Int 1 Foreword.Qxd

Annexes 1. Terminology: Basic terms of disaster risk reduction 2. Directory: International, regional, national and specialized organizations involved in disaster reduction and related issues 3. List of acronyms 4. Bibliography 335 Annexes a1 Annex 1 Terminology: Basic terms of disaster risk reduction Throughout this global review the ISDR secretariat presents main terms related to disaster risk reduction to practitioners and experts for their consideration and further refinement. They are based on a broad collection of different international sources, with the purpose of developing common understanding of terminology on disaster reduction, useful for the public, authorities and practitioners. This is a continuing effort to be reflected in future reviews, responding to a need expressed in several international venues, regional commentary and national responses to the ISDR questionnaire. Acceptable risk Capacity may include physical, institutional, social The level of loss a society or community con- or economic means as well as skilled personal or siders acceptable given existing social, eco- collective attributes such as leadership and man- nomic, political, cultural and technical condi- agement. Capacity may also be described as capa- tions. bility. In engineering terms, acceptable risk is also used to describe structural and non-structural measures Capacity building undertaken to reduce possible damage at a level, Efforts aimed to develop human skills within which does not harm people and property, accord- a community, organisation or institution need- ing to codes or “accepted practice” based, among ed to reduce the level of risk. other issues, on a known probability of hazard. In extended understanding, capacity building also includes development of institutional, financial and Biological hazard other resources, such as technology at different lev- Processes of organic origin or those conveyed els and sectors of the society. by biological vectors, including exposure to pathogenic micro-organisms, toxins and bioac- tive substances, which may cause the loss of life Climate change or injury, property damage, social and econom- Refers to a statistically significant variation in ic disruption or environmental degradation. either the mean state of the climate or in its variability, persisting for an extended period Examples of biological hazards: outbreaks of epi- (typically decades or longer). demic diseases, plant or animal contagion, insect plagues and extensive infestations. Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forcing, or to persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the Building codes atmosphere or in land use (IPCC, 2001). Ordinances and regulations controlling the design, construction, materials, alteration and occupancy of any structure for human safety Coping capacity and welfare. Building codes include both The manner in which people and organisa- technical and functional standards. tions use existing resources to achieve various beneficial ends during unusual, abnormal, and adverse conditions of a disaster phenome- Capacity non or process. A combination of all the strengths and resources available within a community or The strengthening of coping capacities usually organisation that can reduce the level of risk, builds resilience to withstand the effects of natural or the effects of a disaster. and other hazards. 337 a1 Living with Risk: A global review of disaster reduction initiatives Counter measures Early warning All measures taken to counter and reduce dis- The provision of timely and effective informa- aster risk. They most commonly referred to tion, through identified institutions, that allow engineering (structural) measures but can also individuals at risk of a disaster, to take action include other non-structural measures and to avoid or reduce their risk and prepare for tools designed and employed to avoid or limit effective response. the adverse impact of natural hazards and related environmental and technological disas- Early warning systems consist of three elements (i) ters. forecasting and prediction of impending events, (ii) processing and dissemination of warnings to political authorities and population, and (iii) undertak- Disaster ing appropriate reaction to warnings. A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing widespread human, material, economic or environmental Ecosystem losses which exceed the ability of the affected A system of interacting living organisms community/society to cope using its own together with their physical environment. resources. The boundaries of what could be called an ecosys- A disaster is a function of the risk process. It tem are somewhat arbitrary, depending on the results from the combination of hazards, conditions focus of interest or study. Thus the extent of an of vulnerability and insufficient capacity or meas- ecosystem may range from very small spatial scales ures to reduce the potential negative consequences of to, ultimately, the entire Earth (IPCC, 2001). risk. El Niño-ssouthern oscillation (ENSO) Disaster risk reduction (disaster reduction) An irregularly occurring pattern of abnormal The systematic development and application warming of the surface coastal waters off of policies, strategies and practices to min- Ecuador, Peru and Chile. This coupled imise vulnerabilities and disaster risks atmosphere-ocean phenomenon is associated throughout a society, to avoid (prevention) or with the fluctuation of intertropical surface to limit (mitigation and preparedness) adverse pressure pattern and circulation in the Indian impact of hazards, within the broad context of and Pacific oceans, called the Southern Oscil- sustainable development. lation. The disaster risk reduction framework, as There have been a number of attempts to define El described in this review, is composed of: Niño, both quantitatively and qualitatively, but - Risk awareness and assessment including none has achieved universal recognition. This phe- hazard analysis and vulnerability/capacity nomenon triggers a shift in seasonal patterns of analysis; weather systems over many subtropical and mid- - Knowledge development including education, latitude parts of the globe. training, research and information; - Public commitment and institutional frame- La Niña is the opposite of an El Niño event, dur- works, including organisational, policy, legis- ing which waters in the west Pacific are warmer lation and community action; than normal and trade winds are stronger. - Application of measures including environmental management, land-use and urban planning, protection of critical facilities, appli- Emergency management cation of science and technology, partnership The organisation, management of resources and networking, and financial instruments; and responsibilities for dealing with all aspects - Early warning systems including forecasting, of emergencies, in particularly preparedness, dissemination of warnings, preparedness response and rehabilitation. measures and reaction capacities. 338 Annexes a1 Emergency management involves the plans, struc- includes processes of a geological, neotectonic, tures and arrangements which are established to geophysical, geomorphologic, geotechnical bring together the normal endeavours of govern- and hydrogeological nature. ment, voluntary and private agencies in a compre- hensive and coordinated way to deal with the Examples of geological hazards are: earthquakes, whole spectrum of emergency needs. This is also tsunamis; volcanic activity and emissions; mass known as disaster management. movements (landslides, rockslides, rockfall, lique- faction, submarine slides, etc.); subsidence, surface collapse and geological fault activity. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) Study undertaken in order to assess the effect on a specified environment of the introduction Geographic information systems (GIS) of any new factor, which may upset the eco- Computer programmes that combine a rela- logical balance. tional database with spatial interpretation and outputs in form of maps. A more elaborate EIA is a policy making tool that serves to provide definition is that of a system for capturing, evidence and analysis of environmental impacts of storing, checking, integrating, analysing and activities from conception to decision-making. It is displaying data about the earth that is spatially utilised extensively in national programming and referenced. It is normally taken to include a for international development assistance projects. spatially referenced database and appropriate An EIA must include a detailed risk assessment applications software. and provide alternatives solutions. Geographical information systems are increasingly being utilised for hazard and vulnerability map- Environmental degradation ping and analysis, as well as for the application of Processes induced by human behaviour and disaster risk reduction measures and its manage- activities (sometimes combined with natural ment. hazards), that damage the natural resource base or adversely alter natural processes or ecosystems. Potential effects are varied and Greenhouse gas (GHG) may contribute to an increase in vulnerability A gas, such as water vapour, carbon dioxide, and the frequency and intensity of natural methane, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hazards. hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), that absorbs and re-emits infrared radiation, Some examples: land degradation, deforestation, warming the earth’s surface and contributing

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