Disaster vulnerability analysis of small towns in Brazil

• Published in: International journal of disaster risk reduction 2022-01, Vol.68, p.102726, Article 102726
• Main Authors: Ribeiro, Daniela Ferreira, Saito, Silvia Midori, Célia dos Santos Alvalá, Regina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Capacities; Municipal master plan; Resilience; Urban development; Vulnerability indicators
• ISSN: 2212-4209; 2212-4209
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102726

Most of the global urban population lives in cities with less than one million people, whereas in Brazil, more than 45% of the population is estimated to live in cities with up to 100,000 people. As in both the global and Brazilian contexts, many of these people live in disaster-prone areas, there has been an increasing demand for research on small cities to subsidize actions contributing to disaster risk reduction. Thus, this study evaluates the vulnerability and capacities of small Brazilian municipalities to reduce risks, especially those related to landslides and floods. To this end, 234 municipalities located in the southern and southeast regions of the country were classified into two population classes, that is, cities from 20,000 to 50,000 people and those from 50,000 to 100,000 people. These municipalities are characterized by high levels of municipal human development and availability of municipal master plans. Statistical analysis of a set of quantitative and qualitative indicators revealed that the vulnerability of populations and municipal capacities is mainly related to the economic sectors, public policies, and city size. Municipal master plans and high levels of municipal human development guarantee neither better urban infrastructure nor specific risk management legislations. Although there are legal tools recommending disaster risk management policies, such tools are insufficient to reduce vulnerabilities and increase capacities in small Brazilian cities.