effects of disasters can be worsened by inadequate infrastructure, such as poorly constructed buildings, roads and bridges, particularly in seismically active zones and...