Hazards, Risk, and Vulnerability

Natural hazard terminologies with existing models of vulnerability, hazard, and risk are presented in this chapter. A conceptual framework has been developed based on hazard literature. The basic premise of the framework is based on Cutter’s place of hazard theory with inputs from recent literature. In the framework, hazard is viewed as a threat that has the potential to overwhelm people, property, and the environment. It is a pre-existing condition that can turn into a catastrophe depending on the influence of exogenous and endogenous factors. Exposure to hazard is treated as given and is an implicit element. The vulnerability element is perceived as the interactive effects of the social and physical aspects of a system (e.g., urban) regarding the causal process of hazards. Contrary to some conceptualizations, the framework views that the total vulnerability of a community depends on physical, social, and existing coping capacity attributes, and therefore, the calculation of the total vulnerability should consider these elements simultaneously. Risk is conceptualized as the product of hazard and vulnerability. To minimize the effects of disasters, it is imperative to take appropriate measures to reduce vulnerability rather than risk.