Module 3: Exposure, Vulnerability and Capacity

At the end of this module students should be able to:

1. Recognize vulnerabilities of different elements exposed to specific hazards;
2. Differentiate among hazards, exposure, vulnerabilities, and capacities and give examples
from actual situations.

Introduction

VULNERABILITY

Vulnerability is a term used to describe the diminished capacity of an individual or group to

anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from the impact of a natural or man-made hazard
(WHO, 2002). It denotes a degree of weakness or susceptibility in meeting the impacts of
disaster, be it natural or man-made.
For example, a community who has no knowledge about disaster preparedness is
vulnerable to an upcoming disaster. Similarly, houses that are built of poor materials are
predisposed to damage caused by strong winds and even heavy rains. Even attitude of
helplessness dependence and indifference of households are considered vulnerabilities of
communities.

ANALYSIS
Who are the vulnerable groups in disasters?
Children, pregnant women, elderly people, malnourished people, and people who with
disabilities, are particularly vulnerable when a disaster strikes, and take a relatively high
share of the disease burden associated with emergencies (WHO, 2005).

Examples of other potentially vulnerable groups include :

✓ displaced populations who leave their habitual residence in collectives, usually due to a
sudden impact disaster, such as an earthquake or a flood, threat or conflict, as a coping
mechanism and with the intent to return;
✓ migrants who leave or flee their habitual residence to go to new places, usually abroad
to seek better and safer perspectives;
✓ returnees – former migrants or displaced people returning to their homes;
✓ specific groups within the local population, such as marginalized, excluded or destitute
people;

Process Questions:
1. What did you understand about the vulnerability as illustrated above?
2. What do you mean by vulnerability?
3. How is vulnerability determined?
ABSTRACTION
Examples of other potentially vulnerable groups include :
✓ displaced populations who leave their habitual residence in collectives, usually due to a
sudden impact disaster, such as an earthquake or a flood, threat or conflict, as a coping
mechanism and with the intent to return;
✓ migrants who leave or flee their habitual residence to go to new places, usually abroad
to seek better and safer perspectives;
✓ returnees – former migrants or displaced people returning to their homes;
✓ specific groups within the local population, such as marginalized, excluded or destitute
people;

EXPOSURE
Exposure refers to situations wherein humans, plants, animals and properties are left open
to possible damage. It has reference to the physical location (e.g. proximity to a body of
water), characteristics (type of soil, topography, temperature), and population density (over
population, congestion) of a community that “exposes” it to hazards.

VULNERABILITIES OF ELEMENTS EXPOSED TO HAZARDS

There are many elements that may be exposed to hazards and which may be managed in
order to prevent much damage should it become a disaster. Among these elements are
physical in nature. Examples of these elements are the materials used in the design and
construction of buildings. If materials are of poor quality, these buildings would easily
collapse during earthquakes. Also, designs for exits in buildings are important
considerations to reduce extent of exposure to hazards. Another physical element includes
the exposure of people to hazards when high rise buildings are constructed in the area.
Similarly, manholes that are not well-managed expose the people to hazards.
Environmental hazards become large-scale disasters when communities are placed in
positions of vulnerability – when different factors come together to prevent them from being
able to protect themselves from hazardous events. Particularly, climate change exposes the
environment to hazards. For example, sudden changes in climate result to erosion of
beaches, loss of animal species, and damage in crops, which , consequently, severely
affects the livelihood of the community.

CAPACITIES OF COMMUNITIES
Capacity refers to a combination of all the strengths, attributes and resources available
within a community, society or organization that can be used to achieve agreed goals.
Capacity may include infrastructure, institutions, human knowledge and skills, and collective
attributes such as social relationships, leadership and management.
Family and community support is a very potent capacity of communities that may be utilized
during disasters. With family and community support any efforts for disaster response can
be readily implemented. Another capacity of a community comes in the form of responsive
local government. If the local officials are responsive to the needs of the community then
any identified hazard / problems may be given due attention. This is especially effective for
situations where resources from the local government units need to be mobilized or utilized
by the community.

Coping capacity is the ability of people, organizations and systems, using available skills
and resources, to manage adverse conditions, risk or disasters. The capacity to cope
requires continuing awareness, resources and good management, both in normal times as
well as during disasters or adverse conditions. Coping capacities contribute to the reduction
of disaster risks.

Relationship between Risk, Vulnerability, Exposure, Capacity

Disaster Risk = 𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑥 𝑉𝑢𝑙𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦

𝐶𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦

The equation tells us that disaster risk is directly proportional to the degree of exposure and
vulnerability of persons or properties. This means that if the community is highly exposed to
hazards with a corresponding high degree of vulnerability to the hazard, then the degree of
disaster risk is also high.

It is in this context that education about disaster resilience (“bouncing back”) is intensified in
communities that are exposed and vulnerable to hazards. Since hazards are natural
occurrences and cannot be predicted (as in the case of earthquakes) nor stopped (as in the
case of other natural hazards), then communities must be educated and trained to reduce
their vulnerabilities or relocate them to safer locations while at the same time build upon
more coping capacities. By so doing, impacts of disasters may be minimized.