Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Community-based disaster risk and vulnerability models of a coastal municipality in Bangladesh

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Hazards Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Bangladesh is one of the most natural hazard-prone countries in the world with the greatest negative consequences being associated with cyclones, devastating floods, riverbank erosion, drought, earthquake, and arsenic contamination, etc. One way or other, these natural hazards engulfed every corner of Bangladesh. The main aim of this research paper is to carry out a multi-hazards risk and vulnerability assessment for the coastal Matlab municipality in Bangladesh and to recommend possible mitigation measures. To this aim, hazards are prioritized by integrating SMUG and FEMA models, and a participation process is implemented so as to involve community both in the risk assessment and in the identification of adaptation strategies. The Matlab municipality is highly vulnerable to several natural hazards such as cyclones, floods, and riverbank erosion. The SMUG is a qualitative assessment, while FEMA is a quantitative assessment of hazards. The FEMA model suggests a threshold of highest 100 points. All hazards that total more than 100 points may receive higher priority in emergency preparedness and mitigation measures. The FEMA model, because it judges each hazard individually in a numerical manner, may provide more satisfying results than the SMUG system. The spatial distributions of hazard, risk, social institutions, land use, and other resources indicate that the flood disaster is the top environmental problem of Matlab municipality. Hazard-specific probable mitigation measures are recommended with the discussion of local community. Finally, this study tries to provide insights into the way field research combining scientific assessments tools such as SMUG and FEMA could feed evidence-based decision-making processes for mitigation in vulnerable communities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abarquez I, Murshed Z (2004) Community-based disaster risk management: field practitioners’ handbook. Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, Bangkok

    Google Scholar 

  • ADB (Asian Development Bank) (2002) Community risk management for Pacific Islands. In: Proceedings of the regional consultation workshop on water in small island countries, Sigatoka

  • Alam M (2004) Capacity strengthening in the least developed countries (LDCs) for adaptation to climate change (GLACC): adverse impacts of climate change on development of bangladesh: integrating adaptation into policies and activities, Working paper 1, Bangladesh centre for advanced studies (BCAS), Dhaka, Bangladesh

  • Alam E, Collins AE (2010) Cyclone disaster vulnerability and response experiences in coastal Bangladesh. Disasters 34(4):931–954

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alam MM, Hossain MA, Shafee S (2003) Frequency of Bay of Bengal cyclonic storms and depressions crossing different coastal zones. Int J Climatol 23:1119–1125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ali A (2006) Vulnerability of Bangladesh to climate change and sea level rise through tropical cyclones and storm surges. Water Air Soil Pollut 92(1& 2):171–179

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson MB, Woodrow PJ (1998) Rising from the ashes: development strategies in times of disaster. Lynne Rienner Publishers, Colorado

    Google Scholar 

  • Armenakis C, Nirupama N (2012) Prioritization of disaster risk in a community using GIS. Nat Hazards. doi:10.1007/s11069-012-0167-8

    Google Scholar 

  • Balica SF, Wright NG, ven der Meulen F (2012) A flood vulnerability index for coastal cities and its use in assessing climate change impacts. Nat Hazards. doi:10.1007/s11069-012-0234-1

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartuska TJ (2007) Introduction definition, design and development of the built environment part 1. Crisp Publications, Inc. http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/24/04700075/0470007524.pdf

  • Bell R, Glade T (2004) Quantitative risk analysis for landslides-Examples from Bildudalur, NW-Iceland. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 4:117–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Blaike P et al (1994) At risk: natural hazards, people’s vulnerability, and disasters. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Brouwer R, Akter S, Brander L, Haque E (2007) Socioeconomic vulnerability and adaptation to environmental risk: a study of climate change and flooding in Bangladesh. Risk Anal 27(2):313–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruna A, Rota D (1990) Risk information needs of communities near Seveso sites: a pilot study. Institute of International Sociology, Gorizja

    Google Scholar 

  • Buckle P (2001) Community based management: a new approach to managing disasters. RMIT University, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen CW, Tseng CP, Hsu WK, Chiang WL (2012) A novel strategy to determine the insurance and risk control plan for natural disaster risk management. Nat Hazards. doi:10.1007/s11069-012-0305-3

    Google Scholar 

  • Dash BK, Rafiuddin M, Khanam F, Islam MN (2012) Characteristics of meteorological drought in Bangladesh. Nat Hazards. doi:10.1007/s11069-012-0307-1

