This document provides an overview of concepts related to exposure, vulnerability, and hazards. It defines key terms like exposure, vulnerability, and different types of hazards. It discusses how certain populations, sectors, structures, and elements are more vulnerable than others to specific hazards. For example, it notes that the elderly and children are more vulnerable during disasters. Certain key factors that influence vulnerability are also examined, such as wealth, education, governance, and technology. Overall, the document aims to help readers understand and differentiate between hazards, exposure, and vulnerabilities using examples.
2. Learning Competencies
The learners:
1. Enumerate elements exposed to hazards;
2. Explain the meaning of vulnerability;
3. Explain why certain sectors of society are more vulnerable to
disaster than others;
4. Analyze why certain structures are more vulnerable to specific
hazards than others;
5. Determine the elements that are exposed to a particular hazard;
6. Recognize vulnerabilities of different elements exposed to specific
hazards; and
7. Differentiate among hazards, exposure, and vulnerabilities and
give examples from actual situations. others
3. Overview
Exposure refers to the
presence of people, livelihood,
environmental services and
resources, infrastructure, or
economic, social, or cultural
assets in places that could be
adversely affected by physical
events and which, thereby, are
subject to potential future
harm, loss, or damage. It may
be possible to be exposed but
not vulnerable.
5. Various Elements Exposed to Hazards
1. Physical hazard – is
defined as “a factor
within the
environment that
can harm the body
without necessarily
touching it.” For the
examples, vibration
and noise.
6. Various Elements Exposed to Hazards
1. Cultural hazard –
also known as social
hazards, result from
your location,
socioeconomic
status, occupation
and behavioral
choices.
7. Various Elements Exposed to Hazards
1. Economic hazard
– refers to major
natural disasters which
can and do have severe
negative short-run
economic impacts.
8. Various Elements Exposed to Hazards
1. Environmental
hazard – refers to
state of events which
has the potential to
threaten the
surrounding natural
environment and
adversely affect
people’s health.
9. Defining Vulnerability
• Vulnerability is the state of susceptibility to
harm from exposure to stresses associated
with environmental and social change and
from the absence of capacity to adapt.
10. Vulnerable Sectors Include
1. Agriculture and Food
The agriculture sector in
the Philippines is highly
dependent on a constant
water supply and
unpredictable growing
seasons. Climate-related
changes disrupt farming
activities and hamper
agricultural production
resulting physical factors.
11. Vulnerable Sectors Include
2. Watersheds: Forestry,
Biodiversity, and Water
resources
Major river basins in the
Philippines are considered
the lifeblood of the
Philippine economy.
However, because of the
pollution, unstable resource
use and the additional
pressure brought on by
climate change, these areas
have become less viable.
12. Vulnerable Sectors Include
3. Coastal and Marine
Resources
Even without climate
change, many parts of
the Philippines coasts
were already getting
damaged and
deteriorating due to
natural causes or human-
induced activities.
13. Vulnerable Sectors Include
4. Human Health
Infectious diseases that
are climate-sensitive
become vulnerabilities of
a population that is
threatened by the
increasing frequency of
extreme climate events.
Other diseases have re-
emerged or have
become harder to treat.
14. Human Factors
1. Wealth
The poor are less able to afford housing and other
infrastructure that can withstand extreme events,
and less likely to have access to medical care.
15. Human Factors
2. Education
With education, we can learn how to avoid or reduce
many impacts. When populations include professionals
trained in hazards, then these people can help the
populations with their hazards preparations and
responses.
16. Human Factors
3. Governance
They can advance policies that reduce vulnerability. They can
support education and awareness efforts, as well as economic
development to reduce poverty. They can foster social
networks and empower individuals and communities to help
themselves to prepare for and respond to hazards.
17. Human Factors
4. Technology
It can improve our ability to forecast extreme events,
withstand the impacts of events, and recover afterwards.
Wealthier, more educated societies are more likely to
have more advance technology.
18. Human Factors
4. Age
Children and the elderly tend to be more
vulnerable. They have less physical strength to
survive disasters and are often more susceptible to
certain diseases.
19. Human Factors
4. Gender
Women are often more vulnerable to natural hazards
than men. This is in part because women are likely to be
poor, less educated, and politically marginalised, often
due to sexism in societies around the world.
24. References:
• Bagolong, S.P. et al (2016).Disaster Readiness
and Risk Reduction for Senior High. Mutya
Pubishing House, Inc. pp.26-35
Notes de l'éditeur
For example, one may live in a floodplain but have sufficient means to modify building structure and behavior to mitigate potential loss.
According to the World Risk report 2011, the Philippines ranked third among the 173 countries in the world in terms of the exposed country. Year 2013 (rank 1) because of the horrible typhoon locally named ‘Yolanda’
9 International name: Haiyan) that mark a death toll of 6300. This was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, devastating portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines in November 2013.
For example:
Smoking cigarretes is hazardous to your health and this is behavioral choice.
If you live in a neighborhood with lots of crime, this is hazard based on your location.
For example:
Vulnerability is shifting quickly, especially in countries experiencing economic transformation rapid growth, urbanization and related technical and social changes.
90,000 galon
For example:
Pollution and natural disasters (storms n earthquakes)
The length of a growing season varies from place to place. Most crops need agrowing season of at least 90 days. In tropical regions, where it is warm year-round, the growing season can last the entire year. In some tropical places, however, the growing season is interrupted by a rainy season.
Physical factors – nutrient-poor soils
Coastal erosion, coral reefs bleaching
Coastal erosion, coral reefs bleaching
For example, treatment protocols for malaria and TB now require multiple drugs. This pose vulnerabilities in terms of the possibility of drug reactions and added strain on the budget.
Cyclone Nagris
Myanmar government is isolated from the international community and thus was not welcoming to international assistance in the aftermath of the cyclone. Compare to Haiti in 2010 earthquake, Haiti is a poor country but it has positive and close relationships with the international community and thus readily welcomed international assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake.