Crisis ≠ disaster. There is no consistent definition of the terms, it depends on the field of study in
which the definition is used.
Technically, a disaster is a crisis however, an organization can experience a crisis that isn’t a
disaster. To get a disaster/risk, 2 main concepts must come together: hazard + vulnerability.
Crisis = “a situation in which important decisions involving threat and opportunity have to be made in
a particular short time.” (Shaluf et al, 2003).
There are 3 common elements to a crisis: a threat to an organization, the element of
surprise, and a short decision time (Seeger et al, 1998).
Disaster = “a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society at any scale due to
hazardous events interacting with conditions of exposure, vulnerability and capacity, leading to one
or more of the following: human, material, economic and environmental losses and impacts.”
(UNISDR, 2009).
Emergency ≠ disaster. Emergencies are still disruptive events, but don’t lead to a serious
disruption of the functioning of a community or a society.
Another definition is: “a situation requiring outside support for coping.” (Kelmam, 2019). The
effect of a disaster often exceeds the capacity of a community or a society to cope using its
own resources. This requires systems of external sources, which include neighboring
jurisdictions or help/support from international levels/communities.
A slow-onset disaster is defined as one that emerges gradually over time, for example
drought, water rise or disease. A sudden-onset disaster (SOD) is one triggered by a hazardous
event that emerges quickly or unexpectedly, for example earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
chemical failures or transport accidents.
There are 3 perceptions of the major source of disasters: act of god (disasters are a product
of supernatural forces, crises are explained as bad luck or god’s punishment), act of nature
(disasters that are caused by nature couldn’t directly be controlled, but measures can be
taken to reduce their impact), and act of man (disasters are triggered by human actions).
, Traditionally, the UN identified crises caused by hazardous events, such as natural disasters or
conflicts. Recently vulnerable social conditions – e.g., health, energy, security, water security, food
security, urbanization, population growth, poverty, inequality, and climate change – have been the
driving forces of crises. Therefore, crisis management needs to change.
In this course, we focus on 3 types of disasters: natural disasters, technological disasters, and
terrorist attacks/man-made disasters.
Apart from natural crises that are inherently unpredictable (SODs) most of the crises that we
face are created by man. The requirements of their being “unexpected” depends upon man
failing to note the onset of crisis condition; often we are doing something wrong.
Hazard = “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.” UNISDR, 2016.
There are several types of hazards: biological hazards (are of organic origin or conveyed by
biological vectors, including micro-organisms, toxins, viruses and bioactive substances),
geological/geophysical hazards (originate from internal earth processes, such as
earthquakes), hydro-meteorological hazards (are of atmospheric, hydrological or
oceanographic origin, like typhoons), and technological hazards (originate from technological
or industrial conditions, dangerous procedures, infrastructure failures or specific human
activities, for example radiation, pollution, transport accidents, fires and explosions).
However, hydrometeorological conditions may also be a factor in other hazards such as
landslides, wildland fires, locust plagues, epidemics, in the transport and dispersal of toxic
substances, and volcanic eruption material. Technological hazards also may arise directly as a
result of the impacts of a natural hazard event, for example oil spill due to an earthquake.
Natural (or physical) events are only termed hazards when they have the potential to harm
people or cause property damage, social and economic disruption.
Vulnerability = “the characteristics and circumstances of a community, system or asset that make it
susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard.” (UNISDR, 2009).
There are many aspects of vulnerability, arising from various physical, social, economic, and
environmental factors, for example: protection of assets, lack of public information/
awareness, or limited official recognition of risks. The concept of vulnerability is vital in this
context, as it allows us to understand why some individuals or systems are at more risk than
others, thus, widening our scope of possibilities for risk reduction.
Understanding
Hazard Exposure Vulnerability
disaster risk
Disaster risk is recognized as the probability of an event and its negative consequences.
Intensive risk is associated with low probability and high impact events. Extensive risk is
associated with high probability and low impact events.
Hazard, vulnerability (= the risk) and exposure are influenced by a number of risk drivers, including
poverty and inequality, badly planned and managed urban and regional development, climate
change and environmental degradation.
Deaths in disaster results from humanity’s decision, attitude, values, behavior and activities.
Hazards rarely cause disasters. Vulnerability is the reason why a disaster happens. Our
decision to create and not to reduce vulnerabilities is the disaster.
which the definition is used.