    Google Scholar 

  • Fekete A, Damm M, Birkmann J (2010) Scales as a challenge for vulnerability assessment. Nat Hazards 55:729–747

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FEMA (1997) Multi-hazard identification and risk assessment: a cornerstone of the national mitigation strategy. FEMA, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Fussel HM, Klein RJT (2006) Climate change vulnerability assessments: an evolution of conceptual thinking. Clim Change 75:1–329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ginige K (2009) Mainstreaming gender in disaster reduction: why and how? Disaster Prev Manag 18(1):23–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gunn SWA (1992) The scientific basis of disaster management. Disaster Prev Manag 13:16–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Haase D (2012) Participatory modelling of vulnerability and adaptive capacity in flood risk management. Nat Hazards. doi:10.1007/s11069-010-9704-5

    Google Scholar 

  • Handmer JW (1990) Risk communication for flash floods presented at thirtieth annual flood mitigation conference. Australian National University, Wollong

    Google Scholar 

  • Haque CE (1995) Climatic hazards warning process in Bangladesh experience of, and lessons from the 1991 April cyclone. Environ Manag 19(5):719–734

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haque CE (1997) Atmospheric hazards preparedness in Bangladesh: a study of warning, adjustments and recovery from the April 1991 cyclone. Nat Hazards 16(2–3):181–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haque CE, Blair D (1992) Vulnerability to tropical cyclones-evidence from the April 1991 cyclone in coastal Bangladesh. Disasters 16(3):217–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haque CE, Zaman MQ (1993) Human responses to riverine hazards in Bangladesh: a proposal for sustainable floodplain development. World Dev 21(2):93–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayles C (2010) An examination of decision making in post disaster housing reconstruction. Int J Disaster Resilience Built Environ 1(1):103–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helm P (1996) Integrated risk management for natural and technological disasters. Tephra 15(1):4–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt K (2012) Environmental disasters in social context: toward a preventive and precautionary approach. Nat Hazards. doi:10.1007/s11069-012-0205-6

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutton D, Haque CE (2003) Pattern of coping and adaptation among erosion-induced displaces in Bangladesh: implications for hazard analysis and mitigation. Nat Hazards 29(3):405–421

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ikeda K (1995) Gender differences in human loss and vulnerability in natural disasters: a case study from Bangladesh. Indian J Gend Stud 2(2):171–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2007) Climate change 2007: the scientific basis. In: Solomon SD, Qin M, Manning Z, Chen M, Marquis KB, Averyt MT, Miller HL (eds) Fourth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

  • ISDR (2010) Earthquakes caused the deadliest disasters in the past decade. International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR). Available from: http://www.unisdr.org/news/v.php?id=12470

  • Jegillos S (1999) Fundamentals of disaster risk management: how are Southeast Asian countries addressing these? In risk sustainable development and disasters southern perspectives. Periperi Publications, Cape Town

    Google Scholar 

  • John L (2003) Community consultation: the foundation of effective risk management. J Emerg Manag 1(1):30–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Jonathon D (1997) Informative flood warnings occupant response to risk threat and loss of place pp 155–175 in flood warning: issue and practice in total system design, edited by J. Handmer. Flood Hazard Research Centre, Middlesex University, Enfield

    Google Scholar 

  • Kappes MS, Keiler M, von Elverfeldt K, Glade T (2012) Challenges of analyzing multi-hazard risk: a review. Nat Hazards. doi:10.1007/s11069-012-0294-2

    Google Scholar 

  • Keogh DU, King D, Apan A, Thomas M, Mushtaq S (2011) Resilience, vulnerability and adaptive capacity of an inland rural town prone to flooding: a climate change adaptation case study of Charleville, Queensland, Australia. Nat Hazards 59:699–723

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan B (2007) Methodology for community based hazards vulnerability risk assessment in Gilgit District (Gilgit-Baltistan), UNDP Regional Climate Risk Reduction Project for Himalayas (Pakistan), World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan

  • Kuban R (2010) Community-wide vulnerability and capacity assessment (CVCA), in the Directorate of Research and Development (DRD) in the Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness (OCIPEP), formerly Emergency Preparedness Canada

  • Kumar SK (1987) Effect of Seasonal food shortage on agriculture production in Zambia. World Dev 16(9):1051–1063

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar AA, Kunte PD (2012) Coastal vulnerability assessment for Chennai, east coast of India using geospatial techniques. Nat Hazards. doi:10.1007/s11069-012-0276-4

