9 Widespread poverty has played a critical role in increasing population vulnerability to many recent disasters, including Hurricane Katrina, the Indian Ocean tsunami, and the 2009 Haitian earthquake. 8Īlthough culture is important, poverty is a primary factor that affects how individuals perceive risk and how well they understand and respond to warnings. 7 Moreover, the Latino population in the United States has lower levels of income and higher levels of poverty than the population at large, making it more difficult for Latinos to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. 6 Other culturally driven perceptions among migrant workers may also contribute to exacerbating vulnerability and inhibiting the appropriate response, especially when going to an evacuation shelter may result in deportation. Commonly issued in English, disaster warnings may be misunderstood or not understood at all by Spanish-speaking individuals. For example, one key factor regarding why Latinos may suffer higher vulnerability to disasters in the United States may relate to their language abilities. The social and economic characteristics of a group may limit its members’ abilities to protect themselves from harm, but the culture of social groups also plays an important role. ![]() While population growth and distribution are important factors in producing vulnerability, who is being affected by the disaster is equally important. 4 The organization of work and leisure around coastal areas in India was one of the factors that resulted in high rates of injuries and fatalities following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. 3 The growth of coastal populations, for instance, raises important concerns about increased human exposure to coastal flooding, hurricanes, and tsunamis. For example, researchers argue that in countries such as China, urban earthquakes are more dangerous because of the density of the infrastructure. Congestion, limited escape routes, dense infrastructure, and poverty add to the vulnerability. Cities and countries in other regions of the world face similar problems. ![]() population resides in urban areas, resulting in increasing population concentration in coastal communities and flood-prone areas. Population growth and distribution, especially increased population density and urbanization, increases vulnerability to disasters. Although the sources of vulnerability are multiple and quite diverse, some of the most important factors that affect vulnerability include population growth and distribution and social diversity. Consequently, policies aimed at addressing risk and vulnerability must also take into account these differential impacts and outcomes of disasters. ![]() Vulnerability is formally defined as “the characteristics of a person or group and their situation that influences their capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist, and recover from the impact of a natural hazard.” 1 Implicit here is “differential vulnerability” that is, different populations face different levels of risk and vulnerability. The “vulnerability” perspective in disasters, which is rapidly emerging as a dominant view in the field, assumes that a real disaster occurs when it strikes an underprivileged population. While the intensity is important, of equal or greater importance is the presence of a population whose demographic or socioeconomic characteristics may place its members at greater risk of harm before, during, and after a disaster. On the other hand, a relatively weak tornado can pose significant risks to human life and can result in great economic losses in densely populated areas. Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and InclusionĪ large, violent tornado, for instance, passing through an open field presents little danger.Policy and Advocacy Communications Training. ![]()
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