UNIT 2 LESSON 1: VULNERABILITY LESSON 2: VULNERABILITY OF SECTORS OF SOCIETY

TO DISASTERS
Vulnerability is one of the determinants of the effects
and impacts of hazards. If the experiences of a certain The following factors may affect different sectors of
community to typhoons have a long history of society:
disasters and failed response, it could learn from it
Socio-Economic Factors
and change its ways of life. Vulnerability affects how
Socio-economic status or wealth plays a vital role on
people live, their resources, and their capacity to
why some sectors of society are more vulnerable than
address hazards.
others. Rich or developed countries do not suffer as
Factors Affecting Vulnerability much relative to developing nations when a natural
hazard occurs. Disasters might affect the supply of
Physical
food and other essential commodities and services of
● Location (e.g. nearness to bodies of water, volcano,
a country.
and other landslide-prone areas)
● Environment (e.g. tall and old trees, stray dogs and Demographic Factors
cats, wild animals, and dengue-affected area) Settlement patterns and population density that is
● Structural (e.g. no perimeter fence, improper both associated with urbanization increase
electrical wiring installation, non-compliant with vulnerability to disaster risk. Rapid urbanization
building code, fire exits are too narrow, slippery comes with ballooning of population. It has increased
hallways, broken window glasses) the number of people exposed and vulnerable to
disaster risk. Due to its rapidness, unplanned
Social
development and poor infrastructure pose a serious
● absence or lack of implementation of DRRM
threat.
committee
● lacking or unknown contingency plan LESSON 3: VULNERABILITY OF CERTAIN STRUCTURES
● unclear protocols TO HAZARDS
● no organized evacuation drills
Engineered construction: These structures are
● no early warning system
building-code compliant. These are designed,
● uncooperative neighborhood
planned, and built by competent structural engineers
● local community leaders are not trained in DRRM
and architects. These constructions also followed the
● absence or lack of DRRM related facilities and
process of securing a building permit, thus ensuring
equipment such as fire extinguishers, first aid kits,
the compliance with safety standards that can
ambulance, and others
withstand earthquakes and other similar hazards.
Motivational
Non-engineered construction: These structures are
● No coordination between local leaders and
designed by incompetent engineers and architects,
community people.
meaning they do not have a building permit. In the
● Funds for DRRM were diverted to other programs
same manner, they also do not follow the safety
and initiatives.
standards of building construction.
● Local leaders are unwilling to integrate DRRM into
their programs and initiatives. Owner-built buildings: These buildings or houses are
mainly constructed by their respective owners with
Types of Vulnerability
the guidance of a head-mason or master-carpenter
A. Physical vulnerability pertains to potential damages
who probably lack knowledge and competent skills on
a hazard can do to physical structures including
making earthquake-proof buildings. Just like non-
buildings, houses, and transportation systems (roads,
engineered constructions, these types of
railways, airports, and seaports).
developments or structures do not have the necessary
B. Social vulnerability is defined as “the people’s building permit and do not follow safety standards for
capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover buildings and houses.
from impacts of natural hazards” (Wisher, et al. 2004).
Structural Vulnerability
There are many factors affecting the social
1. Location: It primarily dictates the type and degree
vulnerability of a certain community or group such as
of vulnerability of the structure. If the building is built
economic status, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, and
on the slopes or sides of the mountains, it is more
disability.
vulnerable to landslides than those buildings situated LESSON 4: ELEMENTS EXPOSED TO HAZARDS
on the plains.
Exposure can be described as the situation of
2. Number of surrounding buildings: The vibration of
communities including its people, residences,
neighboring buildings might affect its strength and
infrastructure, and economic resources that are
durability especially if the surrounding buildings are
located in areas that are hazard-prone (UNISDR,
older and weaker, much more if they are non-
2017).
engineered ones.
3. Number of stories: Vulnerability increases when Exposure Drivers
height increases.
4. Shape: Complex shapes (e.g., L-shape, Y-shape, H- Urbanization and the creation of major cities make
shape, etc.) increase the building’s vulnerability to people and other sectors of society concentrated in
damage and destruction during an earthquake. areas exposed to hazards due population growth,
5. Symmetry: Symmetrical planned structures as well migration, urbanization and economic development
as in elevations (both directions) perform much better (UNISDR, 2009). Previous disasters can drive exposure
than an asymmetrical building during an earthquake. by forcing people from their lands and to increasingly
6. Age of building: While other buildings 50 years and unsafe areas. Economic opportunities are most likely
above still stands today, there are also old buildings the reason why people choose to live in many hazard-
that pose hazards to occupants and surrounding prone areas, such as floodplains, coastlines, and the
houses or buildings. Majority of these old structures urban regions of a country.
are churches that are more vulnerable to Overpopulation as well as urban development
earthquakes. increase chances of spreading risk to people and
7. Typology: Materials used to build these structures assets. Developed cities become densely populated as
also affect the degree of its vulnerability. more capital is being invested in these areas. More
8. Alteration: An original nine-story building that was jobs are created as a result of urbanization and people
altered and was added additional floor is more living in rural areas migrate to cities to look for jobs.
vulnerable to an earthquake because its structural This scenario can make the effect of a disaster worse.
frame was designed for only nine-stories.
9. Maintenance: If owners poorly manage the REMEMBER!
building, eventually it will become more vulnerable Urban development, previous disasters, economic
because the unseen deterioration of interior and opportunities, cultural and religious reasons are
structural frames. examples of exposure drivers.

