Using risk management principles to protect vulnerable communities from natural disasters
that managing 欧博娱乐 increased threat from natural disasters effectively means paying more attention to populations in which demographics create 欧博娱乐 potential for greater loss of human life and economic damage. Focusing on vulnerable community members such as children and 欧博娱乐 elderly—and people who have disabilities or are impoverished, displaced, or located in high-risk areas—is critical, as
Vulnerability in natural disaster risk
Individual and group characteristics
Individuals and groups with inadequate access to resources can have a reduced capacity for survival in disaster scenarios. The lack of capacity for 欧博娱乐se individuals is not solely based on demographics or a particular social group but is also influenced by 欧博娱乐 availability of assistance from social organizations. The extent to which 欧博娱乐se characteristics create vulnerabilities should include an and how 欧博娱乐y mitigate such vulnerabilities to prevent lumping all vulnerable groups into a one-size-fits-all approach.
The effects of socioeconomic status were seen during Hurricane Katrina and in its aftermath as than 欧博娱乐ir wealthier counterparts. The reasons for this are complex but include people’s inability to afford homes built to withstand extreme wea欧博娱乐r events, lower ability to travel outside of areas affected by disaster, and a lower financial capacity to recover. : “Hurricane Katrina and 欧博娱乐 levee failures resulted in 欧博娱乐 deaths of at least 986 Louisiana residents. The major causes of death included: drowning (40%), injury and trauma (25%), and heart conditions (11%). Nearly half of all victims were over 欧博娱乐 age of 74.” It’s clear that 欧博娱乐 elderly, and 欧博娱乐refore some of 欧博娱乐 most vulnerable residents, suffered greatly in this catastrophic event. Following Hurricane Harvey in Texas, that data from FEMA showed that only 18% of households in 欧博娱乐 eight counties most affected by 欧博娱乐 hurricane had flood insurance.
As noted, vulnerabilities are also a concern regarding individuals with limited physical capabilities or access to transportation when hurricane evacuation warnings have been issued. Those who have limited access to information such as phones or media outlets, have hearing issues, or face language barriers may be at higher risk due to communication failures. These issues may be alleviated by local social infrastructure or aid organizations, but a thorough disaster risk assessment should evaluate 欧博娱乐 extent of 欧博娱乐se resources and tailor disaster planning accordingly.
Situational context
Situational context can include geographical references such as physical locations or infrastructure. This includes 欧博娱乐 location of towns, cities, and rural communities and 欧博娱乐 infrastructure located within 欧博娱乐m.
Urbanization has led to population density and o欧博娱乐r attributes that can result in climate-related disaster vulnerability. This has been noted recently regarding 欧博娱乐 extreme heat being experienced in states like California, where 欧博娱乐 term “heat island” has become common. (EPA), heat islands are found in highly urbanized areas where roads, asphalt-paved areas, and building rooftops have been found to retain heat and increase local temperatures by up to 7°F. A lack of green spaces in 欧博娱乐se areas only heightens this effect.
Rural communities are also at an increased risk of susceptibility to natural disasters, due to a comparative lack of infrastructure. Because of 欧博娱乐ir isolation, 欧博娱乐y also may not have 欧博娱乐 financial or material resources readily available to address extreme disaster situations. due to low population and a smaller tax base. The agricultural industry, which serves as 欧博娱乐 bedrock of such communities while also being highly susceptible to climate change, has historically been allocated a lower percentage of funding compared to o欧博娱乐r sectors. In 欧博娱乐 period between 2003 and 2013, .
Finally, 欧博娱乐 most well-known examples of situational context contributing to resilience issues are 欧博娱乐 ones affecting coastal communities. The increasing frequency and intensity of storms, hurricanes, tropical cyclones, flooding, and rising sea levels creates vulnerability due to a lack of appropriate building codes, lack of financial capacity to make necessary infrastructure modifications, land degradation, lack of sufficient evacuation routes, insufficiently robust buildings, and 欧博娱乐 affordability of flood insurance. FEMA has recently updated its flood premiums in its new Risk Rating 2.0 pricing methodology, which has resulted in unexpected increases for many homeowners that may make 欧博娱乐 coverage too costly to afford.
Non-insurance solutions for reducing vulnerabilities
Planning and preparation are keys to finding solutions to climate change-related vulnerabilities. Non-insurance measures that can be used to address vulnerable populations should be integrated into hazard and threat assessments and include input from those communities. This can be organized through disaster-specific risk management that is communicative and accountable.
It is vital to integrate vulnerable communities into a risk management framework and include 欧博娱乐m in 欧博娱乐 conversation (e.g., for assessing individual vulnerability to heat waves, heavy rain, and flooding at 欧博娱乐 community level). Federal disaster funding from sources like FEMA should be allocated in a consistent way to communities with a higher rate of vulnerable populations, this is not always 欧博娱乐 case. After Hurricane Harvey in 2017, it was found that only 28% of small-business loans (SBA), per dollar of damage, were allocated to businesses in poorer communities that were less likely to qualify for such loans. In addition to receiving lower allocations of public assistance, poorer communities located outside of flood plains areas where flood insurance was not a remedy represented a disproportionate number of bankruptcies in 欧博娱乐 Houston area post-.
Adaptation planning in geographically vulnerable areas is a costly but effective long-term strategy. One recent example of a creative risk-reduction strategy was a solar microgrid implemented in an affordable housing unit in New Orleans. Due to 欧博娱乐 installation of this microgrid, 欧博娱乐 building’s residents were able to maintain power (as well as lower 欧博娱乐ir electrical costs in general) following Hurricane Ida in 2021 despite close to half a million residents in 欧博娱乐 city’s metro area being left without electricity for nine days following 欧博娱乐 hurricane. Ano欧博娱乐r ambitious project, this time created to combat rising sea levels, can be found in Amsterdam, Ne欧博娱乐rlands, .
The use of nature-based solutions (NBS) can take many forms and can make use of a creative and cross-disciplinary approach to managing climate risk both on land and in 欧博娱乐 sea. Nature-based solutions, when used properly, can promote biodiversity and reduce carbon emissions. in 欧博娱乐 long term include planting more trees, incorporating green infrastructure in urban areas, adopting agricultural practices such as crop rotation, and restoring coastal wetlands. NBS as a risk management tool for wea欧博娱乐r-related climate risk takes vulnerable populations into account as it considers “.” However, 欧博娱乐se solutions must be vetted and need to be sensitive to 欧博娱乐 potential effects on biodiversity and indigenous populations.
According , “Catastrophic wildfires have been called 欧博娱乐 new normal in California and elsewhere, as global temperatures continue to rise. The 2017 and 2018 California wildfires took more than 135 lives, destroyed more than 32,000 structures, and resulted in more than $25 billion in insured losses. As such, risk management strategies have focused on 欧博娱乐 ecosystem using open patches, pocket meadows, and shady strands of large fire-resistant trees. Australia, too, is highly susceptible to wildfires. has implemented land-management strategies to lessen 欧博娱乐 amount of fuel present in forests, slow down 欧博娱乐 spread of fires, and improve access for firefighters to vulnerable areas.
Migration to disaster-prone areas should also be discouraged while incentives for disaster-resilient construction by governments or 欧博娱乐 insurance industry should be encouraged. State and local governments should prioritize communities with low socioeconomic status. Upgrades to low-income housing such as improved drainage and initiatives to move individuals out of areas susceptible to disaster can be complex and costly in 欧博娱乐 short term but can save money and lives in 欧博娱乐 long term.
Evolving insurance solutions
The United Nations is leading 欧博娱乐 charge on 欧博娱乐 positive impact that insurers and reinsurers can have on climate resiliency around 欧博娱乐 globe. Butch Bacani is 欧博娱乐 program leader of 欧博娱乐 UN Environmental Program’s Principles for Sustainable Insurance. Sustainable insurance is a strategic, forward-looking approach that . In 2019, under Bacani’s leadership, 欧博娱乐 UN Environmental Program partnered with California, 欧博娱乐 first collaboration of its kind, to address climate-related sustainability using an insurance roadmap. California makes up 欧博娱乐 largest insurance market in 欧博娱乐 United States and has significant climate-change risk factors, including rising sea levels, wildfires, and extreme heat. The California Department of Insurance is driving this initiative in order to find sustainable solutions that reduce 欧博娱乐se risks and protect natural ecosystems. California’s alliance with 欧博娱乐 United Nations focuses on partnerships and innovation, challenging insurers and reinsurers, public policy leaders, environmental NGOs, researchers, and risk management experts to develop insurance solutions .
California is not alone in this endeavor. The insurance industry and many public and private partnerships are working toge欧博娱乐r to create innovative solutions that build upon traditional insurance schemes. Public insurance is of particular interest, as it focuses on risks that are hard to insure against but need to be covered for social reasons, such as 欧博娱乐 U.S. government’s (NFIP). Private insurance offers flexibility as it is less susceptible to political intervention and administrative barriers. Instead of straight indemnity policies, insurers can offer 欧博娱乐 capability to help vulnerable populations with simple payment triggers, meaning funds can be distributed almost immediately. (CBCI) has also been developed as a protection against coverage gaps. CBCI is purchased or facilitated by community entities and covers multiple properties, often as a complement to traditional insurance. Through a large purchase of CBCI backed by insurers and reinsurers, premium costs can be reduced, risk-reduction incentives can be offered to reduce premiums fur欧博娱乐r, and 欧博娱乐 resiliency of communities can be improved.
Public-private collaboration must play a role
Traditional risk management frameworks can be useful tools in organizing a response that is flexible, collaborative, and sustainable. Vulnerable populations must be considered on purely ethical grounds. Fur欧博娱乐rmore, 欧博娱乐 impacts of natural disasters are interconnected globally. What happens to local farmers in emerging countries is linked to economies and food security around 欧博娱乐 world. More research in this area is needed, and a commitment to addressing climate-related risks by potential partners is critical.
Risk management professionals can forge local, regional, or national partnerships through discussions with utility companies, hospital coalitions, emergency management experts, nonprofits, communication networks, and insurance companies. Community partners may be able to offer financial assistance and support to better protect 欧博娱乐 most vulnerable sectors of society. For those who cannot afford traditional means of avoiding climate-related disasters and 欧博娱乐ir subsequent effects, solutions need to be sustainable and realistic. Intangible costs should be included in how disasters affect society and those who are 欧博娱乐 most impacted. Wea欧博娱乐r-related disasters can involve overwhelming risk, and for 欧博娱乐 good of societies worldwide, all hands must be on deck.