Speech and History

Southern Isabela Academy, Inc.
San Guillermo, Isabela
Quarter 1 – Module 3 Page | 1
What is Vulnerability?
What’s In
Exposure and vulnerability are part and parcel of the disaster equation.
Lack of awareness about the range of consequences of a hazard event is the
big reason why many take natural hazards for granted. In the Philippines, we
have experienced extreme natural or man –made events that have claimed
thousands of lives and damaged billions of pesos worth of property. Some
events are sudden and unexpected like what we are experiencing at present,
where thousands of lives have already been taken by Covid 19 resulting in a
pandemic. Other events ranging from earthquakes and volcanic eruptions has
death toll in history records. Still, even with prior knowledge, Filipinos in
certain localities lack the capacity to reduce their vulnerability to these
extreme destructive occurrences.
These unfortunate events or disasters, will be discussed in this

module, need to be studied and examined to know more about the
environment we are in. As Filipinos, we must be aware that we inhabit a
country that is highly prone to disasters, the dangers it poses, and the
negative impact it can have on both individuals and communities. Students
must learn about coping with disasters and having the tool to reduce their
vulnerability to such events.
This module will provide you with information and activities that will help
you understand vulnerability.
After going through this module, you should be able to:

1. Explain the meaning of vulnerability. (DRR11/12- Ic – 8)
2. Determine the elements that are exposed to a particular hazard
3. Recognize vulnerabilities of different elements exposed to specific hazards.
DISASTER READINESS AND RISK REDUCTION

SECOND SEMESTER • SY 2023-2024
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What’s New
If we are going to shake the table, which object would be affected the most by shaking?
Why do you think it would be affected the most?
What is it
Vulnerability is defined as “the characteristics and circumstances of a community,
system or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard”. For
instance, people who live on plains are more vulnerable to floods than people who live
higher up..
As indicated by United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR),
“there are many aspects of vulnerability arising from various physical, social, economic,
and environmental factors. Examples may include poor design and construction of
buildings, inadequate protection of assets, lack of public information and awareness,
limited official recognition of risks and preparedness measures, and disregard for wise
environmental management”.
Reasons Why Certain Sectors of Society are More Vulnerable to Disaster than
Others
Vulnerability can be seen as the result of a process in which various different things
cause a population to be more vulnerable. This can be split into demographic and socio-
economic. They can also be discussed through the level of community preparedness and
the ability of a community to manage the after effects of a hazard event.
1. Demographic Factors
Population Density – the more dense the population, the more
efficient a response should be, considering the number of people that might be
affected by a disaster.
Age of Population – very old and very young populations are less
mobile and able to respond to hazard events well. This makes them more vulnerable
compared to others, and this requires more attention from the government and other
support agencies especially during emergency evacuation or relocation.
Distribution of population – regardless of density, populations may
be distributed differently within hazard area, e.g. elderly people on lower floors of
apartment buildings, or concentrations of highly vulnerable people in poorer areas of
a city.

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2. Socio-economic factors Page | 3

Wealth – low income populations are less likely to be well prepared.
Part of the preparation is having a Survival Kit that includes tools to be used,
emergency food stock and water that could last for at least 3 to 5 days. Poor families
will find a hard time to do such preparation due to lack of money to spend.
Education – Education programs such as the Metro Manila
Development Authority’s (MMDA) shake drill can instruct populations on how to deal
with hazard events, like the “Big One”- the anticipated 7.8 magnitude earthquake that
may strike Metro Manila anytime
Nature of Society – In highly centralized government structures,
efficient emergency response may be the result of careful planning and training of
personnel. However, it can also lead to bureaucracy and a lack of autonomous
decision making, which slows down distribution of relief goods and emergency
response efforts in case of extreme emergency.
Understanding of the area - Recent immigrants are likely to struggle
to cope with hazard effects compared to established popuplation. Understanding the
area is 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
affected by disaster.
3. Community Preparedness-
Building Codes – Rigorous and applied building codes protect most
buildings from collapse during earthquakes. This should be seriously considered by
the government in the issuance of building permits and licenses for land
development.
Scientific monitoring and early warning systems – Established
monitoring system can prepare people for the onslaught of any kind of disaster
Communication works – Countries with good quality 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.
Preparation for a disaster is embodied in an Emergency Plan. Where monitoring and
communication are in place, the emergency planning is likely to prepare a person or
a group (family) for such events and take action based on data, rather than
prediction.
4. Dealing with the after effects
Insurance cover – Another important aspect of preparation is how to
deal with the after effects of a disaster. Parts of their preparation, individuals
purchase insurance policies to mitigate their losses, thus preparing them better for

