Lesson 2 Vulnerability

• Vulnerability

  • Characteristics and circumstances of a community, system or resource that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard.
  • (Republic Act No. 10121)
• Lessen Vulnerability = Make the community prepared and ready.
• Variation of Vulnerability Across Sectors

  • Ethnic minorities
  • Women
  • Persons with disability
  • Pregnant
  • Senior citizens
  • Children
• 3 Main Factors of Vulnerability

  1. Physical
  2. Social
  3. Motivational
• Physical 

  • Location, Environment, Structural.
• Social 

  • Absence or lack of implementation of DRRM 
  • Lacking unknown contingency plan 
  • Unclear protocols 
  • No organized evacuation drills 
  • No early warning System 
• Motivational 

  • No coordination between local leaders and community people.
  • Funds for DRRM were diverted to other programs and initiatives.
  • Internal conflicts and divisions exist between local community leaders.
  • A community is unaware of risks and their possible consequences.
• Categories Of Vulnerability

  1. Hazard-Specific
  2. Setting-Specific
• Hazard-Specific 

  • Makes the element concerned susceptible to the forces or impacts of a hazard.

  Ex. Metro Manila is vulnerable to 7.2 magnitude earthquake called “Big One”.
• 1. Setting-Specific 

  • Place or an area becomes susceptible to hazards according to their location or setting.
  • Whether it is located in a rural or urban setting.
• Vulnerability of Different Elements

  1. Physical Vulnerability
  2. Social Vulnerability
  3. Economic Vulnerability
  4. Environmental Vulnerability
  5. Quantifying Vulnerability
• Physical Vulnerability 

  • Population density levels, place of a settlement, the site design, and materials used for infrastructure and housing.
• Social Vulnerability

  • Inability of people, organization, and societies to prevent severe effects from hazards because of the expected behavior.

  Ex. During typhoons, the line of communications were cut off when cell sites shutdown or disruption of transport system.
• Economic Vulnerability 

  • Status of individuals, communities, and nations.
  • The poorer the country = the more vulnerable to disaster due to lack of funds or budgets.
• Environmental Vulnerability 

  • Natural resources depletion and destruction.
  • Organisms like humans, animals, and plants are all dependent.

  Ex. Human activities like deforestation, burning of fossil fuels, and kaingin 

  affect the natural abilities of the environment.
• Quantifying Vulnerability

  • Estimating how much mitigation and preparedness measures will be applied.

  0 = lowest 

  1 = Highest vulnerability