A Social Vulnerability Index for Disaster Management

TLDR

Social vulnerability refers to socioeconomic and demographic factors that influence community resilience, and studies show that socially vulnerable groups are more likely to suffer adverse effects, struggle to recover, and experience higher mortality during disasters, making effective mitigation essential to reduce human suffering and economic loss. This study develops a social vulnerability index (SVI) using 15 census variables at the census tract level for emergency management. The authors construct the SVI from census data and evaluate its utility by analyzing its association with Hurricane Katrina’s impact on local populations.

Abstract

Social vulnerability refers to the socioeconomic and demographic factors that affect the resilience of communities. Studies have shown that in disaster events the socially vulnerable are more likely to be adversely affected, i.e. they are less likely to recover and more likely to die. Effectively addressing social vulnerability decreases both human suffering and the economic loss related to providing social services and public assistance after a disaster. This paper describes the development of a social vulnerability index (SVI), from 15 census variables at the census tract level, for use in emergency management. It also examines the potential value of the SVI by exploring the impact of Hurricane Katrina on local populations.