Disaster Readiness and
Risk Reduction
Quarter 1 – Module 8:
Effects of Hazard, Exposure and
Vulnerability to Disaster Risks
What I Need to Know
This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
master the Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction. The scope of this module
permits it to be used in many different learning situations. The language used
recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged
to follow the standard sequence of the course. But the order in which you read
them can be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.
The Module is intended to equip you with knowledge and skills in
differentiating hazards, exposure, and vulnerabilities as well as explaining the
relationship of the three to disaster risk.
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. define hazards, exposure, and vulnerabilities;
2. explain the difference among hazards, exposure, and vulnerabilities;
3. appreciate the importance of understanding the concepts about
hazard, exposure and vulnerabilities so that it will be applied in
everyday situations.
What I Know
Read each item carefully and choose the best answer. Write your
answer on a separate sheet of paper.
1. It is a harmful event, material, human behavior, or disease that
may cause loss of life, injury or other health effects, harm to
property, loss of livelihood and services, social and economic
disturbance, or damage to the environment.
a. disaster
b. hazard
c. risk
d. vulnerability
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2. signifies the possibility of adverse effects in the future.
It is derived from the interaction of social and environmental processes,
from the combination of physical hazard and the vulnerabilities of exposed
elements.
a. disaster
b. hazard
c. risk
d. vulnerability
3. A serious disruption of the functions of a community or a society causing
widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses which
exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its
own. What is it?
a. disaster
b. hazard
c. resiliency
d. risk
4. It is the characteristics and circumstances of a community, system or
asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard.
a. disaster
b. disaster Risk
c. hazard
d. vulnerability
5. It refers to the element at risk from a natural or man-made hazard event.
a. exposure
b. hazard
c. risk
d. vulnerability
6. Which group belongs to the most vulnerable?
a. employees
b. professional
c. indigenous people
d. small entrepreneurs
7. Which of the following is not a man-made hazard event?
a. drought
b. wars and civil strife
c. leakage of toxic waste
d. environmental pollution
2
8. Disaster Management includes:
a. mitigation
b. reconstruction
c. rehabilitation
d. all of the above
9. Which among the following groups of people is more vulnerable in the
event of disaster?
a. men, women, girls
b. men, women, boys
c. men, boys, old people
d. women, children, old people
10. Which of the following elements is exposed to hazard?
a. human Beings
b. building structures
c. public transport system
d. all of the above
11. Hazards can arise during excavations due to the fact that there are
many cables and pipelines buried in the ground. This is why ‘rules for
careful excavation’ have been established. What is one of these rules?
a. When using an excavator always use a toothed excavator bucket.
b. Never dig in areas where cables or pipelines are known to be buried
in the ground.
c. First, manually dig trial trenches close to the specified location of
the cables or pipelines.
d. All of the above
12. Which belongs to the elements exposed to hazard?
a. environmental Assets
b. dwellings of households
c. agricultural commodities
d. all of the above
13. Which is not an example of types of mitigation measures?
a. hazard mapping
b. flood plain mapping
c. raising of homes in flood-prone areas
d. implementing and enforcing building codes
3
14. It is the action of reducing the severity, seriousness or painfulness
of something.
a. migration
b. misconception
c. mitigation
d. mutation
15. Which is not belong to the General classification of elements at risk?
a. population
b. infrastructures
c. essential facilities
d. transportation facilities
Several countries, including the Philippines, have experienced disasters
affecting the property, assets and lives of the Filipino people , especially the
COVID 19 Pandemic, which kills millions of people not only in the Philippines
but worldwide. Today, it 's important to be extra cautious and mindful all the
time. The topic will eventually address concepts of hazard, exposure and
vulnerability and how they vary from each other and how important they are.
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What’s In
Activity 1
Direction: Below is a picture of an incident in a mining community in Itogon,
Benguet after the onslaught of the Typhoon Ompong in 2018. Look at the
picture then answer the questions after the image.
Philippine News Agency, “Itogon landslide After Ompong”, September 21,
2018, accessed May 28, 2020
https://files.pna.gov.ph/souce/2018/09/20/itogon-landslide-after-
ompong.jpg.
Guide Questions:
1. What is the hazard shown in the picture?
2. Which area is exposed to hazard?
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3. What do you think is the cause of this incident?
4. If the portion of the mountain slides down towards the remaining
residential buildings on the left, what part of the community will
be most affected?
5. Which part in the presented image will be least likely affected?
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Direction: Analyze and answer the following questions after the given
scenario.
SITUATION 1:
You are a mom. You live in Brgy. Aplaya, which is right next to Laguna de Bay.
