Module 2

Exposure and Vulnerability

Objectives: At the end of this module, you are expected to:

1. define exposure and vulnerability;
2. explain elements exposed to hazards;
3. explain why certain sectors of society are more vulnerable to disaster
than others;
4. determine the elements that are exposed to a particular hazard;
5. recognize vulnerabilities of different elements exposed to specific
hazards; and
6. differentiate among hazards, exposure, and vulnerabilities and give
examples from actual situation.

Discussion

Exposure pertains to elements in the environment which hazardous events may

occur. A population or economic resources may be at risk of exposure if it is potentially
located in a dangerous setting. Exposure is a necessary component of a risk but not
sufficient enough to be a determinant of it. It means that you can be classified as
exposed to a harmful setting but that doesn’t automatically mean that you are
vulnerable to it but to be vulnerable, one of the requirements of which is to be exposed.
An example would be if you reside in a floodplain (exposed to dangerous setting) but
have the capability to modify the environmental structure of the location so as to avoid
the probability to deaths among the residences (may not be vulnerable).

The exposed elements’ tendencies to be affected by hazards are determined by

their characteristics. The characteristics can be divided into three which are the
sensitivity of certain elements to a hazard, the regular exposure of the elements to a
hazard, and the duration of when the certain elements can adapt to the hazard.
Furthermore, the three characteristics are also the three variables of vulnerability which
is defined as the incapability of an element to withstand unwanted events (NS, 2008).
The attention given to the vulnerability of an object or place is vital due to the fact that
the vulnerability is the primary decision maker of the consequence that will be faced
after the disaster.

Vulnerability

Vulnerability refers to the inclination of exposed elements such as human beings,

their livelihoods, and assets to suffer adverse effects when affected by hazardous
events. This is related to predisposition, susceptibilities, fragilities, weaknesses,
deficiencies, or lack of capacities that favor adverse effects on the exposed elements
(Cardona, et al., 2012). This would relate to the lack of resilience of the systems to
adapt to the extreme situations. Although vulnerability is greatly associated with both
disaster risk and climate change adaptation, it could also pertain to epidemiological and
psychological fragilities, ecosystem sensitivity, or the conditions, circumstances, and
drivers that make people vulnerable to natural and economic stressors (Villagran de
Leon,2006).

Vulnerability is also the state of being capable of being harmed or damaged. It is

a measure of one’s inability to face natural disasters. It is interpreted in terms of the
degree of physical exposure to extreme events while others view in the context of social
structure and how the easy access to economic, political, and psychological resources
make a particular group advantageous in the face of disasters.

There are several elements that are exposed to hazards, namely:

a. Physical vulnerability may be determined by aspects such as population

density levels, remoteness of a settlement, the site, design and materials
used for critical infrastructures and or housing (UNISDR).

b. Social vulnerability refers to the inability of people, organizations and

societies to withstand adverse impacts to hazards due to characteristics
 inherent in social interactions, institutions and systems of cultural values. It is
linked to the level of well-being of individuals, communities and society.

c. Economic vulnerability. The level of vulnerability is highly dependent upon the

economic status of individuals, communities, and nations. The poor are
usually more vulnerable to disasters because they lack the resources to build
sturdy structure and put other engineering measures in place to protect
themselves from being negatively impacted by disasters.

d. Environmental vulnerability. Natural resource depletion and resource

degradation are key aspects of environmental vulnerability.

A society or population has different sectors. There are a certain number of

sectors in the Philippines, but for now we will only be tackling on certain sectors which
are deemed to be vulnerable to disasters and risks. Based from Section 3 of Republic
Act 8425 it defines that there are 14 disadvantaged sectors in the Philippine Society,
these include the following:

1. Farmer-peasant,
2. Artisanal Fisher folk,
3. Workers in the formal sector and migrant workers,
4. Workers in the informal sector,
5. Indigenous peoples and cultural communities,
6. Women,
7. Differently-abled persons,
8. Senior citizens,
9. Victims of calamities and disasters,
10. Youth and student,
11. Children,
12. Urban poor,
 13. Cooperatives
14. Non-governmental organizations.

