Disaster Readiness

and Risk Reduction

(Week 3)
Exposure and
Vulnerability
Vulnerability - Is a condition or sets of
conditions that reduces people’s ability to
prepare for, withstand or respond to a
hazard
Capacity - Those positive condition or abilities which
increase a community’s ability to deal with hazards.
Risk - The probability that a community’s structure or
geographic area is to be damaged or disrupted by the
impact of a particular hazard, on account of their
nature, construction, and proximity to a hazardous
area.
Disaster Risk – is defined as the potential disaster losses, in
terms of lives, health status, livelihood and/or assets and
services, which could occur to a particular community or a
society over some specified future time period. As these are
often difficult to quantify, it signifies the possibility of
greater adverse effects when it happens.
Exposure – refers to the “element of risk” from the hazardous
event. These may include the following: Human being,
Habitats and communities, Building and structures Public
facilities and infrastructure Transportation and
communication, Agricultural commodities, Economic activities
and Environment or natural resources.
Types of Vulnerability
• Physical Vulnerability
• Social Vulnerability
• Economic Vulnerability
• Environmental Vulnerability
 Types of Vulnerability
Physical Vulnerability – determined by factors such as
population density levels, the strength and durability
of structures located in an area, and accessibility to a
roads and transport networks. Building made if light
materials are more vulnerable to damage than those
built with reinforced concrete.
 Types of Vulnerability
Social Vulnerability – refers to the level of awareness
and preparedness if individual, families and
communities to respond to the advise effects of
hazards. When group of people are unable to process
loss of lives and damage of properties and initiate
recovery on their own, the possibility of civil
disobedience and anarchy becomes highly probable
and unpreventable.
 Types of Vulnerability
Economics Vulnerability – determined by economics
status of people and the degree of progress and
security enjoyed by a community prior to the exposure
to hazards like floods and fires. The poor are most
vulnerable due to lack of proper housing, exposure to
violence and elements, and lack of proper education.
 Types of Vulnerability
Environmental Vulnerability – happens when the
natural resources of an area is exhausted and can no
longer sustain the needs of a community. It can also
happen, when bodies of water and land masses have
degraded to the point that they could no longer
support life for agriculture or foliage growth.
Demographic Factors that
affect the Vulnerability of
one’s Society
 Demographic Factors that affect the
Vulnerability of one’s Society
Population Density – for a densely populated area like
highly urbanized cities, a very efficient disaster
response and risk management system should be in
place. Local government units should be able to train
their residents on how to deal with hazardous events
while schools and government offices should regularly
conduct checks and drills to test the level of
preparation in the event of a disaster.
 Demographic Factors that affect the
Vulnerability of one’s Society
Population Age – a locale that has very young or very
old population is more difficult to move and is less
likely to responds to hazards well than the rest of the
populate. Concerned government agencies should
prioritize them in evacuation and provide facilities to
ensure their safety.
 Demographic Factors that affect the
Vulnerability of one’s Society
Population Distribution – sound urban or area planning
can evenly distribute the growing population of a locale.
Areas that are for residences, for commercial and
industrial purposes, and for health and education must
be situated and designated in order to provide ample
security and emergency response measures. Hazard
zones like fault line and coastalines, where houses and
evacuation center should not be built, should also be
identified.
 Demographic Factors that affect the
Vulnerability of one’s Society
Population Distribution – sound urban or area planning
can evenly distribute the growing population of a locale.
Areas that are for residences, for commercial and
industrial purposes, and for health and education must
be situated and designated in order to provide ample
security and emergency response measures. Hazard
zones like fault line and coastalines, where houses and
evacuation center should not be built, should also be
identified.
 Disaster Management Cycle
Response - Actions
taken immediately
following the impact of
a disaster when
exceptional measures
are required to meet
the basic needs of the
survivors.
 Disaster Management Cycle
Relief - Measures that
are required in search
and rescue of survivors,
as well to meet the
basic needs for shelter,
water, food and health
care.
 Disaster Management Cycle
Rehabilitation - Actions
taken in the aftermath of a
disaster to:
• assist victims to repair
their dwellings;
• re-establish essential
services;
• revive key economic and
social activities
 Disaster Management Cycle
Reconstruction -
Permanent measures to
repair or replace
damaged dwellings and
infrastructure and to
set the economy back
on course.
 Disaster Management Cycle
Development -
Sustained efforts
intended to improve or
maintain the social and
economic well-being
of a community
 Disaster Management Cycle
Prevention - Measures
taken to avert a
disaster from occurring,
if possible (to impede a
hazard so that it does
not have any harmful
effects).
 Disaster Management Cycle
Mitigation - Measures
taken prior to the
impact of a disaster to
minimize its effects
(sometimes referred to
as structural and non-
structural measures).
 Disaster Management Cycle
Preparedness -
Measures taken in
anticipation of a
disaster to ensure that
appropriate and
effective actions are
taken in the aftermath.
 Disaster Management
VS
Disaster Risk Management
 Disaster Management
A collective term
encompassing all
aspects of planning for
preparing and
responding to disasters.
It refers to the
management of the
consequences of
disasters.
 Disaster Risk Management
A broad range of activities
designed to:
• Prevent the loss of lives
• Minimize human suffering
• Inform the public and
authorities of risk
• Minimize property damage
and economic loss
• Speed up the recovery
process