Technically, a disaster is a crisis however, an organization can experience a crisis that isn’t a
disaster. To get a disaster/risk, 2 main concepts must come together: hazard + vulnerability.
Crisis = “a situation in which important decisions involving threat and opportunity have to be made in
a particular short time.” (Shaluf et al, 2003).
There are 3 common elements to a crisis: a threat to an organization, the element of
surprise, and a short decision time (Seeger et al, 1998).
Disaster = “a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society at any scale due to
hazardous events interacting with conditions of exposure, vulnerability and capacity, leading to one
or more of the following: human, material, economic and environmental losses and impacts.”
(UNISDR, 2009).
Emergency ≠ disaster. Emergencies are still disruptive events, but don’t lead to a serious
disruption of the functioning of a community or a society.
Another definition is: “a situation requiring outside support for coping.” (Kelmam, 2019). The
effect of a disaster often exceeds the capacity of a community or a society to cope using its
own resources. This requires systems of external sources, which include neighboring
jurisdictions or help/support from international levels/communities.
A slow-onset disaster is defined as one that emerges gradually over time, for example
drought, water rise or disease. A sudden-onset disaster (SOD) is one triggered by a hazardous
event that emerges quickly or unexpectedly, for example earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
chemical failures or transport accidents.
There are 3 perceptions of the major source of disasters: act of god (disasters are a product
of supernatural forces, crises are explained as bad luck or god’s punishment), act of nature
(disasters that are caused by nature couldn’t directly be controlled, but measures can be
taken to reduce their impact), and act of man (disasters are triggered by human actions).
, Traditionally, the UN identified crises caused by hazardous events, such as natural disasters or
conflicts. Recently vulnerable social conditions – e.g., health, energy, security, water security, food
security, urbanization, population growth, poverty, inequality, and climate change – have been the
driving forces of crises. Therefore, crisis management needs to change.
In this course, we focus on 3 types of disasters: natural disasters, technological disasters, and
terrorist attacks/man-made disasters.
Apart from natural crises that are inherently unpredictable (SODs) most of the crises that we
face are created by man. The requirements of their being “unexpected” depends upon man
failing to note the onset of crisis condition; often we are doing something wrong.
Hazard = “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.” UNISDR, 2016.
There are several types of hazards: biological hazards (are of organic origin or conveyed by
biological vectors, including micro-organisms, toxins, viruses and bioactive substances),
geological/geophysical hazards (originate from internal earth processes, such as
earthquakes), hydro-meteorological hazards (are of atmospheric, hydrological or
oceanographic origin, like typhoons), and technological hazards (originate from technological
or industrial conditions, dangerous procedures, infrastructure failures or specific human
activities, for example radiation, pollution, transport accidents, fires and explosions).
However, hydrometeorological conditions may also be a factor in other hazards such as
landslides, wildland fires, locust plagues, epidemics, in the transport and dispersal of toxic
substances, and volcanic eruption material. Technological hazards also may arise directly as a
result of the impacts of a natural hazard event, for example oil spill due to an earthquake.
Natural (or physical) events are only termed hazards when they have the potential to harm
people or cause property damage, social and economic disruption.
Vulnerability = “the characteristics and circumstances of a community, system or asset that make it
susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard.” (UNISDR, 2009).
There are many aspects of vulnerability, arising from various physical, social, economic, and
environmental factors, for example: protection of assets, lack of public information/
awareness, or limited official recognition of risks. The concept of vulnerability is vital in this
context, as it allows us to understand why some individuals or systems are at more risk than
others, thus, widening our scope of possibilities for risk reduction.
Understanding
Hazard Exposure Vulnerability
disaster risk
Disaster risk is recognized as the probability of an event and its negative consequences.
Intensive risk is associated with low probability and high impact events. Extensive risk is
associated with high probability and low impact events.
Hazard, vulnerability (= the risk) and exposure are influenced by a number of risk drivers, including
poverty and inequality, badly planned and managed urban and regional development, climate
change and environmental degradation.
Deaths in disaster results from humanity’s decision, attitude, values, behavior and activities.
Hazards rarely cause disasters. Vulnerability is the reason why a disaster happens. Our
decision to create and not to reduce vulnerabilities is the disaster.
