DisRe: 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.

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

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.

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.