DRRR

January 19, 2021

EXPOSURE AND VULNERABILITY

Various Elements That May be Exposed to Hazards:

Lack of awareness about the range of consequences of a hazard event is the big reason
why many take natural hazards for granted. People are not the only ones who can be affected by
hazards. One should should however try to think in terms of who and what might be affected if
something goes wrong. Familiarizing yourselves with smaller elements that are exposed to
hazards is no different from doing it with bigger things exposed to bigger sources of danger.

ELEMENTS OF RISK AND EXPOSURE

Elements at risk are:

a. People
b. Properties
c. Economic activities
d. Private and public services
Hazard- refers to the probability of occurrence at a given magnitude.
Exposed elements can refer to the number of people or structures within the exposed area.

DIMENSIONS OF EXPOSURE AND VULNERAABILITY

1. Social Dimension and Vulnerability- covers a wide range of concerns (Including

 migration,
 social groups,
 health and well being
 education
 culture
 institutions
 governance aspects
But demography is the most important aspects.
Population density maps are excellent indicators in the exposure and vulnerability

2. Environmental dimension refer to location and built structures.

Detailed list of the physical elements exposed to various hazards

1. Essential Facilities:
 educational facilities,
 medical and health care facilities ( hospitals, clinics)
 emergency response facilities (fire station, police station, shelters)
 government offices
 recreational or tourists facilities(hotels, resorts, parks, camping grounds,)
 places of worship ( church, mosques)
  banks and financial centers
 markets and shopping centers
 cemeteries

2. Industrial and High potential Loss facilities and facilities containing

hazardous materials
 Dams and ponds
 Fuel reservoirs pipelines and pumps
 Power (electric) generating plants and lines
 Multi-purpose hydropower plants, water tanks, and lines
 Food processing facilities

3. Transportation Lifelines
 Highways, bridges, railway tracks, and tunnels
 Bus facilities
 Port and harbor facilities
 Airport facilities and runways

4. Utility lifelines
 Portable water facilities, waste water facilities, pipelines and distribution
lines
 Oil and natural gas system facilities, pipelines and distribution lines
 Electric power facilities and distribution lines
 Communication facilities (station) and distribution(cables and networks

1. Economic Dimension
Among the economic effects of a hazard event include business interruptions
due to accessibility problems, loss of jobs and access to work and loss of
government income due to inability of business and people to pay taxes at a time
when more funds are needed for relief and rehabilitation. Disaster may also
significantly affect the gross domestic products.

ACTIVITY 2

1. Choose three elements from each of the four physical elements listed above. Take note of
the location of the items you have chosen in your community. Which of this can be
affected in case of:
a. A large magnitude earthquake
b. Flooding due to river flow

2. Analyze the possible consequences of these hazard events to the physical elements you
chose. Examples of consequences are:
 Total or partial building collapse
 Structural damage
  Loss of electric power
 Communication lines down
 Ruptured gas pipes
 Water lines damage
 Explosion
3. Analyze the potential human impact (possible death or injury ) for each consequence you
have listed.