Natural Disasters
Natural disasters include earthquakes, volcanic activity, landslides, floods, storms, typhoons, cyclones, droughts, and the effects associated with climate change and global warming.
One Movement Program
Disaster Response & Relief Operations
Strengthening disaster prevention, preparedness, emergency response, relief operations, rehabilitation, and community recovery through organized civil-society participation.
Understanding Disasters
Introduction
Disasters are as old as mankind.
The first description of disaster and its management comes from Noah and his ark. The term disaster owes its origin to the French word “désastre,” which combines “des,” meaning bad, and “astre,” meaning star. The term therefore refers to a bad or evil star.
A disaster is a serious problem occurring over a short or long period of time that causes widespread human, material, economic, or environmental loss. Its impact may exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources. It may also cause emotional distress and, among those greatly affected, may develop into a mental-health disorder.
In simpler terms, a disaster is a destructive event that may occur suddenly and involve the loss of life, property, livelihood, and essential community services.
Types of Hazards
Disaster Classification
Man-Made Disasters
Man-made disasters may be caused by deforestation, kaingin, fires, transport failures, chemical spills, war, terrorism, internal conflict, civil unrest, and other human activities that create danger and damage.
National Context
Background
The Philippines is one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries. It is located along the boundaries of major tectonic plates and within the typhoon belt. Its islands are regularly affected by floods, typhoons, landslides, earthquakes, volcanic activity, and drought.
The country is typically affected by numerous storms every year. One of the strongest was Super Typhoon Yolanda, internationally known as Haiyan, which struck in 2013 and caused widespread destruction and thousands of deaths or missing persons.
In 2020, aside from the COVID-19 pandemic, the country also experienced major disasters including Typhoon Ulysses and the Taal Volcano eruption. These events disrupted public life, business activities, mobility, and the Philippine economy.
Super Typhoon Odette, internationally known as Rai, was another powerful and catastrophic tropical cyclone that struck the Philippines in December 2021.
Areas frequently affected by tropical cyclones include Northern Luzon and Eastern Visayas. Flood-prone areas include parts of Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Maguindanao, Bulacan, Metro Manila, North Cotabato, Oriental Mindoro, and Ilocos Norte.
Southern Luzon, including CALABARZON, is vulnerable to earthquakes and landslides. The Bicol Region is regularly exposed to tropical storms, typhoons, drought, floods, landslides, and volcanic eruptions.
Metro Manila and surrounding areas are also vulnerable to flooding. Marikina City serves as a catch basin for water coming from Quezon City and parts of Rizal, while some communities face additional risks from clogged waterways and insufficient drainage systems.
Flood-prone areas in Rizal include Cainta, Montalban, San Mateo, and Taytay.
As a non-government organization, One Movement and its multi-sectoral groups nationwide commit to supporting disaster-risk reduction and management planning through collaboration with government and partner organizations. The program focuses on prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, rehabilitation, and recovery.
Our Purpose
Vision & Mission
Vision
An empowered civil-society group responsive to the needs of people, especially in times of disaster, and committed to ensuring disaster-resilient communities.
Mission
To develop the capabilities and competencies of civil-society groups for preparedness and disaster resiliency, and to enhance coordination with government and partner organizations in responding to the needs of affected individuals during disasters.
Disaster Management Cycle
Four Priority Areas
Mitigation
Minimize the effects of disasters and reduce or avoid potential losses caused by hazards.
Preparedness
Develop the skills, capabilities, technical capacity, and organizational readiness needed to respond to emergencies.
Response
Provide prompt, appropriate, coordinated, and humane assistance to victims of disasters.
Recovery
Support rapid recovery, rehabilitation, restoration of services, and the rebuilding of affected communities.
Our Direction
Goals
01
Establish an intelligence and information network locally and abroad.
02
Improve local-government performance in governance, administration, social and economic development, and environmental management.
03
Sustain peace-and-order conditions and help ensure public safety.
Program Implementation
Programs, Projects & Activities
01
Mitigation
- Information, education, and communication advocacy
- Identification of high-risk areas
- Cleaning of esteros and waterways
- Waste-management and proper disposal programs
- Tree-planting activities
02
Preparedness
- Reorganization and strengthening of multi-sectoral alliances and NGOs as Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Teams
-
Capability-building and training
- Basic life support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Adult CPR for lay rescuers
- Fire, earthquake, first-aid, and safety drills
- Search-and-rescue operations training
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Purchase of materials, equipment, and vehicles
- First-aid and medical kits with BP monitor
- Communication equipment
- Mobile rescue vehicle
- Mobile clinic
- Drone equipment
- Search-and-rescue tools and equipment
- Identification and endorsement of evacuation areas to local government units
- Collaboration with PAGCOR and partner institutions
- Flood-control monitoring system
- Safe City Project
03
During Disaster
- Assistance during mass evacuation
- Emergency medical services
- Relief-goods distribution
04
Post-Disaster Recovery
- Medical services for affected communities
- Coordination of rehabilitation and recovery support
- Follow-up assistance for affected families