L E S S O N 5

VULNERABILITY
AFTER GOING THROUGH THIS LESSON,
YOU ARE EXPECTED TO:

Define define vulnerability;

Determine determine what makes a community vulnerable or not;

assess events situations delicately to identify vulnerability level and oping capacity and
Assess ability; and

manage personal beliefs through knowing the importance of identifying exposure and
Manage vulnerability to disaster.
SPOT THE
HAZARD:
 AFTER IDENTIFYING THE
HAZARDS, CAN YOU INF E R ON
T H E V U L N E R A B I L I T I E S T H AT
PEOPLE MIGHT BE SUSCEPTIBLE
TOWARDS?
A N D W H AT W I L L B E YO U R P L A N
O F A C T I O N T O AV O I D H A R M ?
Predisposition
Weakness

VULNERABILITY

Lack of capacity Fragility

 EXPLAIN THE MEANING
OF VULNERABILITY

Vulnerability can determine the ability of

a person or a group to predict, cope
with, resist and recover from the effects
of a natural or human-induced threat.
As vulnerability increases, it means that
the population is at greater risk of
suffering from a severe natural danger.
VULNERABILITY DEFINED

Vulnerability is a state of being at risk. According to Republic Act 10121

also known as ‘Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of
2010’, vulnerability is defined as the characteristics and circumstances of a
community, system or resource that make it susceptible to the damaging
effects of a hazard. With all the identified hazard at home, there is a
possibility that some family members might be susceptible or prone to the
accident due to the presence of hazard.
Vulnerability is also situation specific. This means that if a specific province is
prone to earthquake, it does not mean that all localities on that province is
vulnerable to it. The vulnerability of different towns or cities or even
provinces differ in the way they prepare for the hazard and the amount and
type of resources they have in order prevent and manage it. To
lessen vulnerability means to make the community prepared and ready for
the possible damaging effect of the hazard. This further means that to make
the community less vulnerable, it must be resilient. So, to develop resiliency
at home, you should first identify the hazards and be prepared all the time
for the possible outcome and respond immediately.
Moreover, it is also hazard specific. A community that is vulnerable to
earthquake hazard does not necessarily mean that it is also vulnerable to
typhoons. Hazards have different traits that can influence the disasters
possible to happen.
T Y P E S O F V U L N E R A B I L I T Y:
1. PHYSICAL VULNERABILITY (e.g. poor design and construction of buildings, unregulated
house planning)
2. SOCIAL VULNERABILITY (e.g. poverty and inequality, marginalization, social exclusion and
discrimination by gender, social status, disability and age, psychological disposition)
3. ECONOMIC VULNERABILITY (e.g. the uninsured informal sector, vulnerable rural
livelihoods, dependence on single industries, globalization of business and supply chains)
4. ENVIRONMENTAL VULNERABILITY (e.g. poor environmental management,
overconsumption of natural resources, decline of risk regulating ecosystem services,
climate change)
5. ATTITUDINAL VULNERABILITY (e.g. negative attitude, lack of initiative in life, dependent
on external support)
HOW DO WE MEASURE VULNERABILITY?

oVulnerability is complex.
oThere is no one simple method for assessing vulnerability.
oVulnerability analysis involves understanding the root
causes or drivers of vulnerability, but also people’s
capacities cope and recover from disasters.
V U L N E R A B I L I T Y A N D C A PAC I T Y
ASSESSMENTS (VCA)
oVCA considers a wide range of environmental, economic, social, cultural,
institutional and political pressures that create vulnerability and is
approached through a number of different frameworks. According to
Benson, VCA is typically applied as:
oA diagnostic tool to understand problems and their underlying causes.
oA planning tool to prioritise and sequence actions and inputs.
oA risk assessment tool to help assess specific risks.
oA tool for empowering and mobilising vulnerable communities.
HOW DO WE REDUCE VULNERABILITY?
oApproaches to vulnerability reduction include:
✓Implementing building codes
✓Insurance and social protection (risk)
✓Emphasizing economic diversity and resilient livelihoods
✓Knowledge and awareness raising
✓Preparedness measures
HOW DO WE REDUCE VULNERABILITY?

Apply methods, such as:

1. Scientific Method
- This method is used to determine the various indicators to
mitigate or reduce the disaster event activities. It is done through
the considerations of various theories, research, and
methodologies that help in understanding the impact of the
vulnerability in a particular area.
HOW DO WE REDUCE VULNERABILITY?
Apply methods, such as:
2. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in Comprehensive
Emergency Management (CEM)
- CEM is a system of applying science and technology to manage
and deal with disasters that can exert an enormous amount of
damage. It demonstrates four phases in terms of pre and post-
disaster event activities; Response, Recovery, Mitigation and
Preparedness.
HOW DO WE REDUCE VULNERABILITY?
Apply methods, such as:
3. Policy & Programme Methods
- Policy & Programme is an Efficient Way of Characterizing
Disaster Vulnerability. It helps in addressing the challenges related
to adaptation capacity, rehabilitation & long-term reintegration of
the affected community. It is a spatial method which demarcates
prone zone, put in pre and post hazard methodology to tackle
against the vulnerability to disaster.
HOW DO WE REDUCE VULNERABILITY?
Apply methods, such as:
4. Preparedness Method
- Preparedness is a continuous cycle of organizing, training,
equipping, exercising, evaluation, and improvement activities that
ensure effective coordination and the enhancement of capabilities
to prevent, protect against and mitigate against the disaster events.
It helps to categorize the vulnerability to disaster.
REFERENCES
o United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. (n.d.). Vulnerability. PreventionWeb.
Retrieved January 15, 2025, from https://www.preventionweb.net/understanding-
disaster-risk/component-risk/vulnerability
o Career101. (2022, July 19). Disaster vulnerability: Types, characterization & way
forward!. https://career101.in/disaster-vulnerability-types-of-vulnerability-in-disaster-
management/4759/
DIRECTION: READ THE STORY BELOW AND ANSWER THE
QUESTIONS THAT FOLLOW .
Nick and Gary who were neighbors are both students of Looc National High School. Due to
the forecasted typhoon the night before, some waited for the announcement
of classes suspension. Unfortunately, there was no announcement. Nick
decided to go to school bringing his books, notebooks, and laboratory
materials. On the other hand, Gary also decided to go to school bringing not
only his books, notebooks, and laboratory materials but also flashlight,
whistle, and some supplies of food and water. Due to bad weather, the
school janitor blocked off the entrances and exits because the grounds
were flooded. So, Nick and Gary were stranded in a covered court near
the school. Both were trying to call their family, but the signal’s down.
GUIDE QUESTIONS:

2. In the story presented about

Nick and Gary, what were the
1. Who do you think is more actions taken by one student
vulnerable? Nick or Gary? that made him less vulnerable
Why do you think so? to flood? What were the
reasons why the other student
became more vulnerable?
 1. If you are going to base your definition of vulnerability on
the story given, how will you define it?

DIRECTION: 2. Based on the story given previously about Nick and Gary,
BASED ON THE describe what could possibly happen. What have you
realized from their story?
STORY GIVEN
ANSWER
THE FOLLOWING 3. Could it be possible that both students are exposed to the
QUESTIONS same hazard, but they can have different level of
vulnerability? Explain how.
B R I E F LY.

4. Based from the story, is vulnerability situation specific or

hazard specific? Explain.

5. Cite your realization/s about the importance of knowing

one’s capability, strength, and exposure to hazards.
INSPECTION TIME!!

Direction: Since being safe and protected is the number

one GOAL of everyone, let us conduct an
ocular inspection of your school to ensure your safety
against hazards and disasters.
 FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:

3. Using all the hazards

1. Tour around our school 2. As much as possible, that you listed, determine
including the back end make a list of all the what could be
lots and assess if there is/ hazards that you will the possible events that
are hazards observed. observe. may put you and your
classmates at risks.

4. Who among the the 5. Identify the reasons

constituents in your school why that member of the
are prone or susceptible school is vulnerable.
to the listed hazards?
 After knowing the hazards in your
GUIDE school, what is your plan of action to
avoid harm?
QUESTIONS: