LESSON

Specific Vulnerabilities
3
OBJECTIVES:
Recognize vulnerabilities of different elements exposed to specific hazards.
Analyze how the reducing the vulnerability of an exposed element to a specific hazard may result in
increasing its vulnerability to other hazards.

MATERIALS NEEDED: Pen and Paper, Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction Book,
Cellphone, USB flash drive, Laptop with internet connection.

DISCUSSION

Based on the discussion of Crittenden and Rodolfo on your homework last discussion. Link
below:

Or Let us recall the video by watching the video on your USB flash drive which indicates
“DRRR 012 Pampanga”.

Natural Disasters and Cultural Change: Bacolor town and Pinatubo volcano, Philippines:
coping with recurrent lahar disaster. (Crittenden and Rodolfo, 2002)
Lowe, D. (n.d.). Bacolor the town that got buried. Retrieved from http://
www.thetravellingeditor.com/bacolorburied-town/
Lakad Pilipinas. (n.d.). PAMPANGA: The Half-Buried Bacolor Church. Retrieved from
http://www.lakadpilipinas.com/2014/02/pampanga-half-buried-bacolorchurch.html
Danny Labung. (2011, June 22). Bacolor: Mt Pinatubo Devastation - 20th Anniv June 15,
2011 [Video file]. Retrieved from https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8dopMdq6Qk
Reden Dizon. (2011, April 27). San Antonio, Bacolor: Lahar. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDTa4oNaX5Y

After watching the video, let us try to answer the following question:
Identify https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDTa4oNaX5Y, and why were these
elements vulnerable?
How did the residents’ sense of attachment to place significantly contribute to the
residents remaining or resettling back the town of Bacolor?
What factors/circumstances led to the adoption of the traditional practice of house
raising by residents of Bacolor to reclaim and protect their houses?
 Notes / Answer / Insight here:
Lahars can crush, abrade, bury, or carry away almost anything in their paths. By
destroying bridges and roads, lahars can also trap people in areas vulnerable to other
hazardous volcanic activity, especially if the lahars leave fresh deposits that are too
deep, too soft, or too hot to cross.

The definition of vulnerability level depends on several factors: the elements (which are
social and physical in nature) influencing the hazards; perception of hazards, which is partly
affected by social-cultural orientation; the location of the people or objects affected; and the
circumstances existing at a particular point of time.

Vulnerability and vulnerability levels are, therefore, a function of space and time. They
adjust with changes in location and vary with time – a change in position (distance – or
elevation wise) alters vulnerability. Susceptibility to landslides is higher when one is closer to
slopes than when he/she is father. During incessant rainfall, susceptibility to flooding in low-
lying areas increases with time if no intervention is made to lower it. When it comes to its time-
dependent feature, the degree of vulnerability is not permanent. Furthermore, the duration of
vulnerability rests upon the time and the manner of addressing hazards encountered.

Vulnerability can be measured and assessed on the individual, household, community,

municipal, or national level. It can also be viewed and described as micro or macro in scale.
Because vulnerability has many dimensions, its level can also be classified accordingly as
sociological, physical, political, economic, and scientific – technological, contingent on the factor
or factors that predominate the situation.

ACTIVITY 1

Case Analysis
Objective: Identify the specific vulnerability in hazards
Instruction: Study the picture below. This house is a typical raised house found in Pampanga
area affected by lahar. The frame of the house including the foundation is made from
reinforced concrete, with hollow-blow in-fill walls. The roof system consists of a cocolumber
roof frame and galvanized iron roofing material. The partitions are constructed from wooden
materials. The house was designed and constructed by a foreman with no formal engineering or
architectural training.
 There are 7 persons living inside the house which include:
a. The owner of the house who is male and 34 years old.
b. The wife of the owner of the house who is 32 years old.
c. Three children aged 5-years, 3-years, and a 6-month old infant.
d. A 72-year old female.
e. A 40 year old male who is wheelchair bound.
Most of the furnishing of the house is either wooden or plastic in construction.
Have a sheet of paper to write how founding the house on stilts affects the vulnerability
of the house, its occupants and contents to the following hazards.
a. Strong ground shaking due to an earthquake.
b. An fire starting from the stove in the kitchen
c. Flood due to continuous and heavy rains
d. Strong winds from Signal 3 or stronger typhoon.
Have a summarize of your answers using the form as attached. A template is given
below. Write your answer on the space provided.

