Speech about Risks Factors of Disasters and How to Mitigate It's Effects.

Good day, one and all who have gathered here. I've come to share my opinions with you during my disaster management speech. I am really grateful for the chance to give this speech.

Before I proceed, is there anyone here who knows what disaster is and it’s risks?...Thank you for answering.

So a disaster is a misfortune that occurs unexpectedly. A calamity that injures or kills a huge number of people in a short period of time. Earthquakes, torrential rainfall, hurricanes, chemical accidents, droughts, and even armed combat have all contributed to disasters. The earth's climatic conditions are rapidly changing. Summer days are becoming longer, while winter days are getting shorter. All of these developments are contributing to an increase in natural catastrophes.

We all know that 'natural' disasters aren't really natural, and that they have a lot to do with human behavior. Extreme environmental dangers and unsustainable human development activities, such as fast urbanization and unplanned human settlements, are some of the causes of disasters.

Disasters are, certainly, becoming a rising source of concern throughout the world. The impact of catastrophes on our society has grown dramatically, posing a significant barrier to long-term socioeconomic progress.

Disasters strongly affect the poorest and most marginalized people, according to decades of research, while also exacerbating vulnerabilities and social disparities and undermining economic progress. The risk of disaster fatality is directly related to income level and risk governance quality.

Despite the fact that some countries have successfully reduced disaster mortality due to flooding and tropical storms, research reveals that the number of deaths due to broad risks is increasing. Increased disaster loss and devastation show that disaster risk is an indication of failed or skewed growth, unsustainable economic and social institutions, and ill-adapted societies.

In the case of a disaster, proper planning is critical for resolving the issue. Mechanisms that work properly can assist to reduce the impact. Predicting the likelihood of certain sorts of catastrophes can aid in reducing people's vulnerability.

The disaster management team assists with recovery and limiting the loss of lives and property. This is due to the fact that they have specialists that have been trained. They help with both physical and material needs. However, it can also assist in people's emotional recovery.

If disaster risk management is linked into development processes, much can be done to prevent disasters or at the very least lessen their impact. We must acknowledge that effective disaster risk management aids in the achievement of development objectives such as poverty eradication and environmental sustainability.

National and international efforts are needed to preserve lives and decrease human suffering.

Communities have been working hard to respond to disasters, which is not only important but also necessary. Disaster relief, on the other hand, is insufficient on its own.

Identifying, measuring, and comprehending disaster risk is crucial to its reduction. A detailed risk assessment takes into account the whole range of potential catastrophic occurrences, as well as the underlying causes and uncertainties. It can begin with an examination of past events and then move ahead, considering the projected effects of phenomena that are changing historical tendencies, such as climate change.

Furthermore, risk assessment may take into account unusual events that are outside of projected future dangers but that, based on scientific understanding, might occur. Anticipating uncommon events necessitates a wide range of knowledge and multidisciplinary results, as well as scenario development and simulations, which may be supported by expertise from a variety of fields.

There are three components of assessing risk. The first one is Hazard that is potentially damaging the physical event, phenomenon, or human activity that may cause the loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental damage. Second is Vulnerability which is the characteristics and circumstances of a community , system or resource that make it susceptible to damaging of a hazard. Third and lastly, Exposure, that refers to the degree to which a community is likely to experience hazard events of different magnitude.

Now, how about us? How can we help reduce the effect of a disaster? Can we help even if we’re only teenagers? The answer is definitely yes! Having knowledge is already a big help so you should be thankful that you attended this activity and that you have a cute speaker. Just kidding guys.

Now let’s talk about the different disasters that are common here in the Philippines. The Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to natural catastrophes. Because of its geographical location, the country is subject to numerous natural catastrophes like earthquakes, floods, mudslides, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, sea-level rise, and storm surges. The Philippines is regarded as one of the most storm-prone countries on the planet.

Now I know a lot of you already know what these disasters are but let me just refresh your minds starting with earthquakes. A sudden slip on a fault causes an earthquake. The tectonic plates are always moving slowly, yet they become stuck at their borders owing to friction. When the force on the edge overcomes the friction, an earthquake occurs, releasing energy in the form of waves that travel through the earth's crust and generate the shaking we experience.

Let’s not go further and discuss next the tsunami. Even though tsunamis are not always. Tsunamis are massive waves triggered by undersea earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, landslides on the sea floor, land slumping into the ocean, large volcanic eruptions or meteorite impact in the ocean. Tsunami waves do not grow drastically in height as they go further into the ocean. However, when the waves go inland, they build up to greater and greater heights as the ocean's depth drops.

Flooding is an overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Floods can happen during heavy rains, when ocean waves come on shore, when snow melts quickly, or when dams or levees break.

Mudslides develop when water rapidly accumulates in the ground and results in a surge of water-saturated rock, earth, and debris. A mudflow, sometimes known as a mud flow, is a type of mass waste that involves a "quite quick to extremely rapid surging flow" of debris that has been partially or completely liquified by the addition of considerable volumes of water to the source material.

A typhoon is a mature tropical cyclone that develops between 180° and 100°E in the Northern Hemisphere. This region is referred to as the Northwestern Pacific Basin, and is the most active tropical cyclone basin on Earth, accounting for almost one-third of the world's annual tropical cyclones. And in easy words, a typhoon is a giant, rotating storm that brings wind, rain, and destruction.