You have a 2-storey house, and the ground floor where your sari-sari store is
situated already flooded. You wrapped your baby and went to the second floor,
but the flood is fast rising and you are likely to get trapped. Your husband went
to Barangay Hall, where they prepared boats, but he has not yet come back.
1. Determine the hazards given in the story.
2. What are the possible ways to lessen the vulnerability of the exposed
elements to hazard? Explain your answer.
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SITUATION 2:
You are in grade 12, at your age you usually spend your time with your friends and
go other places with them. You are very much excited because this is the day where
you and your friends have been waiting for, A moment later President Duterte
announced the Enhanced Community Quarantine in entire Luzon because of the
COVID-19 Pandemic. You and your friends decided not to continue your outing and
change it into friends gathering party near you.
1. Determine the hazard given in the story.
2. What are the possible ways to lessen the vulnerability of the exposed
elements to hazard? Explain your answer.
What is It
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Hazard is a harmful condition, substance, human behavior or condition that
can cause loss of life, injury or other health effects, harm to property, loss of
livelihood and services, social and economic disruption or damage to the
environment. Any risk which is imminent is threat.
Exposure is the presence of elements at risk or chance of being harmed from
a natural or man-made hazard event. Elements include the individuals, households
or communities, properties, buildings and structures, agricultural commodities,
livelihoods, and public facilities, infrastructures and environmental assets present
in an area that are subject to potential damage or even losses. The more a community
is exposed to hazard factors, the higher is the disaster risk or higher chance disaster
occurrence.
Vulnerability means the characteristics and circumstances of a
community, system, or asset, that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of
a hazard and inability of a community to prevent, mitigate, prepare for and
respond to hazardous events.
Risk implies the probability of possible adverse effects. This results from the
interaction of social and environmental systems, from the combination of physical
danger, and exposed item vulnerabilities.
Disaster is a serious disruption to the functioning of a community or society
which causes widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses that
exceed the capacity of the community or society concerned to cope with the use of
their own resources. It results from the mix of hazards, risk conditions and
inadequate capability or measures.
Exposure and vulnerability, on the other hand, are distinct. A certain
community can be exposed but it does not mean that it is vulnerable. Buildings and
structures in Japan are exposed to earthquake, but they are not vulnerable since
their architectural and engineering designs are earthquake proof or resistant.
However, to become vulnerable, it must be exposed to hazard first.
Exposure to hazard can make a community vulnerable. But not all
communities that are exposed to hazard can be considered vulnerable. Vulnerability
depends on the preparedness and readiness to a hazard of the community. It
depends mostly on how they mitigate, respond, and recover. If a certain community
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has the ability to reduce the vulnerability by reducing the risk, the said community
is already considered as less vulnerable or resilient.
Physical elements Population
Buildings: Urban land use, Density of population, distribution in
construction types, building height, space, distribution in time, age
building age, total floor space, distribution, gender distribution,
replacement costs. handicapped, income distribution
Monuments and cultural heritage
Essential facilities Socio-economic aspects
Emergency shelters, Schools, Hospitals, Organization of population,
Fire Brigades, Police, governance, community organization,
government support, socio-economic
levels. Cultural heritage and
traditions.
Transportation facilities Economic activities
Roads, railway, metro, public Spatial distribution of economic
transportation systems, harbor facilities, activities, input-output table,
airport facilities. dependency, redundancy,
unemployment, economic
production in various sectors.
Life lines Environmental elements
Water supply, electricity supply, gas Ecosystems, protected areas, natural
supply, telecommunications, mobile parks, environmentally sensitive
telephone network, sewage system. areas, forests, wetlands, aquifers,
flora, fauna, biodiversity.
C.J. Van Wester , “General Classification of Elements at Risk”, Caribbean Handbook on Risk Information
Management, C.J. Van Wester http://www.charim.net/methodology/52
Disaster mitigation measures are those that eliminate or reduce the impacts and
risks of hazards by means of proactive measures taken before an emergency or
disaster takes place. Mitigation is the action of reducing something's severity,
seriousness, or painfulness.
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What’s More
Activity 1: Tell me!
Direction: Analyze the picture below and answer the questions that follow.
Guide Questions:
1. What can you say about the picture? What does the quotation mean?
2. What is the hazard in the picture/ situation?
3. What is being exposed in the picture/ situation?
4. Why do you think the character in the picture is vulnerable?
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5. Based on your analysis, Explain the hazard, exposure and vulnerability
given in the picture.
What I Have Learned
COMPLETE ME!
Directions: Complete the following sentences by giving the appropriate
answer needed in the blank.
Vulnerability is .
Exposure refers to
while hazard is defined as
.
Hazards may be caused by
and can be mitigated through
.