HAZARDS EXPOSED ELEMENT

HOUSE CONTENTS OCCUPANTS /
PEOPLE
Earthquake\Strong The house can be Things in our house People have fallen by
Ground Shaking collapsed anytime like vases, closet and debris
due to high intensity many more can be
of earthquake damaged because of
the ground shaking

Fire The house is being The roof and woods People got trap in
burned are being burned the fire area because
of the woods falling
 Flood The house can be The appliances are People are drowning
damage because of sinking because of because of the high
the flood wave the high level of level of the water
water

Typhoon The roof of the The window can be People are starving
house can be shattered because of because they are
removed by the the strong wind trapped due to
strong wind. whirlwind

FORMATIVE
ASSESSMENT

As connection to the activity, Answer the following question below:

1. Does putting the raising the house together with its occupants and contents, make it
overall more vulnerable considering it is exposed to earthquake, fire, flood and typhoon
hazards? Why or why not?
Yes, it’s more vulnerable because the occupants can cause the loss of lives and the
contents are the cause of injuries to the people. This natural disaster brought a
traumatic event because of the deadly natural phenomena.
 2. Suggest a measure that can be done to reduce the vulnerability of the house, its
occupants or its contents to each of the four hazards it is exposed to.
Preparedness measures can be done to reduce the vulnerability of the house, the occupants
should always be prepared and have enough knowledge to survive the disasters. While the
contents should always be kept away so that it cannot cause injuries to the people.

*Watch the video on you USB flash drive which indicates “DRRR 013 Specific Vulnerabilities”.

SYNTHESIS

Vulnerability is the capacity of a person, a group of persons, or a community to prepare

for, deal with, withstand, or recover from the effects of natural hazards.
Several factors influence the vulnerability of people and localities.
The common causes of vulnerability are poverty, location, governance, social-cultural
background, political principles, occupation, gender, disability, and health status.
Vulnerability is a function of space and time.

FOOD FOR
THOUGHT

Vulnerability is oftentimes and, in many ways, seen as a negative trait, a weakness. But
in reality, it can also be a positive trait – strength. Ironic as it may seem, it is the
softness in us, our sensitivity to respond to our surroundings, our ability to feel and
understand other people’s need’s, and accept them as they are.
 Day 11

LESSON
Relationship to Disaster Risk
4
OBJECTIVES:
Differentiate among hazards, exposure, and vulnerabilities and explain the relationship of the three
to disaster risk.

MATERIALS NEEDED: Pen and Paper, Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction Book,
Cellphone, USB flash drive, Laptop with internet connection.

DISCUSSION

Complete the sentence below:

If I were given a chance to change one thing in our home / house to make it safer I
would change the structure of the house because I think it will easy to tear down the
foundation of the house when an earthquake occurs in our place.

Based on our previous discussion, how do you think hazard, exposure, vulnerability and
capacity are related to disaster risk?

Notes / Answer / Insight here:

Disaster risk is expressed as the likelihood of loss of life, injury or destruction and damage
from a disaster in a given period of time. Therefore, considered as the combination of the
severity and frequency of a hazard, the numbers of people and assets exposed to the
hazard, and their vulnerability to damage

The previous lesson presented that to lessen disaster risk, two components must be
adjusted one of this is exposure. Exposure and vulnerability are the main components of
disaster risk that has implemented the economic growth of the Asia-Pacific Region, and causes
a direct toll on a country’s economy. As the rapid rate of urbanization continue, some people
are forced to build their homes or business in hazardous areas, often without planning involved.
 Exposure is viewed as the total value of elements at risk. It is expressed as the number
of human lives and value of the properties that can potentially be affected. According to Dr.
Noeleen Heyzer, the UN under-Secretary-General and the Executive Secretary of the Economic
and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the shared challenge in Asia and the
Pacific is to control the growing rate in vulnerability. Exposure to hazards has multiplied as
urban centers, settlements, and economic activities expand into hazard-prone lands. It is also a
concern that countries with smaller economies and high fiscal deficits show greater strains of
vulnerability even when faced with small-scale disasters.