Why is the Philippines prone to typhoons? The Philippines is located just above the equator and faces the western Pacific, with little else to absorb the energy of storms before they hit land. Storms are fueled by the warm, tropical waters, which produce roughly 20 typhoons each year. The most frequently impacted areas of the Philippines by tropical cyclones are northern and central Luzon and eastern Visayas.

Volcanoes erupt when molten rock called magma rises to the surface. When the earth's mantle melts, magma is created. Melting can occur where tectonic plates are separating or where one plate is pushed down beneath another. Because magma is lighter than rock, it rises to the Earth's surface.

There are about 300 volcanoes in the Philippines. Twenty-two (22) of these are active while the larger percentage remains dormant as of the record. The majority of the active volcanoes are located in the island of Luzon. The six most active volcanoes are Mayon, Hibok-Hibok, Pinatubo, Taal, Kanlaon and Bulusan.Taal Volcano is among the most active volcanoes in the Philippines, with more than 30 reported eruptions.

Sea level rise is an increase in the level of the world's oceans due to the effects of global warming. Burning fossil fuels is one of the causes of global warming because it releases carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gasses into the atmosphere. This sea level rise has been also driven by expansion of water volume as the ocean warms, melting of mountain glaciers in all regions of the world, and mass losses from the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. All of these result from a warming climate.

Storm surge is an abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, over and above the predicted astronomical tides. Storm surge should not be confused with storm tide, which is defined as the water level rise due to the combination of storm surge and the astronomical tide.

What causes a storm surge? The main cause of a storm surge is high winds pushing the seawater towards the coast, causing it to pile up there. There is also a smaller contribution from the low pressure at the center of the storm "pulling" the water level up, by about 1 cm for every 1 millibar change in pressure. A storm surge can do major damage to anything (or anyone) in its path. The extreme rise in water levels and strong winds can cause severe flooding, property damage, and beach and coastal highway erosion. The life-threatening nature of storm surges is nothing to take a chance on.

Now, I have a bonus and that is I’ll give you some tips to ensure your safety and reduce the effect of disasters. Let’s start with the Emergency kit. Emergency kits include basic emergency items to ensure people can deal with illness and injury. These kits have emergency water, breathing protection devices, emergency lights and tools as well as survival food and first aid supplies.

Some of the things you should put in your emergency kit are flashlights. Extra batteries for the flashlight are also a good idea. If your power is out and you have no way to charge your phone, you might need to rely on a flashlight to get around at night. Whistle. A whistle can help you signal for help if you are stranded and need search and rescue to hear you. Dust Mask Depending on the emergency, you may need a mask to help protect you against contaminated air. Local Maps. If you need to evacuate but have no power or access to the internet, you may need to rely on a paper map to find your way to safety. Manual Can Opener. Your emergency kit is probably made up of canned food, which lasts for a long time. If you don’t have power, you’ll need a way to open these cans.

Battery-powered or Hand Cranked Radio. A radio will help you receive updates on the disaster and any known safety risks. Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children. Disasters can be stressful. If you have fun games or activities that your children can do when the power is out, this can help them cope with the stress. First Aid Kit. Conditions during and after a disaster can vary dramatically. You may need to provide immediate care to an injured family member. Supplies for your pet. Your pet is a member of your family. You will want to have enough of their supplies for several days, as well as a favorite toy to comfort them. Wrench or pliers. These tools can come in handy if you need to turn off utilities.

Next that I will teach you is print and pack your important information and documents ahead of time. Disasters often cause power outages and service disruptions, so in this wired age of computer and smartphone reliance, it's helpful to have critical info already at your fingertips.

Creating and practicing a disaster plan. Your family needs a clearly outlined plan to follow that helps keep everyone safe during a natural disaster or an evacuation. According to Ready.gov, the four primary factors that your plan should account for includes where to shelter a route for evacuation, getting emergency alerts and warnings, and family communication.

As you're creating your disaster plan, keep the following preparation elements in mind/Sign up for severe weather alerts in your area, program emergency numbers into your phone, decide on a meeting place for your family to gather, plan escape routes from your home and neighborhood. Remember, roads could be blocked in large-scale disasters. Have at least one alternate route — or more if possible. Be sure all adult and teenage family members know how to shut off gas, electric and water lines if there's a leak or electrical short.

Keep the necessary tools easily accessible, and make sure everyone knows where these are. Consider learning CPR and first aid training. Remember your pets. Bring dogs and cats inside during a catastrophe or make a plan for how you'll evacuate with them. Make sure they have ID tags.

And one of the most important is to listen to local officials. Local governments have systems in place to help area residents learn about impending or occurring disasters. The timely information these entities provide can help you understand what threats are present and know when it's necessary to evacuate. Sign up for alerts from local and national organizations to get the information you need. These may include text messages about urgent situations. You'll also see and hear written and spoken messages via cable TV and phone calls. Remember that the groups that provide these messages are experts. Respect their warnings, and follow their guidance as closely as possible for your own safety.

I won’t make this speech any longer. Thank you for listening. I hope all of you learned something from me and take action from what you’ve learned and heard. Because the knowledge you’ve gained is useless if you don’t use it. Also don’t be selfish and share it with others so that you’ll also help others reduce the risks of disaster in their lives in our country and in our world. Let us not disappoint our hero, Dr. Jose Rizal when he says that we are the hope of our country. Again thank you for listening and have a great day.