The difference between hazard, exposure and vulnerability among each other is
Hazard
exposed
vulnerability
It is significant to understand hazards, exposure and vulnerabilities because
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What I Can Do
Activity 2.1
Direction:
1. Observe a community (you can choose your own community or barangay).
2. Determine all the elements exposed to hazard in that particular locality.
3. Differentiate vulnerabilities of different elements exposed to specific hazards and explain
how these elements can become exposed to hazards, making them more vulnerable.
4. 5. Identify Disaster Risks.
5. 6. Suggest Risk Reduction Measures.
6. 7. Make a tri-fold information brochure in A4 size.
7. 8. Be creative.
8. 9. By group with 3 members. Include your names and section in the brochure.
9. 10. Deadline: January 20, 2025
10. 11. You will be graded based on the rubrics given below:
Criteria’s 4 3 2 1
Accuracy All Most of the Some of the Very little of
information is information is information is the
correct and correct and correct and information is
all of the most of the some of the correct and
sources are sources are sources are none of the
listed listed listed sources are
listed
Neatness All writing is Most of the Some of the Very little of
tidy, photos writing is writing is tidy, the writing is
and artwork tidy, photos photos and tidy, photos
are precisely and artwork artwork are and artwork
placed, and are mostly somewhat are placed
all sections placed placed poorly, and
are orderly carefully, and carefully, and the sections
most of the some of the are disorderly
sections are sections are
orderly orderly
Creativity The brochure Most of the Some of the Very little of
as a whole is brochure is brochure is the brochure
interesting, interesting, interesting, is interesting,
engaging, engaging, engaging, engaging,
imaginative, imaginative, imaginative, imaginative,
and original and original and original and original
Colorful The brochure Most of the Some of the Very little of
is eye brochure is brochure is the brochure
catching and eye catching eye catching is eye
vibrant and bright and average catching and
and/or colors and/or and/or some dull and/or
coordinated mostly mismatched mismatched
colors are coordinated colors are colors are
used colors are used used
used
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Kellie Hayden, “Teaching Ideas for Brochure-Making With a Rubric”,
Bright Hub Education, June 26, 2010
https://www.brighthubeducation.com/teaching-methods-tips/75435-rubric-for-brochure-project/
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Assessment
Read each item carefully and choose the best answer. Write your answer on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. It is a harmful event, material, human behavior, or disease that may cause loss
of life, injury or other health effects, harm to property, loss of livelihood and
services, social and economic disturbance, or damage to the environment.
a. disaster
b. hazard
c. risk
d. vulnerability
2. signifies the possibility of adverse effects in the future. It is
derived from the interaction of social and environmental processes, from the
combination of physical hazard and the vulnerabilities of exposed elements.
a. disaster
b. hazard
c. risk
d. vulnerability
3. A serious disruption of the functions of a community or a society causing
widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses which exceed the
ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own. What is it?
a. disaster
b. hazard
c. resiliency
d. risk
4. It is the characteristics and circumstances of a community, system or
asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard.
b. disaster
c. disaster Risk
d. hazard
e. vulnerability
5. It refers to the element at risk from a natural or man-made hazard event.
a. exposure
b. hazard
c. risk
d. vulnerability
15
6. Which group belongs to the most vulnerable?
a. employees
b. professional
c. indigenous people
d. small entrepreneurs
7. Which of the following is not a man-made hazard event?
a. drought
b. wars and civil strife
c. leakage of toxic waste
d. environmental pollution
8. Disaster Management includes:
a. mitigation
b. reconstruction
c. rehabilitation
d. all of the above
9. Which among the following groups of people is more vulnerable in the event of
disaster?
a. men, women, girls
b. men, women, boys
c. men, boys, old people
d. women, children, old people
10. Which of the following elements is exposed to hazard?
a. human beings
b. building structures
c. public transport system
d. all of the above
11. Hazards can arise during excavations due to the fact that there are many cables
and pipelines buried in the ground. This is why ‘rules for careful excavation’ have
been established. What is one of these rules?
a. When using an excavator always use a toothed excavator bucket.
b. Never dig in areas where cables or pipelines are known to be buried in
the ground.
c. First, manually dig trial trenches close to the specified location of the
cables or pipelines.
d. All of the above
12. Which belongs to the elements exposed to hazard?
a. environmental assets
b. dwellings of households
c. agricultural commodities
d. all of the above
16
13. Which is not an example of types of mitigation measures?
a. hazard mapping
b. flood plain mapping
c. raising of homes in flood-prone areas
d. implementing and enforcing building codes
14. It is the action of reducing the severity, seriousness or painfulness of something.
a. migration
b. misconception
c. mitigation
d. mutation
15. Which is not belong to the General classification of elements at risk?
a. population
b. infrastructures
c. essential facilities
d. transportation facilities
