1.5.2. Extensive Risk

So they tried to classify into intensive risk when you say intensive risk major concentrations of the vulnerable populations and economic asserts exposed to the extreme hazard. Whereas the extensive risk, when he talks about the extensive risk, he talks about the geographically dispersed exposure of vulnerable people and economic assets to low or moderate-intensity hazard.

In disaster risk contexts, risks are often divided into two categories: intensive risk and extensive risk. Intensive risk refers to situations where vulnerable populations and economic assets are concentrated in particular areas and exposed to extreme hazards, such as earthquakes or major floods. Conversely, extensive risk refers to situations where vulnerable communities and their economic assets are spread out over a larger area and are subject to low or moderate-intensity hazards, such as persistent droughts or everyday climatic changes. Understanding the distinction is crucial for disaster risk reduction strategies because it affects how communities prepare for and respond to various types of hazards.

Imagine a city where a large number of people live in high-rise buildings in a flood-prone area—this represents intensive risk. If a severe flood occurs, many lives are at risk, as well as significant property damage. Now consider a rural area where farmers are scattered across a region that occasionally experiences light droughts. The overall risk is lower, but many smallholder farmers are affected over time—this is extensive risk. Each situation requires different planning and resources to manage effectively.

Everyday risk, so when we say everyday risk, we are talking about households and communities exposed to foods, insecurity, disease, crime, accidents, pollution, lack of sanitation and clean water. Like if you ever travelled in the developing countries many people even still doubt whether the water we are drinking is safe or not.

Everyday risks include a range of persistent challenges that households and communities face regularly. These can involve food insecurity, where families lack regular access to enough nutritious food, exposure to diseases due to poor healthcare access, crime, and accidents in unsafe living environments. In many developing countries, safe drinking water is a significant concern, leading to health risks due to contaminated sources. Recognizing everyday risks is crucial because they can have cumulative and long-lasting effects on communities, contributing to ongoing vulnerabilities and making them less resilient to sudden disasters.

Consider a family living in a suburban neighborhood known for its high crime rates. They might face the everyday risk of theft, impacting their sense of safety and leading them to invest in security systems instead of essential services. Similarly, think about a community where people frequently worry about the quality of their drinking water. They may hesitate to drink tap water, opting for expensive bottled water—which strains their already limited budgets. These everyday risks compound over time and can severely limit a community's capacity to respond effectively to sudden disasters.

Poverty, economic poverty and other poverty factors such as powerlessness, exclusion, illiteracy and discrimination, limited opportunities to access and mobilise assets.

Poverty is multifaceted, encompassing not just a lack of financial resources but also factors like powerlessness, social exclusion, illiteracy, and discrimination. These aspects impede individuals' and communities' ability to access opportunities and mobilize resources necessary for resilience against risks. For instance, when people are excluded from decision-making processes or lack the education to understand the risks they face, they become increasingly vulnerable to disasters. Understanding how these elements intertwine helps in developing more effective strategies for disaster risk reduction and poverty alleviation simultaneously.

Imagine two neighborhoods—one affluent, where residents have access to education and participate in community decisions, and another impoverished, where residents struggle to voice their needs. Residents of the affluent neighborhood may plan community projects that improve infrastructure against flooding. In contrast, those in the impoverished area may lack awareness of their risks and fail to voice their needs to authorities, leaving them more vulnerable during disasters. This illustrates how interconnected poverty and risk can be, impacting community resilience.

So disaster impacts because these people live in this kind of risk factors situations that is where the majority mortality and economic loss.

Disasters can exacerbate existing vulnerabilities, leading to higher mortality rates and significant economic losses, particularly among marginalized populations. For example, when a natural disaster strikes, it is often the most vulnerable—those already living in poverty—who face the deadliest consequences and whose livelihoods are most impacted. Understanding this relationship helps policymakers and practitioners devise strategies that not only address the immediate effects of disasters but also consider long-term recovery and support for affected communities.

Take for instance the impact of a flooding event in a low-income coastal community. Many residents might already be struggling with poverty, and when flooding occurs, they may lose homes, crops, and income sources, further entrenching them in poverty. Affected individuals may be unable to afford rebuilding, leading to a cycle of vulnerability where economic recovery becomes increasingly difficult. Thus, the disaster's impact doesn't just end with the event; it has lasting repercussions on communities already grappling with poverty.

In the richer countries, they have the regulatory frameworks to minimise the disaster risk which are enforced. Here in poorer countries, the regulatory frameworks are weak or absent, or the capacity to enforce them is lacking.

Effective regulatory frameworks are vital for minimizing disaster risks. Wealthier countries often have well-established regulations that are enforced, which helps protect communities from hazards. In contrast, poorer countries may lack these frameworks, or the existing regulations may not be enforced due to limited capacity. This discrepancy leads to varying levels of vulnerability and preparedness, emphasizing the importance of building and reinforcing regulatory systems in disaster-prone regions.

Consider two nations: one wealthy with robust building codes that ensure structures in flood-prone areas are built to withstand heavy rains, and another developing nation where such codes are either outdated or ignored. When flooding occurs, the better-prepared nation loses fewer structures. In contrast, the developing nation suffers significant damage due to inadequate regulations, showcasing the critical role of governance in reducing risk.

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