Vulnerability Assessment of Settlements During Emergencies

Abstract

During emergencies which occur as a result of uncontrolled effects of natural disasters, major technical and technological accidents and major epidemics of infectious diseases, the health and life of people and the persistent environmental degradation may be affected. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the vulnerability of the settlements from natural disasters and other accidents. The assessment must be professionally and scientifically established with a multidisciplinary approach. This paper defi nes methodology for vulnerability assessment of given populated areas during emergencies arising from uncontrolled effects of natural and other disasters which involves a complex analysis of actual hazard probabilities and the level of impact on humans, animals, property, cultural wealth, and the environment.