DisRe: Exposure vs. Vulnerability

DisRe: Exposure vs. Vulnerability

Open Ended

How are you today?

Exposure vs. Vulnerability

Identify whether the item is an exposure or vulnerability

(20 sec to answer)

Multiple Choice

Households

• Exposure

• Vulnerability

Multiple Choice

Bad governance

• Exposure

• Vulnerability

Multiple Choice

Buildings and structures

• Exposure

• Vulnerability

Multiple Choice

Low quality of infrastructure

• Exposure

• Vulnerability

Multiple Choice

Low levels of savings

• Exposure

• Vulnerability

Multiple Choice

Public facilities like churches and schools

• Exposure

• Vulnerability

Exposure vs. Vulnerability

Exposure refers to people, property, systems, or other elements present in hazard zones that are thereby subject to potential losses.

Vulnerability refers to the characteristics and circumstances of a community, system or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard.

Vulnerability

Social Vulnerability – Ex: lack of education, bad peace and order, low quality of governance, bad state of health and nutrition;

Psychological Vulnerability – Ex: unhealthy condition of people due to trauma and loss; unpreparedness to disasters; etc

Physical Vulnerability – Ex: risky geographic location; low quality of infrastructure; etc

Economic Vulnerabilities – Ex: low levels of savings; high quantity of debts and credit; and absence of insurance

Relationship Among Hazards, Exposure, and Vulnerabilities to Disaster Risk

While the literature and common usage often mistakenly combine exposure and vulnerability, they are distinct.

Exposure is a necessary, but not sufficient, determinant of risk. It is possible to be exposed but not vulnerable.

However, to be vulnerable to an extreme event, it is necessary to also be exposed.

Disaster risk 

the potential loss in lives, health status, livelihoods, and various assets which are often challenging to quantify. However, by having knowledge of the scientific and local context behind hazards, disaster risks can be assessed and mapped.

Exposure vs. Vulnerability

While the literature and common usage often mistakenly combine exposure and vulnerability, they are distinct.

Exposure is a necessary, but not sufficient, determinant of risk. It is possible to be exposed but not vulnerable

However, to be vulnerable to an extreme event, it is necessary to also be exposed.