Understanding and Mitigating Risk: Danger, Exposure, Vulnerability
Understanding Risk: Danger, Exposure, and Vulnerability
Danger (P)
Danger is the probability of the occurrence of a phenomenon whose intensity is detrimental in a potentially determined time and space. To understand each phenomenon, three questions must be answered:
- Geographic distribution: Historically locating the most affected areas, as well as its range, can increase damages.
- Return time: How often an event is repeated in an area must be determined to have historical knowledge.
- The extent or degree of danger: Tables are made with historical data. With this, maps are made with the finality of reducing damage risk.
Exposure (E)
Exposure is the total number of persons or property subject to a risk. People assume social exposure, which is the number of people involved or the number of casualties involving potential goods. Economic exposure is the value of what comes in €/year.
To reduce this factor, two things can be done:
- Planning: Measures to restrict land use in areas where the danger is greater (ravines, river flood areas, etc.).
- Emergency strategies: Civil protection and installation of surveillance, control, and alert systems. The effectiveness of this depends on many factors (warning time, communications, etc.).
Vulnerability (V)
Vulnerability is the percentage of the total exposure of casualties or loss of tangible property caused by the event. To reduce this factor, structural measures are made, such as earthquake-resistant foundations, lightning rods, etc. It is the measure that values the susceptibility to damage and depends on the availability of appropriate means to address them.
Therefore, the risk is the result of multiplying the danger by the exposure and by the vulnerability:
R = P x E x V
Understanding Risk: Danger, Exposure, and Vulnerability
Danger (P)
Danger is the probability of the occurrence of a phenomenon whose intensity is detrimental in a potentially determined time and space. To understand each phenomenon, three questions must be answered:
- Geographic distribution: Historically locating the most affected areas, as well as its range, can increase damages.
- Return time: How often an event is repeated in an area must be determined to have historical knowledge.
- The extent or degree of danger: Tables are made with historical data. With this, maps are made with the finality of reducing damage risk.
Exposure (E)
Exposure is the total number of persons or property subject to a risk. People assume social exposure, which is the number of people involved or the number of casualties involving potential goods. Economic exposure is the value of what comes in €/year.
To reduce this factor, two things can be done:
- Planning: Measures to restrict land use in areas where the danger is greater (ravines, river flood areas, etc.).
- Emergency strategies: Civil protection and installation of surveillance, control, and alert systems. The effectiveness of this depends on many factors (warning time, communications, etc.).
Vulnerability (V)
Vulnerability is the percentage of the total exposure of casualties or loss of tangible property caused by the event. To reduce this factor, structural measures are made, such as earthquake-resistant foundations, lightning rods, etc. It is the measure that values the susceptibility to damage and depends on the availability of appropriate means to address them.
Therefore, the risk is the result of multiplying the danger by the exposure and by the vulnerability:
R = P x E x V