12

Disaster
Readiness and
Risk Reduction
Quarter 1 – Module 4
Recognizing Vulnerability of
Exposed Elements

Department of Education • Republic of the Philippines

Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 – Module 4: Recognizing Vulnerability of Exposed Elements
First Edition, 2020

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respective copyright owners. The publisher and authors do not represent nor claim ownership
over them.

Published by the Department of Education

Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones
Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio

Development Team of the Module

Authors: Louise A. Ferrer, Mark Anthony C. Mamon, Emerina Clarisse R. Bernante,
Cheryl A. Retio
Editor: Ma. Lanie A. Socorro, Ed.D.
Reviewers: Raquel M. Austero, Ph.D.
Illustrator: Mark Anthony C. Mamon
Layout Artist: Louise A. Ferrer
Management Team: Malcolm S. Garma, Director IV
Genia V. Santos, CLMD Chief
Dennis M. Mendoza, Regional EPS In-Charge of LRMS
Micah S. Pacheco, Regional ADM Coordinator
Violeta M. Gonzales, CID Chief
Jennifer L. Tubello, Division EPS In-Charge of LRMS &
Division ADM Coordinator

Printed in the Philippines by ________________________

Department of Education – National Capital Region

Office Address: Misamis St., Bago Bantay, Quezon City

____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Telefax: 02-929-0153
____________________________________________
E-mail Address: ____________________________________________
depedncr@deped.gov.ph
 12

Disaster
Readiness and
Risk Reduction
Quarter 1 – Module 4
Recognizing Vulnerability of
Exposed Elements

This instructional material was collaboratively developed and reviewed

by educators from public and private schools, colleges, and or/universities. We
encourage teachers and other education stakeholders to email their feedback,
comments, and recommendations to the Department of Education at
action@deped.gov.ph.

We value your feedback and recommendations.

Department of Education • Republic of the Philippines

Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

This module adheres to the learning competencies of the K-12 Curriculum. This module
helps the learners understand the vulnerability of exposed elements based on the
principles and guidelines of disaster risk reduction and management. This module is
a useful learning material that provides the learning objectives, pretest, lesson proper,
enrichment activities, generalization, application, assessment and additional activities.

For the learner:

This module is created to give meaningful learning on exposure and vulnerability

through clear and comprehensive discussions about the concepts and through
engaging and relevant activities. This module also allows the learners to reflect and
apply disaster risk reduction and management in everyday life.

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 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. You will never know
when a disaster will strike. This module is here to help you understand the basic
concept of Recognizing the Vulnerability of Exposed Elements. This module will help
you understand the relation of hazard, exposure and vulnerability to disaster risk. It
aims to equip you through discussions and activities that will help you learn the
concepts, terminologies, ideas, and relevant information about the lesson.

The module is all about Recognizing Vulnerability of Exposed Elements, as

well as the understanding of their relation to disaster risk.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. recognize vulnerabilities of different elements exposed to specific hazards; and

2. differentiate among hazards, exposure, and vulnerabilities and explain the
relationship of the three to disaster risk.

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 What I Know

Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. Disaster risk is a function of ______.

A. capacity and hazard
B. vulnerability and exposure.
C. hazard, exposure and vulnerability.
D. hazard, exposure, vulnerability and capacity.

2. Which of the following is a mitigation measure for rainfall-induced landslide?

A. Follow evacuation procedures.
B. Conduct tree planting programs.
C. Relocate communities to safer places.
D. Commercialize forests and mountainous areas.

3. Which of the following shows vulnerable societal elements?

A. Anxiety level and mental instability.
B. Electrical and communication lines.
C. Low sales and business production.
D. Low quality materials in building roads.

4. Which of the following can completely avoid a hazard or exposure to its effects?
A. adaptation C. prevention
B. mitigation D. vulnerability

5. Which of the following shows vulnerable physical elements?

A. business closure C. persons with disability
B. low food supply D. residences near a fault line

6. Which of the following shows vulnerable environmental elements?

A. business operations C. raw materials
B. land area D. senior citizens

7. Which of the following has low vulnerability to fire hazard?

A. densely populated areas C. pregnant women
B. establishments D. price of commodities

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8. Which of the following has low vulnerability to hazards?
A. health services C. public transport system
B. insurance companies D. tourism activities

9. How can you lessen disaster risk?

A. decrease vulnerability C. increase hazard
B. increase exposure D. reduce capacity

10. Which of the following practices can reduce exposure?

A. Install warning devices.
B. Predict occurrence of disaster.
C. Provide disaster training to all populations.
D. None of the above.

