Vulnerability to flooding: health and social dimensions

Abstract

This paper presents research results on the impacts that floods can have on the people affected, thus complementing the existing data on the monetary losses liable to occur in flood events. Both datasets should be used when deciding on investment in flood defence measures. We report on research on the vulnerability of flood–affected communities to adverse health effects, and the development of an index of community vulnerability based on extensive focus–group research and secondary–source census data.