Vulnerability

Module 2: Exposure, Vulnerability and Capacity
Objectives:
1. Explain the meaning of exposure,

vulnerability and capacity;
2. Explain why certain sectors of society or
structures are more vulnerable to disasters
than others;
3. Recognize vulnerabilities of different
elements exposed to specific hazards;
ACTIVITY : CASE STUDY 1
1. Read the case and examine the characteristics of the
communities in terms of their vulnerability and capacity in
meeting an impending hazard.
2. Which Barangay is more will likely experience more

damaging effects ? Why ?
3. What features are found in Barangay Masigasig that

makes it less likely to experience the same damaging
effects ?
Barangay Masigasig Barangay Maligalig
Elements Exposed to Hazard
Exposure- refers to the elements at risk from a natural or
manmade hazard event.
1. Human beings
2. Dwellings or households and communities
3. Buildings and structures
4. Public facilities and infrastructure assets
5. Public and transport system
6. Agricultural commodities
7. Environmental assets
What is Vulnerability?
Vulnerability- characteristics and
circumstances of a community system
or asset that makes it susceptible to the
damaging effects of hazard. (UNISDR)
Reasons why certain sectors of
society are more vulnerable to
disaster than others
Demographic Factors
Socio-economic Factors
Community Preparedness
Dealing with the after-effects
1. Demographic Factors
Population Density
- The more dense the
population, the more
efficient a response
should be, considering
the number of people Population density
that might be effected (congestion)
by a disaster.
Age very old
-
and very young

populations are
less mobile and
able to respond
to hazard events
well.
Distribution of
Population-
elderly people on
lower floors of
apartment
building,
concentrations of
highly vulnerable
people in poorer
areas of a city.
2. Socio-Economic Factors
Wealth low
-
income
populations are
less likely to be
well prepared.
Education
Nature of Society- in highly
centralized government structures,
efficient emergency response may
be the result of careful planning
and training of personnel.
Understanding of the area-
understanding the area is a salient
factor to be considered in Disaster
Preparedness Planning, and this will
give greater advantage to the
established or original settlers in a
particular area by disaster
3. Community Preparedness
Building Codes-
rigorous and
applied building
codes protect
most buildings
from collapse
during
earthquake.
Scientific Monitoring and early
warning systems- established
monitoring system can prepare
people for the onslaught of any kind
of disaster
Communication networks- countries with good quality and
widespread communication networks allow messages to be quickly
shared. Communication plays a very important and crucial role in times
of disaster. Communication plan is a very salient component of
Emergency Planning that should not be left out.
Emergency Planning- preparation is the key element of
prevention.
4. Dealing with the after-effects
Insurance cover-
another important
aspect of
preparation is how
to deal with the
after effects of a
disaster.
Emergency
personnel- these are
trained for community
preparedness. The
availability of such
personnel will vary
depending on the time
of day and location of
the hazard event.
Aid Request- outside help in the form of
humanitarian aid is necessary during a disaster.
1. It refers to the elements at risk from
a natural or manmade hazard event.
a.Vulnerability
b.Hazard
c.Disaster
d.Exposure
2. What is population density?
a. outside help in the form of humanitarian aid is necessary
during a disaster.
b. low income populations are less likely to be well
prepared.
c. The more dense the population, the more efficient a
response should be, considering the number of people
that might be effected by a disaster.
d. another important aspect of preparation is how to deal
with the after effects of a disaster.
3. Which of the following is not
exposed to hazard?
a.Environmental assets
b.Buildings and structures
c. School Supplies
d.Public facilities and infrastructure
assets
4. It is the characteristics and
circumstances of a community system or
asset that makes it susceptible to the
damaging effects of hazard.
a.Hazard
b.Vulnerability
c. Risk
d.Capacity
5. A socio-economic factors that has low
income populations are less likely to be well
prepared.
a.Wealth
b.Age
c.Education
d.Insurance cover
6-9. Reasons why certain
sectors of society are
more vulnerable to
disaster than others
10. Meaning of UNISDR
Vulnerability to Specific Hazards
Poor design and construction of buildings and other
infrastructures
Inadequate protection measures
Lack of public information and awareness
Disregard for wise environmental management.
Limited official recognition of risks and preparedness

measures
4 Main Types of Vulnerability
Physical Economic
Vulnerability Vulnerability
4 Main Types
of Vulnerability
Social Environmental
Vulnerability Vulnerability
1. Physical Vulnerability
■Population density level
■Remoteness of settlement
■The site
■The design
■Materials used for infrastructure
and for housing
2. Social Vulnerability
■ Refers to the inability of people,

organizations, and societies withstand
adverse impacts to hazards due to
characteristics inherent in social
interactions, institutions and systems of
cultural values.
3. Economic Vulnerability
■The level of vulnerability is highly
dependent upon the economic
status of individuals, communities,
and nations.
4. Environmental Vulnerability
■ Natural resources depletion and resource
degradation are key aspects of
environmental vulnerability. This is one
aspect that both communities and
government must be sensitive about.
Risk Factors
■ Signifies the possibility of adverse effects
in the future. It is derived from the
interaction of social and environmental
processes, from the combination of
physical hazards and the vulnerabilities of
exposed elements.
Philippine Exposure and Vulnerabilities
to Natural Disasters
1. Port Vila in Vanuatu
2. Tuguegarao in Cagayan
3. Lucena in Quezon province
4. Manila
5. San Fernando in Pampanga
6. Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija
7. Batangas
8. Taipei
9. San Carlos
10.Naga in Bicol Region
The following statements explain why the Philippines is
vulnerable to natural disasters specifically from the effects of
Climate Change (Climate Change Primer Manuscript, 2014):
The Philippines lies in the Pacific typhoon belt and we are
visited by an average of 20 typhoons every year.
The rugged nature of our landscape makes our communities
very vulnerable to landslides, mudflows and other disasters.
The Philippines is an archipelagic country with many small
islands.
Many of our areas are also at or below sea level, and this
makes us vulnerable to flooding and worst, inundation with
rise in sea level.
Continuation…
■ With one of the longest coastlines in the world at 32,400 kilometers, we have
many areas that are vulnerable to storm surges.
■ The Philippines is still a primarily agricultural and fishing economy.
Disruptions in agricultural and fishery production and destruction of our
ecosystems will have devastating effects on our economy and food security.
■ Natural hazards risk is compounded in the Philippines by poor institutional
and societal capacity to manage, respond and recover from natural hazards
events.
■ The Philippines is considered “high risk” in terms of the country’s ability to
manage and mitigate the impacts of natural hazards and in part due to
“entrenched corruption and high levels of poverty” (Rappler, 2014)
■ Aside from being at risk to typhoons, the Philippines is also at risk to volcanic
eruptions quakes, and floods.

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What are the main factors that determine vulnerability?

What are the four main types of vulnerability discussed in the document?

Module 2: Exposure, Vulnerability and Capacity

1. Explain the meaning of exposure,

2. Which Barangay is more will likely experience more

3. What features are found in Barangay Masigasig that

and very young

Inadequate protection measures

Lack of public information and awareness

Disregard for wise environmental management.

Limited official recognition of risks and preparedness

■ Refers to the inability of people,

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