11. Which of the following is TRUE when reducing vulnerability of exposed

elements to a specific hazard?
A. It may increase vulnerability to other hazards.
B. It does not affect vulnerability to other hazards.
C. It may also reduce vulnerability to other hazards.
D. None of the above.

12. Which of the following is more vulnerable to strong winds brought about by
typhoon?
A. elevated structures
B. community within a valley
C. building with concrete walls
D. residences with little or no gaps in between

13. Which of the following is more vulnerable to earthquake hazard?

A. steel bridge
B. engineered 3-storey building
C. newly constructed building with no permit
D. 10-year old condominium in a modern city

14. Which of the following is more vulnerable to rain-induced landslides?

A. agricultural plain C. elevated structures
B. coastal community D. valley community

15. Which of the following groups is the least vulnerable to disaster?

A. farmers C. rescue team
B. laborers D. students

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 Lesson
Recognizing Vulnerability
1 of Exposed Elements

Disasters such as such as fire, earthquake, typhoon, landslide and many

others, can be natural or man-made. With the dangers that these events pose, we
can't just stay calm and let these disasters get ahead of us. The possible harm
brought about by these disasters can be prevented or reduced through proper
assessment and evaluation. It is necessary to anticipate these disasters and plan
ahead about what should be done in order to promote public safety and minimize
losses.

What’s In

In the last module, you learned about exposed elements and dimensions of
vulnerability. Vulnerability may vary across various sectors of society. Can you
identify sectors that are more vulnerable than others? What should be done to reduce
their vulnerability?

Notes to the Teacher

Encourage students to be responsible members of their
community and the society. Remind them that disaster prevention
will be more effective if everyone will take part in it.

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 What’s New

Activity 1. My dream house

Directions: Describe your dream house by answering the questions below.

A. Where will your dream house be located? (describe the place or specify a
location)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
B. Describe the interior of your dream house (building material, design,
furniture, contents etc.).

Floor
Walls

Ceiling
Living Room
Kitchen

Bedroom
Other
Rooms/
Areas/
Special
Features

Answer the following questions:

1. What disaster/s is/are likely to affect your dream house?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

2. Explain how your dream house is vulnerable or not to fire, earthquake, and
typhoon.

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

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 What is It

Recognizing vulnerability to specific hazards

Recognizing vulnerability is the same as identifying the weakness of exposed
elements. Exposed elements may vary from individuals, residential households and
communities, commercial establishments, public facilities, transport systems,
agricultural products or environmental assets. These are some factors that make an
exposed element vulnerable to a hazard:

1. Structure location and elevation – structures built on soft soil are more
vulnerable to liquefaction, earthquake-induced landslides or tsunami run-off.
Structures built on coastal areas are vulnerable to storm surge and tsunami
while those in mountain-sides are susceptible to landslides. Elevated
structures are less vulnerable to flooding but may have increased vulnerability
to other hazards due to difficulty in evacuation or more severe effects of the
hazard. Patterns created by location of land forms, establishments and
settlements may increase wind speed (funnel effect) during typhoons,
producing greater damage.

2. Number of structures in a system or locality and gaps in between –

adjacent structures are vulnerable to domino effect in during fire or collapse
during earthquake. Proximity to high tension cables can ignite fires. Narrow
entrance and exit for evacuation may further increase negative effects of
disaster.

3. Number of storeys, building materials, structure shape and symmetry –

vulnerability of a building may increase with its height but this can be negated
by proper engineering design and quality control. Type of material may
influence its vulnerability. Rigid materials may withstand earthquakes but
may cause difficulty of evacuation in other types of hazard. Complex shapes
and asymmetry may have unequal stress distribution, leading to collapse.
Light-weight materials such as wood are vulnerable to several hazards as they
easily weaken and deteriorate. Similarly, structures with light foundation may
also be pulled from the ground.

4. Building content and furnishings – equipment, cabinets, racks, and

decorative items should be anchored and restrained. Improper location of
heavy equipment, doors and windows may create vulnerable situations.

5. Hazardous materials – improper storage and unattended usage of flammable

materials can cause accidents. They may also cause serious problems if

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 control devices (valves) are not installed. They should also be properly
restrained to prevent accidents.

6. Population of marginalized people – this includes the poor, ethnic and

religious minorities, children, elderly, and other vulnerable sectors.

7. Literacy rate and lack of awareness – people with lower literacy rate and low
level of knowledge and awareness may have reduced capacity to respond and
recover from disaster.

