As per UNDRR, vulnerability refers to the conditions determined by physical, social, economic and environmental factors or processes which increase the susceptibility of an individual, a community, assets or systems to the impacts of hazards.
Vulnerability can be characterized as follow
Exposure to Hazard – Settlements on riverbanks or seismic zones are more vulnerable. Eg- Joshimath (Uttarakhand)
Adaptive or Coping Capacity – Ability to anticipate, respond, absorb and recover from a disaster. Eg- Access to savings, insurance, early warning systems.
Socio-economic Conditions – Poverty, marginalisation and inequity increase susceptibility to harm. Eg- Disaster induced migration
Governance and Institutional Readiness– Eg- Weak building regulation increases earthquake vulnerability.
Environmental Degradation increases hazard impact. Eg- ‘Day Zero’ in Chennai due to wetland encroachment.
Social Networks and Support Systems: – Communities with strong social cohesion, community organizations, and support networks are more resilient to respond to and recover from disasters.
Health status and access to healthcare services influence vulnerability – Eg- Elderly and Children are more vulnerable to post disaster illness
Types of Vulnerability with Reference to Disasters
Physical Vulnerability – Related to infrastructure, buildings, land use, and physical exposure. Eg- houses in Zone V are highly earthquake-vulnerable.
Social Vulnerability – Eg- Women in rehabilitation camps face violence and trafficking
Economic Vulnerability – Lack of income stability, livelihood diversity, and financial buffers. Eg- Fisherfolk losing boats in cyclones.
Environmental Vulnerability- Eg- Loss of mangroves in Sundarbans increases storm-surge impacts.
Institutional Vulnerability – Weak governance, poor enforcement of safety norms, lack of coordination.
Technological Vulnerability – Risks arising from industrial, nuclear, or infrastructural failures. Eg- Bhopal gas tragedy.
Geographic Vulnerability – Eg- Himalayan towns exposed to landslides and GLOFs.
Mapping vulnerabilities, enforcing inclusive governance, and capacity building at grassroot are essential for disaster resilience.