Philippines To Disasters Lesson 2: Vulnerability of the Philippines to Disasters
The Philippines and its Vulnerability to Disasters
It is a known fact that our country is very vulnerable and most of the recorded events with great number of casualties were unexpected. The location of the Philippines in the Pacific makes it very vulnerable to meteorological disturbances such as typhoons. The Philippines is also located in the western ring of the Pacific Ocean where many active faults, trenches and volcanoes can trigger earthquakes. Bohol Earthquake Baclayon Church Bohol Municipal Hall Typhoon Yolanda Tracks of Tropical Cyclones in the Western North Pacific from 1948 to 2010 Location of the Philippines in the Western Ring of the Pacific Ocean Earthquake Generators in the Philippines: Active Faults and Trenches Estimated damages of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Metro Manila Distribution of Volcanoes in the Philippines Disaster Risk-Poverty Nexus Disaster as a Social Phenomenon
Social Attributes of Disaster in a Community:
1.Harmful practices worsen vulnerability to disasters.
2.Population growth and shortage of land have further
pushed low-income families to worse living conditions which make them vulnerable to disasters. Disaster as a Social Phenomenon
Social Attributes of Disaster in a Community:
3. The poor, the elderly, people with disabilities or
special needs, indigenous people, women, children and communities marginalized by the exploitation of natural resources usually end up as a victims of disasters as they are the most vulnerable groups. 4. The aftermath of a disaster paves the way for disaster prevention efforts