MODULE 2

HAZARDS AND
VULNERABILITY
HAZARDS
• Hazard is defined as a potential harm or an adverse effect.
• Sometimes the resulting harm is referred to as the hazard instead of
the actual source of the hazard.
• Example: The scarcity of water is considered as a hazard-drought
• The abundance of water is also a hazard – flood
• Basically, hazard is any object or situation which causes damage to
property and environment.
 TYPES OF HAZARD
Hazards are classified into 6 major categories

• Geophysical Hazard
• Hydrological Hazard
• Meteorological Hazard
• Climatological Hazard
• Biological Hazard
• Extra-terrestrial Hazard
• 1.Geophysical Hazard
Hazard which is originating from the earth
• Also known as geological hazard
• Eg:earthquake,volcanic eruption, landslides..
• 2.Hydrological Hazard
• Hazard which is caused by the occurrence, distribution and movement of water.
• It includes both ground water and surface water
• It includes both fresh water and saline water
• Due to extra scarcity or extra abundance of water
• E.g.: tsunami, flood etc…
• 3.Meteorological Hazard
• Hazard which is caused by weather and atmospheric conditions.
• Short lived, micro to meso- scale hazard.
• Lasts from minutes to days.
• 4.Climatological Hazard
• Hazard which is caused by extreme weather and climate change.
• Long lived, meso to macro scale hazard.
• Lasts from seasons to decades.
• Eg: Heat wave, cold wave drought…
•
• 5.Biological Hazard
• Hazard which is caused due to biological agents.
• Caused by the exposure to living organisms or toxic substances
• Also caused by pathogens or vector born diseases.
• Eg: covid , nipah etc…
• 6.Extra terrestrial Hazard
• Caused by asteroids, meteoroids and comets ,when they passes near the earth,
enter the earth’s atmosphere or strikes the earth.

HAZARD MAPPING
Hazard mapping involves graphical representation of the location,
magnitude and temporal characteristics of the hazard on 2 or 3
dimensional surfaces.
• Objectives of hazard mapping:
1) To represent spatial and temporal characteristics of the hazard.
2) To represent the magnitude of hazard using graphical symbols.
Data Requirements of Hazard Mapping:

