Abstract
China is prone to disasters and escalating disaster losses. Effective disaster mitigation is the foundation for efficient disaster response and rescue and for reducing the degree of hazardous impacts on the population. Vulnerability refers to the population’s capacity to anticipate, cope with, and recover from the impact of a hazardous event. A hazard vulnerability assessment (HVA) systematically evaluates the damage that could be caused by a potential disaster, the severity of the impact, and the available medical resources during a disaster to reduce population vulnerability and increase the capacity to cope with disasters. In this article, we summarized HVA team membership, content (disaster identification, probability and consequences), and methods and procedures for an HVA that can be tailored to China’s needs. We further discussed the role of epidemiology in an HVA. Disaster epidemiology studies the underlying causes of disasters to achieve effective disaster prevention and reduction. In addition, we made several recommendations that are already in practice in developed countries, such as the U.S., for future implementation in China and other developing countries. An effective HVA plan is crucial for successful disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
Highlights
Disasters occur frequently and often place a substantial burden on affected populations
We focused on the hazard vulnerability assessment aspect, which is almost nonexistent in China, in relation to disaster preparedness
The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among survivors remained relatively common even 5 years after China’s Wenchuan earthquake (9.2 % in 2013), and the burden was especially high for females, farmers, elderly survivors and those who lost family members [9]
Summary
Disasters occur frequently and often place a substantial burden on affected populations. The second category is at the national and international levels and includes such factors as global climate change, international debt relief policy, domestic land development plan, infrastructure of transportation and communication, government stability, execution of laws, public health policies, and population education level All of these factors can be used to assess population vulnerability. Disaster probability and consequences In addition to type of disaster (e.g., natural, manmade, or technological), the impact of a particular hazardous event is determined by likelihood (probability of occurrence or frequency), severity (magnitude and intensity), and population resilience (defined as “a measure to determine the impact of available public health, emergency management, and governmental and societal resources and capabilities that could potentially mitigate negative population health consequences”) [4]. Disaster epidemiology is of particular importance in planning for, responding to, and recovering from disasters, especially in developing countries
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