8. Family type – the number of people living in a household may influence their
vulnerability. A nuclear family may have limited manpower to respond to
disaster compared to those with extended families but could also be
independent enough to respond on their own. Extended families may or may
not may have enough capacity to respond and recover from disaster.

Hazard, Exposure, Vulnerability and Disaster Risk

Disaster risk is the possible death, injury or destruction to property that
could happen to a community or system in any time period, predicted in
consideration of hazard, exposure of elements at risk and vulnerability. Variations
in hazard, exposure and vulnerability determine disaster risk. It can be illustrated in
the equation below:

Disaster Risk = Hazard x Vulnerability x Exposure

Reduction of any factor, whether occurrence of hazard, vulnerability of

exposed elements, or number and types of elements at risk, will also lessen disaster
risk. If the hazard does not occur, there is no risk. Similarly, if the exposed elements
have low vulnerability, there is no or low disaster risk. In order to reduce disaster
risk, a community should address and prioritize the safety of exposed elements with
high vulnerability. This can be done by recognizing vulnerability of exposed elements
and employing prevention, mitigation and adaptation measures.

Reducing Disaster Risk

1. Prevention - aims to completely avoid or eliminate the hazard or the exposure
to its effects. Some examples include immunization to eliminate possible cases
of disease, ordinances that prohibit human or business settlement in
dangerous areas, and construction of dams along major rivers to control flood.

2. Mitigation – aims to reduce, lessen and limit the hazard or the exposure to
its effects through external intervention methods. As there are instances
where exposed elements cannot be removed, mitigation measures are carried
out to make them less vulnerable. Some examples include putting up of flood

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 walls or barriers, reforestation along steep slopes, and construction of
retaining walls in the mountain side.

3. Adaptation – also aims to reduce, lessen and limit the hazard or the exposure
to its effects. Unlike mitigation measures, adaptation is more inclined to
changes in human behavior to reduce exposure and vulnerability. Examples
include avoiding octopus connection for electrical devices, and practicing
cough etiquette to prevent spread of disease.

What’s More

Activity 2. A Closer Look

Directions: Study the communities in the images below. Complete the table by filling
out the vulnerability of exposed elements in these communities to hazards. An
example is done for you using fire and flood hazard. You may use separate sheets if
necessary.

Figure 1: Coastal Community

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/images/uploads/F
eaturedImage_fisherman4_150923_1416.png

Vulnerability of Exposed Elements

Hazard
Houses Belongings People
 Houses are made of wood and other  Elevated houses  Elevated houses will make it
lightweight materials that can easily will make it difficult to evacuate the
catch fire difficult to house.
 Houses are near each which can evacuate personal  Single doorway may be
Fire
make the fire spread faster. belongings. affected by fire which can
 Elevated houses are exposed to trap people inside a burning
strong winds which can make fire house.
difficult to extinguish
 Elevated houses will not be reached  Untied boats may  People inside the elevated
by flood but in severe and be swept by the house are unlikely to be
unexpected cases of high tide. current. affected by flood unless the
Flood
 Stilts and house foundation may be water level rises high enough
worn off by long-time exposure to to reach the doorway.
water.

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 Figure 2: Community in the mountain-side

https://assets.rappler.com/AF9EF9F058504773987B
6BEC9EB74F9A/img/111FC201C16D46E2ABEFA028
756F7BE7/la-trinidad-benguet-art-house-20160623-
003.jpg

Vulnerability of Exposed Elements

Hazard
Houses Belongings People

earthquake

typhoon

Figure 3: Densely-populated urban community

https://borgenproject.org/wp-
content/uploads/10_Facts_About_Poverty_in_Manila-
768x508.jpg

Vulnerability of Exposed Elements

Hazard
Houses Belongings People

earthquake

typhoon

fire

Answer the following questions:

1. Does the vulnerability of households vary with different hazards? Why or why
not?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

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 2. What does this imply about what the residents can do to reduce vulnerability
to multiple hazards?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Activity 3. A Look into the Past

Directions: Identify the hazard, exposed elements and vulnerability that led to the
occurrence of negative impacts of the disaster. An example is done for you. You may
use separate sheets.