• 1) Base maps
• 2) Remotely sensed images
• 3) Field Data.
1) Base Maps:
• Base maps represent topographic layers of the data such as elevation,
roads, water bodies, cultural features and utilities.
• Creation of a base map is a time consuming activity.
• It is therefore desirable to use an existing map.
• It must also have sufficient geographical information and about the
location of the hazard.
2)Remotely sensed images:
• Satellite images are becoming preferred sources of readily available
information of locations on the earth’s surface as compared to
conventional ground survey methods of mapping, that are labour
intensive and time consuming.
• Geo Eye,QuickBird and ALOS-PRISM are preferred sensors for visual
mapping as they are high spatial resolutions.
3)Field Data:
• Through the advances in technology, ground surveying using
electronic systems like total station, global positioning system (GPS),
and laser scanners have increased opportunities for data capture in
the field.
UNIV QSTN -8 mark
• APPROACHES FOR HAZARD MAPPING
1.Hazard Mapping using geographical information
system:
• GIS is increasingly used for hazard mapping and analysis , as well as
for the application of disaster risk management measures.
• The nature and capability of GIS provides excellent basis for
processing and presenting hazard information in the form of maps.
• GIS is very useful in arranging a high volume of data to produce a
hazard map.
• Flowchart represents general procedures for the mapping of hazards
in GIS.
 2) Participatory mapping
• Participatory mapping
• Participatory mapping is a technique that allows for the integration of local
level participation and knowledge in the map production and decision taken
process.
• It is an interactive process that draws on local people’s knowledge and allows
them to create visual and non-visual data to explore social problems,
opportunities and questions.
• In participatory mapping, the main objectives are to:
• collect evidence of the study area
• interpret the study area mapping experience and related experience to answer
questions that have been developed about the study area.
• develop a presentation that synthesises the participatory mapping experience
• Present the conclusion and possible questions for further investigation.
• How to Conduct Participatory Mapping
• Stage 1: outline the nature and essence of activities to be done.
• Stage 2: preparation and implementation.
1) The preparation involves designing survey instrument, materials and
directions’.
2) The implementation may be organised into sessions (usually four) -
• Preparation of participants or people involved in the participatory
mapping activity; undertake participatory mapping field trip; make
presentations and carry out debriefing exercises.
VULNERABILITY
• Vulnerability is the inability to resist a hazard or to respond when a
disaster has occurred.
• Vulnerability = Exposure + Resistance + Resilience.
• Exposure: property and population at risk
• Resistance : measures taken to prevent, avoid or reduce loss
• Resilience: ability to recover prior state or achieve post disaster state.
Types of Vulnerability:
• There are mainly 4 types of vulnerability, they are:
• 1) Physical Vulnerability
• 2) Social Vulnerability
• 3) Economic Vulnerability
• 4) Ecological or environmental vulnerability
1) Physical Vulnerability
• This refers to the potential losses to the physical infrastructure such
as roads, bridges, railways, radio and telecommunication mast and
other features in the built environment.
• It also includes impacts on human population, in terms of injuries or
death.
• In short, the vulnerability which occurs physically to property and lives
is known as physical vulnerability.
2) Social Vulnerability
• Social vulnerability refers to the losses experienced by the people and
their social, economic and political systems.
• It refers to the extent to which, elements of the society such as
children, aged, pregnant and lactating women, single parents, family
systems, social systems, caste ,gender, cultural values etc.. Will
degrade after being exposed to a hazardous condition.
3)Economic Vulnerability
• Refers to the potential impacts of hazards on economic assets and
processes and also includes vulnerability of different economic
sections.
4) Ecological / Environmental Vulnerability
• Refers to the degree of loss that an ecosystem will sustain to its
structure, function and composition as a result of exposure to a
hazardous condition.
Quantifying Vulnerability
• Used to estimate how much mitigation and preparedness
measures will be applied.
• It is based on the data about,previous hazard events and their
severity.
• It is expressed as 0 to 1
• 0- indicates lowest degree of vulnerability.
• 1-indicates highest degree of vulnerability.
• Vulnerability Assessment
• Vulnerability assessment is the process of assessing degree of loss.
• Variation exist in the method of assessing vulnerability, based on the
following factors.
• 1) Type of vulnerability being measured.
• 2) Scale at which the vulnerability is measured.
• 3) Type of hazard.
Types of vulnerability assessment:
• 1) Physical vulnerability assessment
• 2) Socio economic vulnerability assessment
• 3) Environmental or ecological vulnerability assessment
• 1)Physical vulnerability assessment:
• There are many ways to assess physical vulnerability.
• Two main methods are empirical method and analytical method.
• Empirical method can be applied to groups of related structures.
• Analytical method are based on the use of geotechnical engineering software and
are limited to individual structures.
 2)Socio-Economic vulnerability assessment.
• Socio-economic vulnerability is indicator based.
• It can be assessed by analysing the level of exposure
and coping mechanisms of individuals, households and
communities.
• Assessment procedure:
Socio economic indicators
• Methods of representing Vulnerability:
• 1) Vulnerability indices: based on indicators of vulnerability.
• 2) Vulnerability Table: tabular representation of vulnerability, which
indicates relation between hazard intensity and degree of damage.
• 3) Vulnerability Curves: graphical representation of vulnerability,
which indicates relation between hazard intensity and degree of
damage.
Disaster risk
• It is the probability of serious damages, death and injuries
occurring as a result of a potentially damaging hazard, when
interacting with vulnerable elements such as people and
properties.
Disaster Risk Assessment:
• A qualitative or quantitative approach to determine the nature
and extent of disaster risk by analysing potential hazards and
evaluating existing conditions of exposure and vulnerability that
together could harm people, property, services, livelihoods and
the environment on which they depend.
Components of risk Assessment:
• There are 2 main components:
• 1) Risk Analysis.
• 2) Risk Evaluation:
• 1) Risk Analysis:
• The use of available information to estimate the risk caused by the
hazard to individuals, population.
• It contains the following steps:
2)Risk Evaluation
• This is the stage at which values and judgements are
entered for the decision making process.
• It includes all the results of risk associated with social,
economic and environmental.
 Contemporary approaches to risk assessments
1) MULTI-HAZARD:
• Same area may be threatened by different types of hazards.
• Each hazard types are impacted by different hazard scenarios. Each of the
hazard scenarios also might have different magnitudes.
• E.g.: water depth and velocity in the case of flooding, acceleration and ground
displacement in the case of earthquakes.
• These hazard magnitudes would also have different impacts on the various
elements at risk, and therefore require different vulnerability curves.
2) MULTI-SECTORAL:
• Hazards will impact different sectors of elements at risk.
3) MULTI-LEVEL
• Risk assessment can be carried out at different levels.
• Different levels include national, regional, district and local policies.
• It also defines what resources are available at the different levels to reduce
risks.
4) MULTI-STAKEHOLDER
• Risk assessment should involve the relevant stakeholders, which can be
individuals, businesses, organisations and authorities.
5) MULTI PHASE
• It consist of various phases of risk assessment such as response, recovery,
mitigation and preparedness.
• Risk Assessment Methods:
• 1) Qualitative methods
• 2) Semi –quantitative methods
• 3) Quantitative methods.
• 1) Qualitative Risk Assessment
• This involves qualitative descriptions of risk in terms of high,
moderate and low.
• These are used when the hazard information does not allow us to
express the probability of occurrence, or it is not possible to estimate
the magnitude.
• This approach has widespread application in the profiling of
vulnerability using participatory methodologies.
• Risk matrices can be constructed to show qualitative risk.
• A risk matrix shows on its y-axis probability of an event occurring,
while on the x-axis potential loss.
• 2) Semi-Quantitative Risk Assessment.
• These techniques express risk in terms of numerical values.
• Ranging between 0 and 1
• They do not have a direct meaning of expected losses; they are merely
relative indications of risk.
• The semi quantitative estimation for risk assessment is found useful in the
following situations:
• As an initial screening process to identify hazards and risks
• When the level of risk (pre-assumed) does not justify the time and effort
• Where the possibility of obtaining numerical data is limited
• The semi-quantitative approach could be adapted to cover larger areas.
3) Quantitative methods.
• This aims at estimating the spatial and temporal probability of risk
and its magnitude.
• In this method, the combined effects, in terms of losses for all
possible scenarios that might occur, are calculated.

