Vulnerability refers to the specific qualities or situations of a community, system or asset that make it more prone to harm from a disaster or a hazard. Imagine if your phhasone a weak battery; it's more vulnerable to running out of power quickly.

Risk = Hazard x Exposure x Vulnerability. Like in a zombie movie, risk of being bitten is high (hazard) if you're in an area packed with zombies (exposure) and you have no weapon or armor (vulnerability).

Vulnerability is affected by numerous factors: economics, social status, culture, politics, and even psychology. Think of it as a multi-layered onion, where each layer adds to the overall vulnerability.

It's not all about poverty. Yes, poor people often suffer the most during disasters because they may live in unsafe conditions due to financial pressure. However, vulnerability can affect anyone. Think of the Beverly Hills mansions destroyed in wildfires - even wealth can't fully protect you.