EXPOSURE AND VULNERABILITY

“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” -
- Robert Swan

Risk vs. Exposure

RISK
• interaction between exposure to natural hazards including the adverse effects of climate changes
and the vulnerability of societies. (World Risk Report)

EXPOSURE

• defined as “the people, property, systems, or other elements present in hazard zones that are
thereby subject to potential losses” (UNISDR 2009).

Elements at risk and exposure

• Elements at risk are the people, properties, economic activities, and private and public services
potentially threatened by a harmful event.

• Risk assessment involves the identification and mapping of the elements at risk and the
assessment of vulnerability

• As the risk model (Risk = Hazard x Exposure x Vulnerability) shows, risk is also a function of hazard.

• Hazard refers to the probability of occurrence at a given magnitude.

• Exposed element can refer to the number of people or structures within the exposed area.

Elements at Risk and Exposure

• The combination of both hazard and exposed population provides the physical exposure:

PHEXP = HAZARD X EXPOSURE

• where:

PhExp = physical exposure for the affected area

Hazard = probability of occurrence of an event at a given magnitude

Exposure = total population living in the affected area for each event

Dimensions of Exposure and Vulnerability

Social

• The social dimension of exposure and vulnerability covers a wide range of concerns including
migration, social groups, health and well-being, education, culture, institutions, and governance
aspects.

• Demography is the most important aspect.

 • Population density maps are excellent indicators of exposure and vulnerability.

ENVIRONMENTAL

The physical aspects of exposure and vulnerability refer to location and built structures.

Detailed list of the physical elements exposed to various hazards:

1. Essential Facilities.

2. Industrial and High Potential Loss Facilities and Facilities Containing Hazardous Materials

3. Transportation Lifelines

4. Utility Lifelines

ECONOMICS

• Among the economic effects of a hazard event include business interruptions due to accessibility
problems, loss of jobs and access to work, and loss of government income due to inability of
businesses and people to pay taxes at a time when more funds are needed for relief and
rehabilitation.

• Disasters may also significantly affect the gross domestic product (GDP)

Addressing Vulnerability from Exposure

Factors of Vulnerability
• Social
 The most vulnerable populations are:
• people with disabilities
• children
• seniors
• medication-dependent individuals (e.g., diabetics and schizophrenics)
• women, especially those who are single, single parents, or the unemployed
• ethnic minorities, aboriginal or indigenous people
• homeless or “street people”
• incarcerated individuals
• marginalized groups (i.e., by society or the community)

• Environmental
 Developing nations face more exposure and vulnerability because of their relative
inability to adapt to changes and to create wealth that may enhance resilience.
 Rapid urbanization in hazardous areas heightens vulnerability to disaster risk.
 Increase in population will make it more difficult for governments and citizens hard
up for funds to cope with the effects of hazard events.
  The increasing number of informal settlers forced by circumstances to occupy
areas at or close to river systems, coastal areas, and steep hillsides exposes more
people to inundation and landslides.
• Economic
 Economic vulnerability is the susceptibility of individuals, communities,
businesses, and governments to absorb or cushion the effects of a hazard event.
 Rural households are found to be more vulnerable than those in urban
environments because of the greater number of those living in poverty, which is
tied to the more limited access to markets and other services.
 Women are more vulnerable than men partly because they lack access to
livelihoods, coupled with family responsibilities and reproductive role

Quantifying Vulnerability
 Vulnerability can be expressed simply as a quantity between 0 (lowest degree of
vulnerability) and 1 (highest degree of vulnerability).
 For people, vulnerability can be measured as a ratio of casualties or injured to the total
population.
 For buildings, it can also be expressed as a repair cost or as the degree of physical
damage. When dealing with a larger area, it may be measured in terms of the proportion
of damaged buildings.