• The equation given above is not only a conceptual one, but can also
be actually calculated with spatial data in a GIS to quantify risk from
hazards.
• The hazard component in the equation actually refers to the
probability of occurrence of a hazardous phenomenon with a given
intensity within a specified period of time.
 V.DISASTER PREPAREDNESS:
• Disaster preparedness involves the knowledge and practices developed by
governments, communities and recovery organisations for effectively responding
and recovering from the impacts of hazard.
• Components of a Comprehensive Disaster Preparedness Strategy:
The essential elements include the following:
• Hazard, risk and vulnerability assessments
• Response mechanisms and strategies
• Preparedness plans
• Coordination
• Information management
• Early warning systems
• Resource mobilisation
• Public education, training & rehearsals
• Community-based disaster preparedness
DISASTER RESPONSE
• Disaster responses are the set of activities taken during a disaster or
immediately following a disaster, directed towards saving life and protecting
property.
• The activities that deal with the effect of disaster may include medical care,
evacuation,Search and rescue, provision of emergency water, food and
shelter, debris removal and stabilisation of unsafe buildings and landforms.
• It is the second phase of the disaster management cycle.
• Objectives of Disaster Response:
• Aimed at providing immediate assistance to maintain life, improve
health and support the affected population.
• Focused at meeting the basic needs of the people until more permanent
and sustainable solutions can be found.
• Preparedness for the first and immediate response -- referred to as
“emergency preparedness”
Factors affecting Disaster Response:
• The type of disaster
• The severity and magnitude of disaster
• The capability of sustained operations
• Identification of likely response requirements
Different Disaster Response actions:
Disaster response actions are classified into 10 types:
1. Search and rescue
2. First aid and emergency medical care
3. Evacuation
4. Evacuation centre management
5. Development of Standard Operation Procedure (SOPs)
6. Immediate repair of community facilities and services
7. Relief Aid
8. Coordination and Communication
9. Psycho-social counselling and stress debriefing
10. Medical services.
1. Search and rescue