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similar future events. Page | 4

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 disaster. However, it should be fast and efficient. Inefficiency and
mismanagement of aids, especially foreign aids, will possibly result to further deaths
and loss of property. Foreign aids in the form of monetary and material aid poured in
immediately after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda.
There are many aspects of vulnerability, arising from various physical, social,
economic, and environemntal factors. Examples may include:
 Poor design and construction of buildings and other infrastructures;
 Inadequate protection measures of assets;
 Lack of public information and awarenesss;
 Limited official recognition of riks and preparedness measures, and
 Disregard for wise environmental management. (ADPC, 2012)
ADPC further emphasized that vulnerability varies significantly within a community

and over time. This defintion identifies vulnerability as a characteristic of the element of
ineterst (community, system or asset) which is independent of its exposure. However, in
common use, the word is often used more broadly to include the element’s exposure.
Acoording to the UNISDR, there are four (4) main types of vulnerability:
TYPES OF VULNERABILITY
A. Physical
- May be determined by aspects such as remoteness of a settlement,
the site, the design and materials used for critical infrastructure and for
housing Example:
1. Wooden homes are less likely to collapse in an earthquake, but are
more vulnerable to fire.
2. Houses built with light materials may not be a problem during an
earthquake, but may be totally damaged by a super typhoon.
- buildings, transportation, lifelines (electricity, water supply), essential
facilities
B. Social
 Refers to the inability of people, organizations and societies to
withstand adverse impacts to hazard due to characteristics inherent
in social interactions, institutions and systems of cultural values.

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 It includes aspects related to levels of literacy and education, the Page | 5

existence of peace and security, access to basic human rights,
systems of good governance, social equity, positive traditional
values, customs and ideological beliefs and overall collective
organizational systems
 People with disabilities, children, seniors, medication-dependent
individuals, women, ethnic minorities, aboriginal or indigenous
people, homeless or street people, incarcerated individuals and
marginalized groups
Example:
1. When flooding occurs some citizens, such as children, elderly and
persons with disability, may be unable to protect themselves or
evacuate if necessary.
2. Educated and well-informed are more likely to survive when disaster
strikes
C. Economic
 The level of vulnerability is highly dependent upon the economic
status of individuals, communities and nations.
 Economic vulnerability is the susceptibility of individuals,
communities, businesses, and governments to absorb or
cushion the effects of a hazard event
 Rural households are more vulnerable than those in urban
because of greater number of people living in poverty.
 Women are more vulnerable than men because they lack
access to livelihood.
Example: poorer families may live in squatter settlements because
they cannot afford to live in safer (more expensive areas)
D. Environmental Elements
 Natural resources depletion and resource degradation are key
aspect of environmental vulnerability
Example: deforestation of mountains due to illegal logging is the
main cause of landslide and mudflows like what happened in
Ormoc, Leyte 1994 and in Infanta, Quezon (2011)
ELEMENTS AT RISK AND EXPOSED TO HAZARDS
Elements at risk are the people, properties, economic activities, and

public and private services potentially threatened by a harmful event.
Risk assessment involves the identification and mapping of the

