Response time to flood events using a social vulnerability index (ReTSVI)
<p>Current methods to estimate evacuation time during a natural disaster do not consider the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the population. This article develops the Response Time by Social Vulnerability Index (ReTSVI). ReTSVI combines a series of modules that are pieces of i...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences |
| Online Access: | https://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/19/251/2019/nhess-19-251-2019.pdf |
| Summary: | <p>Current methods to estimate evacuation time during a natural disaster do not
consider the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the population.
This article develops the Response Time by Social Vulnerability Index
(ReTSVI). ReTSVI combines a series of modules that are pieces of information
that interact during an evacuation, such as evacuation rate curves,
mobilization, inundation models, and social vulnerability indexes, to create
an integrated map of the evacuation rate in a given location. We provide an
example of the application of ReTSVI in a potential case of a severe flood
event in Huaraz, Peru. The results show that during the first 5 min of the
evacuation, the population that lives in neighborhoods with a high social
vulnerability evacuates 15 % and 22 % fewer people than the blocks
with medium and low social vulnerability. These differences gradually
decrease over time after the evacuation warning, and social vulnerability
becomes less relevant after 30 min. The results of the application example
have no statistical significance, which should be considered in a real case
of application. Using a methodology such as ReTSVI could make it possible to
combine social and physical vulnerability in a qualitative framework for
evacuation, although more research is needed to understand the socioeconomic
variables that explain the differences in evacuation rate.</p> |
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| ISSN: | 1561-8633 1684-9981 |