Understanding disaster risk indicators at the micro-local level - A case study in Brazil

Abstract

Disaster risk studies at the micro-local level enable a thorough analysis of vulnerable communities, integrating environmental and societal aspects to support the implementation of specific public policies. This article draws on the results of the discussions that yielded the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030), especially its priority 1—understanding disaster risks. The case study area was the Vila Embratel district in the municipality of São Luís, state of Maranhão, in Northeastern Brazil. This district is one of the disaster risk priority areas in São Luís due to processes related to mass movement, according to reports from the São Luís Civil Protection Office and the Mineral Resources Research Company (2017). Hence, this paper proposes indicators for the mass movement disasters risk at the micro-local level. To this end, field activities were carried out and questionnaires were applied to the local population. The Delphi method and statistical analyses were also employed. The results showed that attributing categories, indicators, and variables in Risk analyses at the micro-local level effectively identifies whether the area is more precarious in terms of Structure or Physical-Natural elements and contributes to the creation of public policies to prevent and/or mitigate disasters.