Disaster Management · TEE · papers
Q4B · Differentiate between Hazard, Risk, Vulnerability and Disaster citing suitable exampl…
2026-07-10 · Semester VI re-exam
Actual TEE paper · 100 marks · 3 hours · Q1 + any four of Q2–Q7
Q4B. Differentiate between Hazard, Risk, Vulnerability and Disaster citing suitable examples, considering Landslides as a Natural Disasters. [10 marks]
Answer
| Concept | Landslide example |
|---|---|
| Hazard | Potential downslope movement of unstable soil or rock. |
| Exposure | Houses, roads and people within the potential runout area. |
| Vulnerability | Weak structures, limited alternative access or lack of warning/support. |
| Risk | Potential deaths, damage and disruption resulting from the hazard interacting with exposure and vulnerability. |
| Disaster | A landslide causes serious disruption to an affected community. |
Risk exists before the event; a disaster is the realised serious disruption. Drainage and stabilisation reduce hazard in suitable conditions, relocation reduces exposure, and safer structures and evacuation support reduce vulnerability.
Definition. Vulnerability is the susceptibility of people or assets to harm. Capacity is the available strength and resources to manage risk. Resilience is the ability to withstand, adapt to and recover from disruption while maintaining or restoring essential functions.
Four dimensions of vulnerability
| Dimension | Why it increases harm | Risk reduction |
|---|---|---|
| Physical | Weak construction may collapse in shaking. | Safe design and retrofitting |
| Social | Inaccessible warnings exclude people with hearing or visual disabilities. | Accessible messages and assisted evacuation |
| Economic | A household with one damaged livelihood has little income for recovery. | Savings, social protection and livelihood diversity |
| Environmental | Wetland loss removes flood storage. | Wetland protection and catchment restoration |
Being exposed is different from being vulnerable. Two buildings in the same seismic area are exposed to similar shaking, but the poorly built one may suffer greater damage. A disability does not itself determine disaster loss: inaccessible transport, buildings and warning systems often create the disabling barrier.
Capacity operates at three levels
- Individual: knowledge, first-aid training and an evacuation plan.
- Organisational: staff, equipment, procedures and coordination in a hospital or local authority.
- Enabling environment: laws, budgets, institutions and inclusive participation.