Vulnerability

• The role of governance


  influences communitiy’s vulnerability, and resilience to hazards
• Key aspect of governance is

  Mitigation measures -(being prepared)- in place eg education programmes, operational systems
• Need to ensure 


  Meeting needs of citizens and making them less vulnerable eg healthy and literate population
• Agencies also responsible for 


  Environmental management that reduces likelihood of secondary hazards

  Eg afforest bare slopes to avoid landslides with earthquake
• National disaster 


  -management agencies- for aftermath
• Local authorities have 


  Their own natural disaster action plan

  Location specific as locals best to coordinate responses
• Geographical factors also:


  Influence community’s vulnerability and resilience
• Geographical factor: pop density 


  Infrastructure systems come under pressure eg sewage - system shuts down- decreased capacity to cope

  Rapid urbanisation levels- informal settlements - more vulnerable

  Greater access to food shelter medical interventions

  Larger more vulnerable buildings
• Isolation and accesibilty- geographical factor 


  Rural/ isolated- more vulnerable as difficult for rescue operation teams to reach

  poorly maintained infrastructure, e.g. roads -pop suffers for longer without aid

  Lack of communication and infrastructure
• Degree of urbanisation-geographical 


  Places with high pop density -more vulnerable as- difficult to evacuate

  Emergency services/ facilities under more pressure- increases after disaster