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elements at risk and the assessment of vulnerability. In order to reduce risk, Page | 6
most of the focus is on reducing vulnerability. Do you know the reason why?
Understanding the elements at risk exposed to each type of hazard is the
first step in reducing vulnerability.
Risk = Hazard X Exposure X Vulnerability

Capacity
As the risk model (RISK = HAZARD x EXPOSURE x

VULNERABILITY) shows, risk is also a function of hazard. Hazard refers to
the probability of occurrence at a given magnitude. In the next module, the
concept of hazard will be discussed in more detail. Exposed element can
refer to the number of people or structures within the exposed area. Figures
for these two types of elements at risk are the most reliable and least
subjective. The combination of both hazard and exposed population
provides the physical exposure.
PhExp = Hazard
x Exposure
Where:
PhP = physical exposure for the affected area
Hazard = probability of occurrence of an event at a given magnitude
Exposure = total population living in the affected area for each event
( Model and variable definition after Peduzzi et al., 2009)
ELEMENTS AT RISK
1. Tangible elements at risk are those things that can be identified,

localized, mapped and quantified
2. Intangible elements are those things that are very difficult to quantify
or map, as they do not have a particular spatial dimension
3. Human beings
4. Dwellings or household and communities
5. Building and structures
6. Public facilities and infrastructure assets
7. Public and transport system.
8. Agricultural commodities
9. Environmental assets

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PHYSICAL ELEMENTS EXPOSED TO HAZARD Page | 7

1. Essential Facilities
 Educational facilities
 Medical and healthcare facilities
 Emergency response facilities
 Recreational or tourist facilities
 Places of worship
 Banks and financial centers
 Markets and shopping centers
 Cemeteries
2. Industrial and high potential loss facilities containing hazardous materials

 dams and ponds
 fuel reservoirs, pipelines, and pumps
 power 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
 utility lifelines
 potable water facilities, waste water facilities, pipelines, and
distribution lines
 oil and natural gas systems facilities, pipelines, and distribution lines
 electric power facilities and distribution lines communication facilities
and distribution lines
DIMENSIONS OF EXPOSURE AND VULNERABILITY
Social
Environmental Economic

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Social, Environmental, and Economic Dimensions of Page | 8

Exposure and Vulnerability
SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMIC

Migration Location Business interruptions
Social groups access to Built structures Loss of jobs and loss of
work Low lying areas government income
Education Coastal regions
Culture Significant effect to
GDP health and well being mountainous areas
Institutions
Demography
STEPS TO REDUCE EXPOSURE TO HAZARD
1. PREVENTION – steps that can be taken to eliminate hazard or

exposure to the hazard.
2. MITIGATION – steps that can be taken to reduce the hazard or

exposure and/or vulnerability of the elements exposed to the hazard.
3. ADAPTATION – modifications in the normal or natural behavior

aimed at reducing the exposure and/or vulnerability to the hazard.
References
Quebral, Villamor S, 2016. Disaster Readiness & Risk Reduction. Quezon City,
Metro Manila, Lorimar Publishing Inc.
-End of Module 3-

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MODULE 3 Page | 9
A. MULTIPLE CHOICE
_____1. It refers to the elements at risk from a natural or man-made hazard event.
a. Vulnerability b. Exposure c. Disaster d. Disaster risk
_____2. Which of the following is NOT an element at risk?
a. Buildings and structures b. Agricultural commodities
c. Human beings d. Rich People
_____3. It refers to intangible elements such as economic activities and infrastructure network.
a. vulnerability b. exposure c. disaster d. disaster risk
_____4. It is the characteristics and circumstances of community, system or asset that make it
susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard.
a. vulnerability b. exposure c. disaster d. disaster risk
_____5. Which of the following is NOT included as reason why certain sectors of society are
vulnerable to disaster than others?
a. population density b. education
c. distribution of population d. occupation of people
_____6. Which of the following is NOT considered as demographic factors as a reason why
certain sectors of society are more vulnerable to disaster than others?
a. Age of Population b. Population Density
c. Wealth d. Distribution of Population
_____7. Which of the following is a socio-economic factor?
a. building codes b. communication networks
c. understanding of the area d. air request
_____8. Outside help in the form of humanitarian aid is necessary during a disaster.
a. insurance cover b. emergency personnel
c. emergency planning d. aid request
_____9. These are trained for community preparedness.
a. insurance cover b. emergency personnel
c. emergency planning d. aid request

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_____10.This may be determined by aspects such as population density levels, remoteness of aPage | 10
settlement, the site, design and materials used for critical infrastructures.
a. physical vulnerability b. social vulnerability
c. economic vulnerability d. environmental vulnerability
_____11. Which of the
following situations is an example of environmental vulnerability?
a. wooden homes are less likely to collapse in an earthquake, but are more vulnerable
to fire.
b. poorer families my live-in squatter settlements because they cannot afford to live in
safe (more expensive) areas.
c. wetlands, such as Agusan Marsh, are sensitive to increasing salinity from sea water,
and pollution from water runoff containing agricultural chemicals, eroded soil, etc.
d. when flooding occurs, some citizens, such as children, elderly and persons with
disability, may be unable to protect themselves or evacuate if necessary.
_____12. Which of the following situations is an example of physical vulnerability?
to fire.
_____13. Which of the following situations is an example of economic vulnerability?
to fire.
_____14. Which of the following situations is an example of social vulnerability?
a.wooden homes are less likely to collapse in an earthquake, but are more vulnerable
to fire.
b.poorer families my live-in squatter settlements because they cannot afford to live in
d.when flooding occurs, some citizens, such as children, elderly and persons with
_____15. What are the three factors of risk?
a. hazard, risk, capacity b. hazard, vulnerability, exposure
c. risk, exposure, vulnerability d. exposure,capacity, vulnerability

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Southern Isabela Academy, Inc.

San Guillermo, Isabela

Quarter 1 – Module 3 Page | 1

These unfortunate events or disasters, will be discussed in this

After going through this module, you should be able to:

DISASTER READINESS AND RISK REDUCTION

DISASTER READINESS AND RISK REDUCTION

2. Socio-economic factors Page | 3

DISASTER READINESS AND RISK REDUCTION

similar future events. Page | 4

ADPC further emphasized that vulnerability varies significantly within a community

DISASTER READINESS AND RISK REDUCTION

 It includes aspects related to levels of literacy and education, the Page | 5

ELEMENTS AT RISK AND EXPOSED TO HAZARDS

Elements at risk are the people, properties, economic activities, and

Risk assessment involves the identification and mapping of the

DISASTER READINESS AND RISK REDUCTION

Risk = Hazard X Exposure X Vulnerability

As the risk model (RISK = HAZARD x EXPOSURE x

PhP = physical exposure for the affected area

Hazard = probability of occurrence of an event at a given magnitude

1. Tangible elements at risk are those things that can be identified,

DISASTER READINESS AND RISK REDUCTION

PHYSICAL ELEMENTS EXPOSED TO HAZARD Page | 7

2. Industrial and high potential loss facilities containing hazardous materials

DIMENSIONS OF EXPOSURE AND VULNERABILITY

DISASTER READINESS AND RISK REDUCTION

Social, Environmental, and Economic Dimensions of Page | 8

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMIC

STEPS TO REDUCE EXPOSURE TO HAZARD

1. PREVENTION – steps that can be taken to eliminate hazard or

2. MITIGATION – steps that can be taken to reduce the hazard or

3. ADAPTATION – modifications in the normal or natural behavior

DISASTER READINESS AND RISK REDUCTION

DISASTER READINESS AND RISK REDUCTION

DISASTER READINESS AND RISK REDUCTION

DISASTER READINESS AND RISK REDUCTION

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