• conducted by well-trained volunteers in finding disaster victims, that

is, lost, sick or injured persons in either a remote to access areas such
as water bodies, desert, forest or probably in the course of mass
population movement.
• The search and rescue operations are often directed at, locating
endangered persons at an emergency incident, removing those
persons from danger, treating the injured, and providing for transport
to an appropriate health care facility.
• Basic Key Steps of Search and Rescue:
1. Size up
2. Search
3. Rescue
2. First aid and emergency medical care
• First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury.
• It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick
or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed.
• Emergency medical care is immediate paramedic attention to severe
wounds and the rapid transportation of the ill or injured to a health
facility.
3. Evacuation
Evacuation is an organised movement of people from an area at
risk to a safer place.
• Types of Evacuation:
1. Precautionary evacuation before disaster
2. Protective evacuation after disaster
3. Evacuations for reconstruction purposes
SERVICES PROVIDED DURING EVACUATIONS INCLUDE:
Registration
Assistance with financial and legal queries
Water, food, clothing
Rest areas
Blankets and personal items
Interpreter services
Assistance in contacting family/friends
Services for animals
Emergency financial assistance
First aid, medical and health
Information
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• SOPs are the set of standard procedures which could guide the team
in effective operation.
• SOPs specify the way in which individuals or units will carry out their
functions under the plan
• It consist of 4 stages:
1. During normal times
2. Alert/warning and
3. During disaster
4. Rehabilitation
• During Normal Times:
• Formulate and distribute disaster preparedness plans
• Produce maps of Wards/Village Tracts showing areas most vulnerable
to disasters.
• Make a list of vehicles and motor boats that can be used for
emergency work
• Create shelters and safe locations for use during disasters
• Conduct educational talks on natural disasters and rehearse
periodically for the local community
• Provide organising and training activities.
Alert/warning stage:
• Dissemination of news obtained through early warning
systems to the community.
• Administrative bodies and NGOs to fly warning flags in
the vulnerable areas of the Ward/Village Tract.
• Alert and mobilise members of the Security services,
Auxiliary Fire Brigade, communication agencies, the Red
Cross, Youth, members of People’s Strength and NGOs.
• Make the necessary arrangements to evacuate the
public to safe locations
During Disaster Stage:
• Safeguard the road and water transport routes
• Evacuate the community from vulnerable areas to safe locations
• Operate relief camps and supervisory centres
• Keep available relief and aid supplies at the ready to launch relief
operations quickly and effectively
• Make arrangements to evacuate movable property including
cattle to designated locations
• Ensure that administrative personnel and NGOs in areas
vulnerable to disaster and give disaster warnings door to door.
During Rehabilitation Stage:
• Conduct field inspections in affected areas as soon as possible and provide
the necessary assistance and support.
• Make arrangements to provide health care and social protection to disaster
victims.
• Clear collapsed buildings and trees as quickly as possible;
• restoration of transportation, electricity and water supply and telephone
and telegraph services as soon as possible.
• reclaim contaminated wells and ponds for access to clean water and dig
new wells for drinking water.
• Submit immediate preliminary reports with population figures, death and
injury figures of cattle and animals, data on socio-economic losses, etc.. to
get appropriate funds.
5. Relief Aid
• provision of assistance during an emergency that is meant to attend
to a person’s immediate requirements for survival or recovery
• It may include medical care,counselling,necessary social services and
security.
• Relief aid must be targeted at the most vulnerable first: Vulnerable
children or orphans, females, pregnant women, sick or elderly
populations.
 6. Coordination and Communication
• Good coordination and communication is crucial for combining
resources effectively and efficiently, in order to reach the disaster-
affected more rapidly.
• It contributes to better cooperation, reduces the level of duplication
and helps to ensure a well-organised operation.
• Meetings - Plan to hold regular meetings with Movement partners to
determine activities and roles;
• Information management - Information sharing on disaster impact,
assessment and needs through input into DMIS (Disaster Management
Information System)
7. Psychosocial support:
• During a disaster, many may lose not only properties, but also dear
ones which cause negative psychological outcomes.
• Psychosocial support activities include identifying and referring
individuals requiring specialised support through professional mental
health services.
8. Public health services:

• The public health services required in responding to disasters

include:
• Mass casualty management
• Mental health
• Managing and continuation of existing health services.
• Managing and continuation of medication on chronically affected
diseases(HIV, TB, Leprosy, etc.)
• Management of the dead and missing.
• Communicable disease surveillance and response
• Sanitation.
 UNIVERSITY PROBLAMATIC QSTN
Q)In Kerala for the past 5 years. the average number of road accidents is 44076per

year and 1 death occurs in every 10 accidents. Considering the population as 3.33

crores, assess the risk of being killed in driving an automobile in terms of societal

and individual risk.