We often hear people around use the terms “vulnerable” and “vulnerability when
speaking of safety. We are always advised to be on guard at all times or else, we will make
ourselves vulnerable to bad elements. Vulnerable in this sense means exposure to danger and
vulnerability, the susceptibility to danger or attack. In the context of hazards and disaster,
vulnerability is the capacity of a person, a group of persons, or a community to prepare for,
deal with, withstand, or recover from the effects of natural hazards. Considering the kind of
hazards exposures, vulnerability differs between and among individuals, groups, or
communities.

Vulnerability and exposure are dynamic; varying across temporal and spatial scales, and
depends on economic, social, geographic, cultural, institutional, governance and environmental
factors (high confidence). The risk is determined not only by the climate and weather events
(the hazards) but also by the exposure and vulnerability to these hazards. Therefore, effective
adaption and disaster risk management strategies and practices also depend on a rigorous
understanding of the dimensions of exposure and vulnerability, as well as a proper assessment
of changes in those dimensions. (Cardona, et. al., 2012).

Hazards are possible threats that may come unexpectedly or otherwise. A hazard can
lead to a disaster in community if (a) the community is exposed to it and (b) the community’s
circumstances or situation make it vulnerable to the hazards. These two determinants of
disaster risk must be controlled in order to minimize or prevent the disaster (see the figure
below). The combination of exposure and vulnerability determines the level of disaster that a
community will most likely experience. This along with high exposure and vulnerability, can
cause extreme disaster even if the hazards is deemed as a small scale.
HAZARDS
HAZARDS HAZARDS

Vulnerability

HAZARDS DISASTER DISASTER HAZARDS

RISK

Exposure
 HAZARDS HAZARDS

HAZARDS

Figure: A schematic diagram of the relationship among hazards, exposure, and vulnerabilities.

To illustrate the relationship of these concepts, let us take as an example a coastal

community that is frequented by storms. This would probably mean that the community is
located within the typhoon belt or that compared with other communities, it receives more rain
and typhoons in a year. If that community has high exposure to a typhoon and is deemed to
have high vulnerability to the same hazards, it is more likely to experience disaster.

ACTIVITY 1

Connection of Three
Objective: Identify the relationship of hazards, exposure and vulnerability in specific disaster.
Instruction:
Study the following historical disaster below:
a. EARTH: 16 July 1990 Luzon Earthquake
b. WIND: Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan)
c. FIRE: 1990 Eruption of Mt. Pinatubo
d. WATER: Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng
Analyze and answer the following question.Research damages with regards to total
deaths, total number of persons affected and total economic damage. (See Country
Profile. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.emdat.be/country_profile/index.html)
a. What specific areas where affected by the disaster?
b. For each specific area, identify the major hazards.
c. What were the major categories of exposed elements? For each category, give specific
examples based on facts gathered through research.
d. What were the most common factors contributing the vulnerability of each of these
elements. Describe the effects of hazards on the exposed elements.

Write your answer on the table below:

 Disaster Affected Hazards Exposed Vulnerability /
Area Elements Potential Effects
Luzon Baguio -Ground Shaking Collapsed -Lack of
Earthquake -Landslides buildings, preparedness
-Rockfalls establishments -Loss of life
-Rupture destroyed
included hotels
like the Hyatt
Terraces Plaza,
Nevada Hotel,
Baguio Hilltop
Hotel, Baguio
Park Hotel, and
FRB Hotel.
Yolanda Tacloban -Storm surge Destroyed - All remained was
-Heavy rainfall houses, buildings a mess of debris,
-Flooding and its buildings
-High winds establishments. reduced to rubble,
- 4,000 people in
the city died.
- 4.1 million people
were left displaced
from their homes,
and 6 million
workers were left
without means to
support their
livelihood.

Pinatubo Angeles City -Lahars This caused -Heavy ash falls

Eruption -Landslide extensive had caused
-Pyroclastic destruction to widespread
flows infrastructure damage in the
-Lava and changed provinces.
-tephra-fall river systems for - Total death toll
layers years after the to 722 people. The
eruption. event left more
than 200,000
people homeless.
 -As they covered
large tracts of land
and caused the
roofs of houses,
buildings and
public facilities to
collapse.

Ondoy Metro Manila -Floods damaging 65,521 - Affected 872,097

-Heavy rainfall buildings of people throughout
-High wind which 12,563 the entire
were completely metropolitan area,
destroyed causing 241
fatalities, 394
injuries.

- Unplanned urban
development

*given below are some example in affected area on each disaster:

DISASTER AFFECTED AREA
1990 Luzon Earthquake Extensive loss of life, damage to infrastructure and
critical facilities. Extensive environmental impact
due to numerous earthquakes induced landslides.
Typhoon Yolanda Extensive loss of life, damage to infrastructure and
critical facilities. Extensive environmental impact
due to large amount of debris generated. Death,
injury and economic losses resulted in psychological
trauma to survivors.
Pinatubo Eruption (Mt. Extensive environmental impact due to large
Pinatubo) amount of volcanic debris deposited. Extensive
damage to infrastructure within surrounding areas.
Typhoon Ondoy Area affected by flood was a highly developed and
highly populated area.
*Watch the video on your USB flash drive which indicates “DRRR 014 Disaster Relationship”.
Day 12

*Watch the video on your USB Flash drive which indicates “DRRR 015 Disaster Relationship 2”.

ACTIVITY 2

Select a disaster event that you are familiar with. Explain the background of this event.
Then, answer the following questions below.
a. Identify the specific hazard(s) involved in this disaster.
b. Enumerate the exposed elements affected by the hazard.
c. Explain why the exposed elements were vulnerable to the hazard.
d. Recommend strategies that could have been taken to minimize the possibility of a
similar disaster occurring in the future.

Example: Guinsaugon Landslide

a. Rainfall induced rockslide, avalanche and debris flow.
b. More than 1000 people killed, entire barangay of Guinsaugon including more than 200
houses, barangay hall and element school building. Psychological trauma to survivors
and relatives of those killed.
c. Debris from rock slide and avalanche travelled at speeds greater than 100 kph that
prevented residents of barangay Guinsaugon from evacuating. Landslide debris was
highly erosive and abrasive destroying structure within the flow path. Large volume of
landslide debris buried the town destroying all structures. People buried or trapped in
houses suffocated under the weight of the debris.
d. More careful selection of site for establishing communities away from landslide prone
areas. Installation of early warning systems. Conducting information seminars on
landslide hazards for affected communities.

Write your answer below:

Disaster: Pampanga Earthquake, April 22 2019

a. Ground Shaking

b. Leaving at least 18 dead, 3 missing and injuring at least 256 others

c. When the ground starts shaking many houses and establishments are
being collapse and that’s the cause of loss of lives and injuries of the
people.

d. If you are in a car, pull over and stop and

stay outdoors away from buildings. Also stay inside and do not run outside
and avoid doorways. Used the Duck, Cover and Hold when the earthquake
strikes. In short always be prepared and ready yourself to the possible
 outcome.

FORMATIVE
ASSESSMENT

Answer the following briefly but concisely.

1. How do we know when we are at risk for disaster?
When your place is located in a low-lying area, you are at risk of disaster because of
flooding.
2. How do communities assess their disaster risks? Cite a specific example.
Example of this is the Training manual for the trainers. The community will also be trained
on how to assess the risks in their local area that result in a simple and practical plan of action
that can minimize negative impacts of disasters. The manual has been prepared using simple
language, including pictorial explanations.

SYNTHESIS

Exposure to hazards can be lessened by removing the most vulnerable away from a
hazard’s path.
Vulnerability and exposure are dynamic; varying across temporal and spatial scales, and
depends on economic, social, geographic, demographic, cultural, institutional,
governance, and environmental factors.
Exposure refers to the presence of people, livelihoods, environmental services and resources,
infrastructure or economic, social, or cultural assets in places that could be adversely