Non-structural vulnerability Elements Exposed to Hazards

Physical aspects refer to a location-specific context for
This pertains to other parts of a house or building that human-environment interaction (Smithers and Smith,
were not designed or planned with a structural 1997) and the material world (e.g., built structures).
engineer:
Physical aspects of geography, location, and place;
● walls● ceilings● light fixtures● doors and frames● settlement patterns; and physical structures including
electrical equipment● mechanical equipment infrastructure located in hazard-prone areas or with
● plumbing● electrical Installation deficiencies in resistance or susceptibility to damage.
Aside from these two main physical structures that
are vulnerable to disaster risk, there are also critical
facilities in a community that are vulnerable in times
of emergencies. These facilities play important roles in
rescue, relief, and rehabilitation:

● hospital● water supply facilities● electrical

distribution facilities● telecommunication lines
● transportation hubs such as airports, seaports, road,
rails, and bridges● schools that serve as evacuation
areas/center
LESSON 5: ELEMENTS EXPOSED TO PARTICULAR Social vulnerability encompasses identifying people’s
HAZARRDS capacity to cope with hazards, being able to form a
structured organization, and creating an
Natural phenomena such as typhoons, earthquakes,
implementation of proper disaster risk reduction and
volcano eruptions are natural events and are beyond
management.
the control of the human power. Such situations may
directly or indirectly cause risk and hazards to people. Environmental vulnerability describes the potential
degradation of the surrounding landscapes including
Elements Exposed to Particular Hazards
bodies of land and water, and biodiversity due to
The conduct of disaster risk assessment is an essential hazards. This vulnerability is of great concern because
activity which can practically determine the different of the environment’s diverse role to the people and
elements exposed to certain types of hazards. The the community.
vulnerability of such elements if not recognized and
Economic vulnerability identifies the potential losses
given action can be considered as an impending
of resources of the people and the community. This is
disaster.
linked to other types of vulnerabilities. Economic
In this situation, we can say that without any losses are incurred when physical disasters occur.
knowledge on these elements such as housing Destruction of houses, buildings, or infrastructures
infrastructures, material possessions, assets, as well has a significant effect on the resources of a person,
as the people living in particular areas where there community, or business.
are particular hazards; all are exposed to a specific
Poverty is a socioeconomic factor that is of great
level of risk and vulnerability.
concern. It limits the resources of people and the
Specific Types of Elements Exposed to Particular community to cope with hazards.
Hazards
REMEMBER!
An electrical fire is one of the most common disasters
The four types of vulnerabilities are not mutually
which happens in many populated places.
exclusive. They can be linked to one another such as
● Electrical gadgets and appliances left unattended the case for the economic impacts of a vulnerable
● Faulty electrical wirings environment and building structures.
● Faulty outlets and outdated appliances
Capacity to Cope with Hazards
● Light fixtures
● Extension cords Hazards are difficult, if not impossible, to remove
● Space heater from a particular area. Exposure of element is much
● Biological substances and chemicals easier to reduce. Reducing the vulnerabilities of
different elements exposed to hazards can be done.
LESSON 6: VULNERABILITIES OF ELEMENTS EXPOSED
TO HAZARDS

REMEMBER!

Exposure and vulnerability are two different things.

Two elements can be exposed in the same setting but
have different levels of vulnerability.

Types of Vulnerabilities of Elements Exposed to

Hazards

Physical vulnerability refers to objects that are

susceptible to hazards. This includes classifying the
vulnerability of different elements such as houses,
buildings, and infrastructure.
LESSON 7: HAZARDS, EXPOSURE, VULNERABILITIES

Hazard Hazard is defined by the United Nations Office

for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) [2 February
2017] as “a process, phenomenon or human activity
that may cause loss of life, injury or other health
impacts, property damage, social and economic
disruption or environmental degradation”. There are
three (3) main types of hazards; natural,
anthropogenic, and socio-natural.

● Natural hazards are predominantly associated with

natural processes and phenomena (UNISDR, 2017).
These hazards are impossible to prevent. Natural
hazards can further be categorized as biological,
geological/geophysical, and hydro-meteorological,
depending on its origin.