Vulnerability of People

1. Vulnerability of People People • age • density • gender • ethnicity and language • socio-economic status

2. Vulnerability of People Let’s talk about these factors: Age: • can be a vulnerability or a strength • linked to state of health and socio-economic factors • linked to gender - more older women

3. Vulnerability of People Density • Generally the higher the density, the greater the mortality and morbidity rates • High density often occurs in low-income areas • High density contributes to heat related hazards

4. Vulnerability of People Gender • Usually more women than men die in disasters • Correlated to state of health and socio-economic status • Less opportunity to contribute post-disaster

5. Vulnerability of People Gender While disaster management continues to evolve, for the most part, disaster managers are generally male - and thus many post-disaster programs, etc. are provided from a strong male perspective.

6. Vulnerability of People • Ethnicity & Cultural Factors • May or may not be a factor, but in many cases, especially with recent immigrants, communication can be a big problem • Can’t understand warnings • Can’t read preparedness literature • Don’t obtain help post-disaster - losing face, can’t read forms

7. Vulnerability of People • Ethnicity & Cultural Factors • May believe that talking about disasters is unlucky • May not trust “authority figures” • May misinterpret information

8. Vulnerability of People • Socio-Economic Status • Linked to health and education • Poverty often means no insurance • Those who can least afford it, have the least, but lose it all • Poverty often leads to sub-standard housing

9. Vulnerability of Place • buildings • critical facilities • ecological sites • economic sectors • historical and cultural sites • lifelines and infrastructure • non-structural property • recreational land • structures

10. Vulnerability of Place • Buildings • Certain types of building are more vulnerable due to type of construction • Size/height • Characteristics • Location

11. Vulnerability of Place • Critical facilities • Police stations, ambulance stations, fire halls, hospitals, EOCs, medical clinics, medical labs, fire boats and docking facilities, helicopter pads • Anything critical to saving lives, rescue operations, etc.

12. Vulnerability of Place • Ecological Sites • Areas that have unique ecosystems • Areas with protected/endangered wildlife: land-based animals, fish, birds, insects, etc.

13. Vulnerability of Place • Economic Sectors • Agriculture, tourism, commerce, resource-based industry, manufacturing, etc. • Community-based dependency

14. Vulnerability of Place • Historical and Cultural Sites • Heritage buildings • Buildings with historical meaning • Community landmarks • Aboriginal Sites

15. Vulnerability of Place Lifelines and Infrastructure • Utilities: power lines, water lines, pumping stations, water silos and sewerage, gas lines, telephone lines, oil wells, water wells • Highways, freeways, overpasses, bridges • Rail tracks, airports and runways • Ports

16. Vulnerability of Place Non-Structural Property • Art Collections • Medical Laboratories, Hospitals, Research Labs and Businesses • Any place with expensive goods and materials

17. Vulnerability of Place Recreational land • Parks, forests, hiking trails • Lakes, rivers • Fair grounds, • Oceanfront, beaches • Skiing, Snowboarding

18. Vulnerability of Place Structures • Micro-wave towers, repeaters • Electrical Structures • Reservoirs, Silos • Control Towers

19. Vulnerability of Preparedness Photo courtesy of FEMA • Factors relating to Preparedness fall into four areas: • Capability to respond • Community education and training • Mitigation program • Warning systems

20. Vulnerability of Preparedness Photo courtesy of FEMA • Capability to respond • Does the community have a plan to respond to a disaster and is the plan tested on a regular basis? The greatest plan in the world is useless if no one has actually tested it.

21. Vulnerability of Preparedness Photo courtesy of FEMA • Community education and training • Has the community been educated as to the potential threats and trained so that they know what to do should the hazardous event take place? • Are there Neighbourhood Preparedness Programs in place?

22. Vulnerability of Preparedness Photo courtesy of FEMA • Mitigation program • It there a Mitigation program in place - a defined program that systematically reviews risks and vulnerabilities and establishes a process to develop strategies to deal with the risks and vulnerabilities, and to take action to deal with them?

23. Vulnerability of Preparedness Photo courtesy of FEMA • Warning systems • Is it possible to have advance knowledge of the potential hazard occurring? If so, is there a warning system in place? If it is in place, do residents understand what to do when they are warned?

24. Vulnerability of Time • The four factors regarding time are: • Population base re: time of day • Population base re: day of the week • Population base re: time of year • Population base re: holidays

25. Vulnerability of Time • Population base re: time of day • Are there certain times of the day when the population is more vulnerable to the hazards (e.g., during rush hour)?

26. Vulnerability of Time Population base re: day of the week • Are there days of the week when the population is more at risk (e.g., during the weekends)?

27. Vulnerability of Time • Population base re: time of year • Are there times of the year when the population is more at risk (e.g., during the winter)?

28. Vulnerability of Time Population base re: holidays • Are there certain holidays when the population is more at risk (e.g., during the Christmas)?