Toward a Theory of Toward a Theory of VulnerabilityVulnerability

Understanding and Addressing Understanding and Addressing Liabilities and Capacities Liabilities and Capacities

Preliminary RemarksPreliminary Remarks

The theoretical context of emergency The theoretical context of emergency managementmanagementA war of conceptsA war of conceptsThe need to unify a fragmented fieldThe need to unify a fragmented field

ExamplesExamples

Natural hazardsNatural hazardsCivil defenseCivil defenseComprehensive emergency managementComprehensive emergency managementResistanceResistanceResilienceResilienceHomeland securityHomeland securityOthers (e.g., risk management, the crisis Others (e.g., risk management, the crisis

approach)approach)

Our Current StatusOur Current Status

Tierney (1999, 216) says the field of Tierney (1999, 216) says the field of disaster studies has yet to develop a disaster studies has yet to develop a coherent theoretical perspective.”coherent theoretical perspective.”

Mileti (1999, 35) acknowledges that Mileti (1999, 35) acknowledges that “researchers have called for a broader “researchers have called for a broader view of the disaster problem and even for view of the disaster problem and even for a revolution in approach.” a revolution in approach.”

The Current LiteratureThe Current Literature

Mileti’s path-breaking bookMileti’s path-breaking book

Interest in VulnerabilityInterest in Vulnerability

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

““Governments, disaster management agencies Governments, disaster management agencies and the community are increasingly accepting and the community are increasingly accepting that the proper focus of disaster management is that the proper focus of disaster management is not on the hazard agent in itself” (Buckle in not on the hazard agent in itself” (Buckle in Quarantelli 2005, 344).Quarantelli 2005, 344).

Interest in Vulnerability (cont.)Interest in Vulnerability (cont.)

Comfort et. al. (2005, 43) “propose that Comfort et. al. (2005, 43) “propose that human vulnerability . . . becomes an human vulnerability . . . becomes an integral concern in the development and integral concern in the development and evaluation of disaster policies.”evaluation of disaster policies.”

Quarantelli (2005, 343-344) states “the Quarantelli (2005, 343-344) states “the recent shift in much of the literature from a recent shift in much of the literature from a primary focus on hazards to one of primary focus on hazards to one of vulnerability is a step in the right direction.” vulnerability is a step in the right direction.”

Social VulnerabilitySocial Vulnerability

Concentrates on social structureConcentrates on social structureWisner’s Pressure and Release ModelWisner’s Pressure and Release ModelMay not capture all of the factors that lead May not capture all of the factors that lead

to disastersto disasters ““It is very difficult to assess all the known It is very difficult to assess all the known

points of vulnerability” (Cutter 2005, 41).points of vulnerability” (Cutter 2005, 41).

What is Vulnerability?What is Vulnerability? Divergence of opinionDivergence of opinion

““Vulnerability is the likelihood that an individual or Vulnerability is the likelihood that an individual or group will be exposed to and adversely affected by a group will be exposed to and adversely affected by a hazard” (Cutter 1996, 532).hazard” (Cutter 1996, 532).

““Vulnerability is the potential for loss” (Mitchell as Vulnerability is the potential for loss” (Mitchell as cited by Cutter 1996, 532).cited by Cutter 1996, 532).

““Vulnerability is a state of defenselessness which Vulnerability is a state of defenselessness which renders a community powerless to withstand the renders a community powerless to withstand the debilitating effects of events commonly perceived as debilitating effects of events commonly perceived as disaster or natural hazard” (Mustafa 1989, 290).disaster or natural hazard” (Mustafa 1989, 290).

““The degree to which a system or part of a system The degree to which a system or part of a system may react adversely to the occurrence of a hazardous may react adversely to the occurrence of a hazardous event” (Timmerman 1981, 21).event” (Timmerman 1981, 21).

Areas of ConvergenceAreas of Convergence

Scholarship illustrates that vulnerability is Scholarship illustrates that vulnerability is produced by humans as they interact in produced by humans as they interact in the physical and social environments.the physical and social environments.Our land-use planning and constructionOur land-use planning and constructionOur apathy toward emergency managementOur apathy toward emergency management

Areas of Convergence (cont.)Areas of Convergence (cont.) LiabilitiesLiabilities

““A measure, for a given population or region, of the A measure, for a given population or region, of the underlying factors that influence exposure to the underlying factors that influence exposure to the hazardous event and predisposition to the adverse hazardous event and predisposition to the adverse consequences” (Downing as cited by Green 2004, consequences” (Downing as cited by Green 2004, 323).323).

““It involves a combination of factors that determine It involves a combination of factors that determine the degree to which someone’s life or livelihood is put the degree to which someone’s life or livelihood is put at risk by a discrete and identifiable event in nature or at risk by a discrete and identifiable event in nature or society” (Wisner et. al. 2004, 11).society” (Wisner et. al. 2004, 11).

““The likelihood that a person will be negatively The likelihood that a person will be negatively affected by environmental hazards” (Bolin and affected by environmental hazards” (Bolin and Stanford 1998, 9).Stanford 1998, 9).

Areas of Convergence (cont.)Areas of Convergence (cont.)

CapabilitiesCapabilities ““A function of a system’s ability to cope with stress A function of a system’s ability to cope with stress

and shock” (Nicholls and Dlein as cited by Green and shock” (Nicholls and Dlein as cited by Green 2004, 323).2004, 323).

