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VULNERABILITY

Vulnerability is the exposure of people, their work, and environment to the effects of a Hazard.

To determine Vulnerability, we have to identify the buildings, agricultural areas, Roads, Bridges, Transport, Pipelines, Electrical line, etc. and their location in high-risk areas.

It is also prudent to know the location and state of access routes to the community and identify alterative routes. We have to know where people are exposed to danger and identify their personal vulnerability, especially:

• Newborns and Babies;
• Single parent households;
•Handicapped;
• Health - Impaired;
• Disables;
• Elderly.

This necessitates the preparation of a data base of human and material resources, their state of readiness, location and availability.

INVENTORY AND LOCATION OF RESOURCES

Physical Spaces and Safe Facilities:

These include Green areas, parking lots, community centres that could function as meeting places or temporary shelters in the event of an emergency.
Dividing the community and designating these Safe Facilities in advance can go a long way towards providing a holistic psychological security to the community. People are less likely to panic if they know where they can go to get help.

Transportation:

This includes identifying private and public transportation that can be used in the event of an emergency.

Basic Medical and First Aid Equipment

This necessitates the identification and/or training, of teams skilled in delivery of basic Triage and First Aid and the stock piling of a fundamental and well-stocked first aid kit.
This can be a community sponsored venture and contributions should be made by all community residents. Supplies should be inventoried, inspected for expiry.

Rescue and Protection Equipment

This includes:
Fire extinguishers;
Shovels;
Pickaxes;
Ladders;
Ropes;
Chainsaws;
Axes etc.

Electric Energy Systems

These and other sources of Energy supply should be identified and include:
Flashlights;
Gas burners;
Gas lamps;
Generators;

Water Systems

These include pipelines, hydrants, wells, springs, and other sources of water supply.

Sewerage Water Disposal

Identify alternative their disposal.

Any other resource that exists in the community that could be useful in the event of an emergency should be compiled in an information database and hard-copied to teams members. This inventory of community resources informs the knowledge needed for an immediate and rapid response to an emergency situation. It allows also a measurement of the existing level of organization at the community level, and identifies needs in significant areas such as preparedness, education, and additional information required by the community to make informed decisions on mitigation through a precise action plan.

Database of Community Information

This should include:

Community Emergency team Primary and Secondary
Names, Addresses, and contact numbers of key persons in institutions that respond in the event of an emergency;
Organizational lists of groups in community and other similar organizations;
Other resources.

Community Map

This map identifies the community’s physical resources, along with areas of weakness along with precise locations of incipient hazards. It will also help to identify physical areas where mitigation logistics may need to be applied beforehand.
Maps should identity:
• Shelters;
• Storage
• Utilities service providers ( ie electrical plants, LPG storage );
• Buildings and structures of note (ie: bridges, retaining walls, rivers, etc.);
• Areas of weakness;
• Vulnerable community areas (ie. Nurseries, residential geriatric homes, schools)
• Water courses and alternative resources;
• Schools;
• Hospitals;
• Emergency resources;
• previous hazard impact areas should also be noted and dated.

ACTION PLAN

Source:

'Extracts from Community Emergency Plan' CDERA