Vulnerability and Catastrophe Understanding and Addressing Liabilities and Capacities

Introduction Recent events Recent events 9/11 9/11 Indian Ocean Tsunami Indian Ocean Tsunami Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina

Thinking Differently “Vulnerability is a greater determinant of disaster than hazards themselves” (Alexander 2006, 2). “Vulnerability is a greater determinant of disaster than hazards themselves” (Alexander 2006, 2).

Questions to Address What is vulnerability? What is vulnerability? What are the causes of vulnerability? What are the causes of vulnerability? Who can be or is vulnerable? Who can be or is vulnerable? How can vulnerability be reduced? How can vulnerability be reduced?

What is Vulnerability? Divergence of opinion Divergence of opinion “Vulnerability is the likelihood that an individual or group will be exposed to and adversely affected by a hazard” (Cutter 1996, 532). “Vulnerability is the likelihood that an individual or group will be exposed to and adversely affected by a hazard” (Cutter 1996, 532). “Vulnerability is the potential for loss” (Mitchell as cited by Cutter 1996, 532). “Vulnerability is the potential for loss” (Mitchell as cited by Cutter 1996, 532). “Vulnerability is a state of defenselessness which renders a community powerless to withstand the debilitating effects of events commonly perceived as disaster or natural hazard” (Mustafa 1989, 290). “Vulnerability is a state of defenselessness which renders a community powerless to withstand the debilitating effects of events commonly perceived as disaster or natural hazard” (Mustafa 1989, 290). “The degree to which a system or part of a system may react adversely to the occurrence of a hazardous event” (Timmerman 1981, 21). “The degree to which a system or part of a system may react adversely to the occurrence of a hazardous event” (Timmerman 1981, 21).

What is Vulnerability? (cont.) Areas of convergence (liabilities) Areas of convergence (liabilities) “A measure, for a given population or region, of the underlying factors that influence exposure to the hazardous event and predisposition to the adverse consequences” (Downing as cited by Green 2004, 323). “A measure, for a given population or region, of the underlying factors that influence exposure to the hazardous event and predisposition to the adverse consequences” (Downing as cited by Green 2004, 323). “It involves a combination of factors that determine the degree to which someone’s life or livelihood is put at risk by a discrete and identifiable event in nature or society” (Wisner et. al. 2004, 11). “It involves a combination of factors that determine the degree to which someone’s life or livelihood is put at risk by a discrete and identifiable event in nature or society” (Wisner et. al. 2004, 11). “The likelihood that a person will be negatively affected by environmental hazards” (Bolin and Stanford 1998, 9). “The likelihood that a person will be negatively affected by environmental hazards” (Bolin and Stanford 1998, 9).

What is Vulnerability? (cont.) Areas of convergence (capabilities) Areas of convergence (capabilities) “A function of a system’s ability to cope with stress and shock” (Nicholls and Dlein as cited by Green 2004, 323). “A function of a system’s ability to cope with stress and shock” (Nicholls and Dlein as cited by Green 2004, 323). “The characteristics of a person or group in terms of their capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist, and recover from the impact of natural hazards” (Wisner et. al. 2004, 11). “The characteristics of a person or group in terms of their capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist, and recover from the impact of natural hazards” (Wisner et. al. 2004, 11). “Refers to the resources and coping abilities of specific community to a specific hazard” (Lindsay as cited by NOAA 2006). “Refers to the resources and coping abilities of specific community to a specific hazard” (Lindsay as cited by NOAA 2006).

What is Vulnerability? (cont.) Accepting both features (liabilities and capabilities) Accepting both features (liabilities and capabilities) “Vulnerability... Refers to exposure to contingencies and stress, and difficulty in coping with them. Vulnerability thus has two sides: an external side of risks, shocks and stress to which an individual or household is subject, and an internal side which is defenselessness, meaning a lack of means to cope without damaging loss” (Chambers 1989, 1). “Vulnerability... Refers to exposure to contingencies and stress, and difficulty in coping with them. Vulnerability thus has two sides: an external side of risks, shocks and stress to which an individual or household is subject, and an internal side which is defenselessness, meaning a lack of means to cope without damaging loss” (Chambers 1989, 1). “Vulnerability is a product of physical exposure to natural hazard, and human capacity to prepare for or mitigate and to recover from (cope with) any negative impacts of disaster” (Pellinga and Uitto 2001, 50). “Vulnerability is a product of physical exposure to natural hazard, and human capacity to prepare for or mitigate and to recover from (cope with) any negative impacts of disaster” (Pellinga and Uitto 2001, 50).

What Causes Vulnerability? Physical causes Physical causes Location Location Construction Construction Technology Technology Social causes Social causes Culture Culture Politics Politics Demographic patterns Demographic patterns Economics Economics

What Causes Vulnerability? (cont.) Additional causes Additional causes Dropout rate Dropout rate Breakup of families Breakup of families Loss of farming skills Loss of farming skills Obesity Obesity Etc. Etc.

Who Is or Can be Vulnerable? Individuals Individuals Groups Groups Organizations Organizations Communities Communities Nations Nations Complex relationships Complex relationships

How Can Vulnerability be Reduced? Address liabilities Address liabilities Risk Risk Susceptibility Susceptibility Address capabilities Address capabilities Resistance Resistance Resilience Resilience

How Can Vulnerability be Reduced? (cont.) Address risk Address risk Understand what can happen Understand what can happen Protect the environment Protect the environment Locate people and property in safer areas Locate people and property in safer areas Warn and evacuate people Warn and evacuate people

How Can Vulnerability be Reduced? (cont.) Address susceptibilities Address susceptibilities Overcome apathy Overcome apathy Reduce poverty Reduce poverty Improve health Improve health Anticipate and react effectively to demographic changes Anticipate and react effectively to demographic changes

How Can Vulnerability be Reduced? (cont.) Address resistance Address resistance Construct homes and structures with latest engineering techniques Construct homes and structures with latest engineering techniques Build infrastructure with disasters in mind Build infrastructure with disasters in mind Improve building codes and enforce them Improve building codes and enforce them Apply technology carefully Apply technology carefully

How Can Vulnerability be Reduced? (cont.) Address Resilience Address Resilience Prepare and plan Prepare and plan Give more resources to emergency management Give more resources to emergency management Network Network Rely on insurance Rely on insurance

How Can Vulnerability be Reduced? (cont.) A holistic approach A holistic approach Assess liabilities and capabilities Assess liabilities and capabilities Reduce risk and susceptibilities Reduce risk and susceptibilities Build resistance and resilience Build resistance and resilience

Thank You! David A. McEntire Associate Professor Emergency Administration and Planning Department of Public Administration University of North Texas (940)