The geography of disaster vulnerability in megacities
1998; Elsevier BV; Volume: 18; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/s0143-6228(97)00041-6
ISSN1873-7730
Autores Tópico(s)Health disparities and outcomes
ResumoVulnerability assessments are widely employed to assist planning for major natural disasters in many cities, including metropolitan Tokyo. Continuing assessments carried out by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government use geographical information systems as analytical tools. They rely almost exclusively on data about the physical environment, on counts of human numbers at risk and on information about selected economic dimensions of hazard. Other vitally important aspects of social vulnerability are neglected. As a first step towards developing improved socially sensitive vulnerability assessments, three universities in Japan and the USA have initiated a pilot study of vulnerability to cyclones and earthquakes among the homeless population of Tokyo. This is intended to develop a reliable model of social vulnerability among one marginalized group that can be used to improve disaster planning and management among the homeless and other 'special needs' groups in megacities at risk throughout the world.
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