Social Vulnerability and Dam Risk A methodology for understanding the relationship between demographic characteristics and hazard threat

Abstract

Because vulnerable populations have fewer resources and face barriers to effectively respond to a disaster, it is essential that emergency managers understand community demographics. The objective of this analysis is to provide a methodology for which emergency managers can quantify and geospatially evaluate risk and social vulnerability. This research looks specifically at the potential for dam failure and provides a strategy to address the communities that are located in the inundation areas, and categorized as socially vulnerable based on economic and demographic characteristics. I will evaluate the efficacy of this methodology and discuss how this analytical tool might be replicated in other jurisdictions that are dealing with potential dam failure.