““The characteristics of a person or group in terms of The characteristics of a person or group in terms of their capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist, and their capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist, and recover from the impact of natural hazards” (Wisner recover from the impact of natural hazards” (Wisner et. al. 2004, 11).et. al. 2004, 11).

““Refers to the resources and coping abilities of Refers to the resources and coping abilities of specific community to a specific hazard” (Lindsay as specific community to a specific hazard” (Lindsay as cited by NOAA 2006).cited by NOAA 2006).

Accepting Both FeaturesAccepting Both Features Liabilities and capabilitiesLiabilities and capabilities

““Vulnerability . . . Refers to exposure to contingencies Vulnerability . . . Refers to exposure to contingencies and stress, and difficulty in coping with them. and stress, and difficulty in coping with them. Vulnerability thus has two sides: an external side of Vulnerability thus has two sides: an external side of risks, shocks and stress to which an individual or risks, shocks and stress to which an individual or household is subject, and an internal side which is household is subject, and an internal side which is defenselessness, meaning a lack of means to cope defenselessness, meaning a lack of means to cope without damaging loss” (Chambers 1989, 1).without damaging loss” (Chambers 1989, 1).

““Vulnerability is a product of physical exposure to Vulnerability is a product of physical exposure to natural hazard, and human capacity to prepare for or natural hazard, and human capacity to prepare for or mitigate and to recover from (cope with) any negative mitigate and to recover from (cope with) any negative impacts of disaster” (Pellinga and Uitto 2001, 50).impacts of disaster” (Pellinga and Uitto 2001, 50).

Bringing it All TogetherBringing it All Together

Address liabilitiesAddress liabilitiesRiskRiskSusceptibilitySusceptibility

Address capabilitiesAddress capabilitiesResistanceResistanceResilienceResilience

A ModelA Model

How Can Vulnerability be How Can Vulnerability be Reduced?Reduced?

Address riskAddress riskUnderstand what can happenUnderstand what can happenProtect the environmentProtect the environmentLocate people and property in safer areasLocate people and property in safer areasWarn and evacuate peopleWarn and evacuate people

How Can Vulnerability be How Can Vulnerability be Reduced? (cont.)Reduced? (cont.)

Address susceptibilitiesAddress susceptibilitiesOvercome apathyOvercome apathyReduce povertyReduce poverty Improve healthImprove healthAnticipate and react effectively to Anticipate and react effectively to

demographic changesdemographic changes

How Can Vulnerability be How Can Vulnerability be Reduced? (cont.)Reduced? (cont.)

Address resistanceAddress resistanceConstruct homes and structures with latest Construct homes and structures with latest

engineering techniquesengineering techniquesBuild infrastructure with disasters in mindBuild infrastructure with disasters in mind Improve building codes and enforce themImprove building codes and enforce themApply technology carefullyApply technology carefully

How Can Vulnerability be How Can Vulnerability be Reduced? (cont.) Reduced? (cont.)

Address ResilienceAddress ResiliencePrepare and planPrepare and planGive more resources to emergency Give more resources to emergency

managementmanagementNetworkNetworkRely on insuranceRely on insurance

How Can Vulnerability be How Can Vulnerability be Reduced (cont.)Reduced (cont.)

A simple process for emergency A simple process for emergency managementmanagementAssess liabilities and capabilitiesAssess liabilities and capabilitiesReduce risk and susceptibilitiesReduce risk and susceptibilitiesAugment resistance and resilienceAugment resistance and resilience

A Holistic Approach?A Holistic Approach?

Relation to:Relation to:HazardsHazardsPhasesPhasesActorsActorsVariablesVariablesDisciplinesDisciplines

Support for the Model?Support for the Model?

Thomas and Mileti (2003, 7) affirm that Thomas and Mileti (2003, 7) affirm that professionals in emergency management should professionals in emergency management should “acquire a basic understanding of risk, “acquire a basic understanding of risk, susceptibility, resilience and resistance.”susceptibility, resilience and resistance.”

Cutter et. al. (2003, 226) assert that “we need to Cutter et. al. (2003, 226) assert that “we need to broaden our understanding of vulnerability . . . broaden our understanding of vulnerability . . . To a more holistic view that includes exposure, To a more holistic view that includes exposure, susceptibility, resistance, [and] resilience.”susceptibility, resistance, [and] resilience.”

Support for the Model? (cont.)Support for the Model? (cont.)

Villagran Da Leon observes that the initial Villagran Da Leon observes that the initial approaches “now encompass issues such approaches “now encompass issues such as coping capacities, resilience, as coping capacities, resilience, susceptibility and [other] new terms (2005, susceptibility and [other] new terms (2005, 145).145).

A “consensus about policy priorities may A “consensus about policy priorities may be occurring” (McEntire 2006, 181; Britton be occurring” (McEntire 2006, 181; Britton 1999, 227; Cole and Buckle 2004).1999, 227; Cole and Buckle 2004).

Future PossibilitiesFuture Possibilities

Study vulnerability in different disaster Study vulnerability in different disaster contextscontexts

Develop model more fully with variablesDevelop model more fully with variables Identify the complex relation among all of Identify the complex relation among all of

the factors that lead to vulnerabilitythe factors that lead to vulnerability Integrate the findings from different Integrate the findings from different

disciplinesdisciplines

Thank You!Thank You!

David A. McEntireDavid A. McEntire

Emergency Administration and PlanningEmergency Administration and Planning

Department of Public AdministrationDepartment of Public Administration

University of North TexasUniversity of North Texas

mcentire@unt.edu

(940) 565-2996(940) 565-2996