Hazards, exposure, and
vulnerabilities and the
relationship of the three to
disaster risk
Several countries like the Philippines have
experienced disaster affecting the property, assets
and lives of the People, especially Covid 19
pandemics, which kills millions of people
worldwide. Today it is important to be extra
caution and mindful all the time. The topic will
eventually address concepts of hazard exposure and
vulnerability and how they vary from each other
and how important they are.
What is Hazard, Vulnerability Exposure, Disaster Risk and Capacity
Vulnerability - Is a condition or sets of conditions that reduces people’s ability to
prepare for, withstand or respond to a hazard
Hazard - A dangerous phenomenon, substance, human activity or condition that
may cause the loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss
of livelihoods and services, social and economic disruption, or environmental
damage.
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.
How does Exposure to hazard can lead make the community vulnerable?
Exposure to Hazard make one community vulnerable. But
not all communities that are exposed to hazard is consider
vulnerable. Vulnerability depends on the preparedness and
readiness to a hazard of the community. It will depends
mostly on how they mitigate, respond, and recover. If a
certain community Has the ability to reduce the vulnerability
by reducing the risk. The community is consider as less
vulnerable or resilient
Disaster mitigation measures are those that
eliminate or reduce the impact and risk of
hazard by means of proactive measure taken
before an emergency or disaster takes place.
Mitigation is the action of reducing something
severity, seriousness or painfulness.
Activity 1
Direction: Analyze the picture below and answer
the following question
1. What can you say about the picture? What does
the quotation mean?
2. What is the hazard in the picture/situation?
3. What is being exposed in the picture/situation?
4. What do you think the character in the picture is
vulnerable?
5. Based on the analysis. Explain the hazard,
exposure and vulnerability given in the picture.
Activity 2
Direction: Complete the following sentence by giving the appropriate answer needed in the blank
Vulnerability is _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Exposure refers to _____________________________________________________________________________________________
While hazard is defined as _______________________________________________________________________________________
Hazard may be caused by _______________________________________________________________________________________
And can be mitigated through ____________________________________________________________________________________
The difference between hazard, exposure and vulnerability among each other is:
Hazard ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Exposed _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Vulnerability _________________________________________________________________________________________________
It is significant to understand hazard, exposure and vulnerability because
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