Factors that affect Vulnerability (Human Systems)

Age is a human factor which predicts certain sectors to be more vulnerable

compared to others. Some sectors include the senior citizens, youth and students, and
the children. Basically, the youngest and the oldest population is the most vulnerable to
natural hazards because they both lack the physical and mental strength to endure,
escape, and survive disasters. Although persons with disabilities are not affected by the
age factor, they are also characterized in the same manner of senior citizens and
children. They are also more prone to illnesses and deadly diseases that follow the
aftermath. Senior citizens and children are dependent people, and will tend to rely on
other people for help and support, that is why during a disaster they would find it difficult
to survive solely on their own.

Gender also dictates which sector of the population is more susceptible to natural
hazards. It is already known that men are dominantly stronger compared to that of
women, that is the reason why females are more vulnerable. Due to sexism that still
exists around the globe some women are most likely to be housewives because of job
and opportunity deprivation, they are the ones tasked to take care of the senior citizens
and the children make them immobile in times of disaster. An example would have to be
the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2005 where four times more women than men died. There
were approximately 70-80% female fatalities, and the reason behind this is that women
were jobless, whose only task was to stay indoors or at home that is why when the
tsunami struck most of them were killed.

Income and or wealth and socio-economic status is one of the most important
factors to be considered because it is capable of affecting vulnerability in different ways.
Those sectors who are in impoverished conditions are the ones who are the most
affected. They do not have enough money to be able to provide for themselves and
their families, for instance, a house that could protect them during calamities. They also
won’t be able to supply themselves with basic needs such as food and clothing during
disasters. They would lack sufficient funds to acquire medicines and medical treatments
for certain diseases brought about by natural hazards.

Education, aside from wealth, education is also very important. Equipped with
knowledge people would be able to know what and what not to do during calamities.
Education will be able to provide information such as first aid, basic life support,
familiarity with signs and symbols of hazards. Even though some sectors of the
population are illiterate, they can still be taught on what to do by educating them thus
lessening the vulnerability rate. Also a population having a higher rate of literacy would
tend to have a higher rate of survival especially if there are professionals trained for
disasters and calamities, with education, you can share your knowledge to other people
probably saving their lives.

Governance is also an important factor, when the local and national government
is capable of disseminating updated and accurate information to the people there would
be a lesser rate of vulnerability. The national government already has the capability to
acquire these kinds of information, the problem now resides in some local government
units especially in rural areas that lack sufficient funding and technology to have a
warning system as efficient as those from local government units of urban areas.

Natural Factors

The design of a structure has an important factor as well as the materials used. If
the materials used are substandard and the design is not sustainable then there is a
high chance that the building will collapse. This also includes proper plumbing and
electrical work which could prevent and lessen the chances of fire and flooding in times
of disasters. Old structures are more vulnerable because the materials and
sustainability of that structure are already aged, although it is believed that the materials
used before were more of great quality compared today. The buildings of the 20th
century are more modern this would have a better design that could even be
earthquake proof.

Another factor to consider in structures is the settlement location. Structures built

on stable and flat land are more secure and less vulnerable compared to those
structures that are erected at steep hills and unstable rock. Houses or structures built
near the coastal area and volcanoes are highly vulnerable, because they are at risk of
tsunamis and volcanic eruptions.

Countries such as Philippines, Indonesia and Japan are at high level hazards
because they experience or suffer more earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis,
hurricanes, floods and landslides compared to other regions of the world, like for
example United Kingdom who suffers little hazards.

Spacing is also important. Structures that are at close proximity to one another
would have a higher vulnerability. There is a greater chance for the hazard to spread,
for example a fire or diseases in a small compound could cause greater vulnerability as
it will easily spread, because with little space comes greater population density.

The Philippines lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire, which puts the country at higher
risk for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The Philippines also lies at location with
warm ocean waters, which increase the probability for typhoons to form. In addition,
several areas of Metro Manila are also 16 m below sea level, which can be attributed as
one of the major causes for frequent flooding. Deforestation and the loss of “green
space” are also causes of hazards in the Philippines.

The rapid urbanization of the Philippines has caused mass deforestation. Trees
are therefore not present for water retention, causing flooding and landslides. Stagnant
water from flooding later causes mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria and
cholera. A number of physical hazards are also becoming more threatening to Filipinos.
Physical hazards, defined as factors in the environment that can harm the body
without touching it, are also becoming a major problem. With the rising problem of
climate change, and the location of the Philippines near the equator, Filipinos are
becoming more frequently exposed to UV rays which put them at higher risk for skin
diseases.

Figure 3 Effects of deforestation

https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/1_204131_1_5.jpeg?resize=270%2C180

Figure 4. Typhoon Ondoy hit Manila, Philippines

http://philnews.ph/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/bagyong-ondoy.jpg

The air quality in the National Capital Region of the Philippines is also worsening
every year, despite the Clean Air Act of 1999. In the last quarter of 2015, the air
pollutant concentration in the National Capital Region reached 130 microorganisms per
cubic meter, with the normal at 50-100 micrograms per normal cubic meter. The
increase in the air pollution in the air pollutant concentration may cause respiratory
diseases to become rampant.

The Philippines, despite not being an overcrowded country, has a population

density, especially in the urban areas. A number of these people emigrating from rural
areas to urbanized areas. The high density in the city may cause other risks such as
illness and higher chance of disease transmission. Economically, rural to urban
migration has caused the food supply and agricultural services to decline, thus creating
an increased demand in food and agricultural services. Rural-to-urban migration can
cause overcrowding, which can cause a tension on social resource. Poverty may also
be a result of rural-to-urban migration due to the unavailability of employment in the city.

The country’s economics may also be subject to hazards such as an unstable

foreign market. According to Mechleret, et al. (2010), the effects can consists of (a)
business interruption costs to firms unable to access inputs from their suppliers or
service to their customers, (b) income losses of households incapable of getting work,
(c) the deterioration of the fiscal stance post-disasters as less taxes are collected and
important public relief and reconstruction spending is required. Unfavorable influences
can include effects on gross domestic product (GDP), consumption, at a
macroeconomic standpoint (Mechler, et. al., 2010).

Less access to resources increases the level of vulnerability. Another factor that
affects vulnerability is the quality of the physical environment. Experts from Columbia
University’s Earth Institute was quoted saying “Earthquake don’t kill people, bad
buildings kill them.” This environment includes the physical infrastructure which is
utilized for homes and for activities; it also includes the various
constructions/modifications of the people in the natural environment. A scenario in
which this is evident is in the case of the African American living in New Orleans, they
were deemed as the most vulnerable to be hit by the Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It was
attributed to the fact that most of the inhabitants live in areas below sea level. Much of
the poverty stricken residents could not afford housing in the areas above sea level.
Another example to which location is deemed as an essential factor for vulnerability is in
the case of the poor from Baguio City who reside in the steep hillside where it is a place
above the reach sewers, water and power line. During the heavy rains, the hillside was
prone to mudslide destroying the shelters of these people.

Fig 5. Houses built on cliff in Baguio City

https://image.shutterstock.com/image-photo/houses-build-on-cliff-baguio-260nw-1347673631.jpg

Guide Questions
1. What is exposure and vulnerability?
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 2. Explain why certain sectors of society are more vulnerable to disaster than
others.
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3. Differentiate among hazards, exposure, and vulnerabilities and give examples
from actual situation.
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Learning Activity
Prepare/Draw a poster to depict exposure and vulnerability elements of disaster
risk that communities should consider.

Rubric in Grading:

Criterion Exemplary Comments Points

Performance
Relevance to the The poster reflects
Theme (3 points) a clear and precise
message
consistent with the
exposure and
 vulnerability
elements of
disaster risk and
preparedness.
Visual The poster is
visually and
Impact/Appeal
aesthetically
(3 points) appealing.
Creativity (2pts) The poster was
artistically
executed depicting
unique ideas and
insights about the
theme.
Neatness and The poster is well
in order, neat and
Clarity (2pts)
clean.
Total Points