Disaster: Typhoon Yolanda in November 2013

Most affected area: Tacloban, Leyte
Negative impacts: loss of lives, damaged infrastructures, trauma to survivors
Hazard/s Exposed elements Vulnerability
Strong winds, heavy Residential houses,  Physical structures made with
rains, storm surge, people, light materials materials may be
flooding damaged and blown away by
strong winds or be submerged in
flood.
 People may drown or get injured in
the flood.
 debris flown by strong winds may
cause damage and injury

Strategies to reduce disaster risk:

 If area is vulnerable to storm surge, prepare evacuation plan and
emergency kit ahead of time to minimize injury and life loss.
 Determine the height that water may possibly rise and employ safety
measures to avoid construction in those areas.
 Inform the common people on what should be done and where they can
evacuate in case such hazard happens.

Choose from the following past disasters that hit the Philippines
 Mt. Pinatubo eruption
 COVID-19 pandemic
 Star City Fire
 Chery Hills Landslide
Disaster: _____________________________________________________________________
Most affected area: ___________________________________________________________
Negative impacts:
Hazard/s Exposed elements Vulnerability

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 Strategies to reduce disaster risk:

Answer the following questions:

1. How did the hazards, exposed elements and vulnerabilities lead to the
negative impacts of disasters that happened in the past?

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. How can this help in reducing disaster risk for disasters that can happen
in the future?

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

What I Have Learned

1. What factors influence the vulnerability of exposed elements to specific

hazards?
2. How is hazard, exposure and vulnerability related to disaster risk?
3. How can disaster risk be reduced?

What I Can Do

The Philippines is affected yearly by typhoons. Due to climate change, the

frequency and impacts of these typhoons are likely to worsen in the future. What are
the prevention, mitigation and adaptation strategies that you can do to address it?

Directions: Set a meeting with the members of your household. Fill out the table
with strategies that you can use to deal with typhoons.

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 Prevention

Mitigation

Adaptation

Assessment

Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. Which of the following can reduce a hazard or exposure to its effects?

A. prevention and mitigation C. prevention only
B. adaptation and mitigation D. mitigation only

2. Which of the following has low vulnerability to armed conflict?

A. children C. business operations
B. endangered species D. safety and security

3. Which of the following shows vulnerable physical elements to fire?

A. tourism activities C. livelihood and business
B. ethnic minority groups D. residential establishments

4. Which of the following can increase vulnerability of persons with disability?

A. limited escape routes C. variety of learning modes
B. lack of communication lines D. complete medical facilities

5. Which of the following is included in vulnerability monitoring and

assessment?
A. availability of healthcare C. water quality
B. power source D. All of the above

6. Which of the following may decrease vulnerability of environmental elements?

A. tourism ban C. poverty
B. protection laws D. alternative water sources

7. How can you reduce vulnerability?

A. increase exposure C. decrease vulnerability
B. increase hazard D. decrease hazard

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8. Which of the following can decrease disaster risk to fire?
A. Use light-weight construction materials.
B. Skip issuance of building permits.
C. Remove vulnerable populations.
D. Install warning devices.

9. Which of the following includes changes in human behavior to reduce hazard

or the exposure to its effects?
A. adaptation C. prevention
B. mitigation D. vulnerability

10. Which of the following is a prevention practice for fire?

A. Monitor the use of flammable materials.
B. Do not use flammable materials.
C. Install warning device.
D. None of the above

11. Why are old buildings, bridges and towers more vulnerable to disaster?
A. Their construction were not monitored by trained personnel.
B. Materials used are not as strong as when they were new.
C. They have been abandoned.
D. None of the above.

12. What can be done to reduce the vulnerability of marginalized sectors to

disaster?
A. Conduct trainings to promote awareness and resilience.
B. Relocate them to more safe evacuation centers.
C. Provide income-generating opportunities.
D. None of the above.

13. Why are light-weight materials more vulnerable to typhoon?

A. They easily catch fire
B. They change color when wet.
C. They withstand strong winds.
D. They deteriorate faster through time.

14. Elevation can make a structure less vulnerable to flood. What make an
elevated structure vulnerable to other disasters?
A. difficult evacuation
B. less exposure to hazard
C. cannot withstand ground shaking
D. All of the above.

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 15. What can be done to reduce vulnerability of a room to earthquake?
A. Plan location of furniture to allow free movement
B. Secure heavy equipment with screw or straps.
C. Identify escape routes.
D. All of the above.

Additional Activities

Taal Volcano recently erupted in January 12, 2020 which brought about
millions worth of damage and has affected thousands of families. Its effects have
reached adjacent provinces as well as Metro Manila. We do not know when it would
erupt again or even for the other active volcanoes in our country. We should be
prepared for these hazards.

Directions: Assess the vulnerability of your house, its contents and occupants to
volcanic eruption by filling out the table.

House Contents Occupants

Level of
vulnerability
(Low, Medium,
High)

Reason

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 16
What I Know What’s New Assessment
1. C Activity 1 1. B
2. B 2. B
3. A 1. Answers may vary. Any disaster can affect a household. 3. D
4. C 2. Answers may vary depending on the material the student 4. A
5. D answered. 5. D
6. B 6. B
7. D 7. C
8. B What’s More 8. D
9. A 9. A
10. D Activity 2 10. A
11. A 11. B
1. Answers may vary. In some cases, the vulnerability of
12. C 12. A
households vary for different hazards since the situations
13. C 13. D
are different. A house may be vulnerable to fire but may
14. D 14. A
be resilient to flood. It may be difficult to evacuate a house
15. C 15. D
with a single entry and exit point.
2. Answers may vary. Residents can strengthen and modify
their households to be able to overcome the possible
effects of any hazard. They can also use strategies to
reduce their vulnerability if complete relocation is not
possible.
Activity 3
1. Some of the hazards happened unexpectedly, leaving the
people with its negative effects. The vulnerabilities of the
exposed elements combined together as people neglected
the warning signs as well as they did not prepare enough
to reduce the vulnerabilities.
2. The disaster risk can be reduced when the people are
aware of the possible hazards that may happen and they
employ strategies to deal with the vulnerabilities that they
have identified for specific hazards. It is highly
recommended to expect what would happen and employ
preventive and mitigation measures before the disasters
occur.
What I Have Learned
1. Factors that influence the vulnerability of exposed elements
to specific hazards include structure location, elevation,
number of structures in a locality, gaps in between
structures, storeys of a building, building material,
structure shape and symmetry, building content, presence
of hazardous materials, population of marginalized people,
literacy and awareness of people and family type. Answers
are not limited to the mentioned factors.
2. Disaster risk is eliminated when a hazard does not occur.
Also, the absence of exposed elements reduces disaster
risk. Recognizing the vulnerability of exposed elements and
practicing strategies to reduce their vulnerabilities also
lowers disaster risk.
3. In order to reduce disaster risk, a community should assess
the vulnerability of exposed elements to different hazards
and promote the use of prevention, mitigation and
adaptation strategies.
Answer Key
References
“Cyclone Resistant Building Architecture Prepared by:- Ankush Agarwal Technical
Officer (Hazard Vulnerability Reduction) GoI -UNDP, Disaster Risk
Management Programme.” 2007.
https://www.unisdr.org/files/11711_CycloneArchitecture1.pdf.

“Emerging Perspectives Environment and Vulnerability Prepared on Behalf of the UN

ISDR Environment and Disaster Working Group.” n.d. Accessed July 11,
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and_Vulnerability.pdf.

“Hazard, Risk,Vulnerability and Disaster?” n.d. Accessed December 8, 2019.

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Risk.pdf.

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https://www.unisdr.org/we/inform/terminology.

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Commission on Higher Education. 2016. Teaching Guide for Senior High School:
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Schools Resource Manual. http://psba.edu/wp-
content/uploads/2018/07/Disaster-Risk-Reduction-Resource-Manual-
2008.pdf.

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Readiness and Risk Reduction - Reader. Pasig City: Lexicon Press, Inc.
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Inyang, Oduduabasi. 2018. “Student Working Paper No.1 Vulnerability of Urban

Primary and Secondary Schools to Fire Hazards: A Qualitative Study in
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https://www.urbanark.org/sites/default/files/resources/further%20edited
%20INYANG%20WORK_2018-%20FINAL.pdf.

Parena Jr., J.S., and J.D.A. Ramos. 2016. Exploring Life through Science Series:
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Lorimar Publishing, Inc.

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United States Agency for International Development. 2011. Introduction to Disaster
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https://www.preventionweb.net/files/26081_kp1concepdisasterrisk1.pdf.

United States Agency for International Development. n.d. ASEAN Regional Risk and
Vulnerability Assessment Guidelines. https://asean.org/wp-

Westen, Cees van, Nanette Kingma, and Lorena Montoya. n.d. Guide Book, Session
4: Elements at Risk.
http://drm.cenn.org/training_materials/Session%2004%20Elements%20at
%20risk.pdf.

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For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Bureau of Learning Resources (DepEd-BLR)

Ground Floor, Bonifacio Bldg., DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig

City, Philippines 1600

Telefax: (632) 8634-1072; 8634-1054; 8631-4985

Email Address: blr.lrqad@deped.gov.ph * blr.lrpd@deped.gov.ph

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