    Google Scholar 

  • Kunzler M, Huggel C, Ramirez JM (2012) A risk analysis for floods and lahars: case study in the Cordillera Central of Colombia. Nat Hazards. doi:10.1007/s11069-012-0271-9

    Google Scholar 

  • Matlab Upazila Nirdeshika (2011) Bangladesh Soil Resources Development institute (SRDI). Dhaka, Bangladesh, Series-411

  • Menoni S, Molinari D, Parker D, Ballio F, Tapsell S (2012) Assessing multifaceted vulnerability and resilience in order to design risk-mitigation strategies. Nat Hazards. doi:10.1007/s11069-012-0134-4

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrow BH (1999) Identifying and mapping community vulnerability. Disasters 23(1):1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morshed M, Huda N (2002) Community participation in urban flood mitigation under Bangladesh urban disaster mitigation project (BUDMP). Paper presented in regional workshop on best practices in disaster mitigation, Bali, Indonesia, 24–26 September

  • Moulton J, Roberts AH (1993) Adapting the tools to the field: training in the use of focus groups. In: Seidel RE (ed) Notes from the field: communication for child survival. Academy for Educational Development, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Natural Disasters Organization (NDO) (1991) Community emergency planning guide. Natural Disasters Organization, Australia

    Google Scholar 

  • Pathirage C (2008) Exploring disaster risk reduction in the built environment. Bear conference 2008, 11–15 February, Heritence Kandalama, Sri Lanka

  • Plough A, Krimsky S (1987) The emergence of risk communication studies: social and political context. Sci Technol Hum Values 12(3–4):4–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Quarantelli EL (2002) The Disaster Research Center (DRC) field studies of organized behavior in the crisis time period of disasters. In: Stallings RA (ed) Methods of disaster research. Corporation, Philadelphia, pp 94–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Raetzo H, Lateltin O, Bollinger D, Tripet JP (2002) Hazard assessment in Switzerland-codes of practice for mass movements. Bull Eng Geol Environ 61(3):263–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rahman A, Alam M (2003) Mainstreaming adaptation to climate change in least developed countries (LDC). Working paper 2: Bangladesh country study. IIED, London

  • Sayers et al (2002) Risk, performance and uncertainty in flood and coastal defense. A review. R & D Technical Report FD2302/TR1. HR Wallingford, London

  • Smith K (1992) Environmental hazards: assessing risk and reducing disaster. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • SRDI (2002) Soil resources in Bangladesh: assessment and utilization. Soil Resources Development Institute (SRDI), Dhaka, Bangladesh

  • Sultana N, Rayhan MI (2012) Coping strategies with floods in Bangladesh: an empirical study. Nat Hazards. doi:10.1007/s11069-012-0291-5

    Google Scholar 

  • Sumathipala G (2002) Community participation in disaster mitigation in Nawalapitiya Urban Council, Sri Lanka

  • Tate E (2012) Social vulnerability indices: a comparative assessment using uncertainty and sensitivity analysis. Nat Hazards 63:325–347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tobin GA, Montz BE (1997) Natural hazards: explanation and integration. The Guildford Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Trim P (2004) An integrative approach to disaster management and planning. Disaster Prev Manag 13(3):218–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Upazila Agricultural Office (2011) Manual on Upazila Agricultural Aspects, vol 2. Cabinet Secretariat, Dhaka, Bangladesh

  • Van ND (2005) A comprehensive framework for multi sphere disaster risk reduction in South Africa. Ph.D. thesis, North West University

  • WHO (1999) Community emergency preparedness: a manual for managers and policy-makers

  • Yin R (2003) Case study research-design and methods, applied social research methods series. SAGE publications, USA

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the local community, Matlab municipality, Matlab Agricultural Office, Chandpur, and Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Feedback from anonymous reviewers helped to improve the quality of this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography and Environment, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, 1342, Bangladesh

    Md. Nazrul Islam & M. Nazrul Islam

  2. Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 1538505, Japan

    Md. Nazrul Islam

  3. Department of Geography and Environment, Jagannath University, Dhaka, 1100, Bangladesh

    Md. Abdul Malak

Authors
  1. Md. Nazrul Islam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Md. Abdul Malak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Nazrul Islam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Md. Nazrul Islam.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Islam, M.N., Malak, M.A. & Islam, M.N. Community-based disaster risk and vulnerability models of a coastal municipality in Bangladesh. Nat Hazards 69, 2083–2103 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0796-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0796-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation