Disaster Vulnerability: What You Can Do Today to Improve Your Safety

Carlos Comperatore, Ph.D.

Human Endurance Systems, LLC.

June 2025

 

Disaster vulnerability refers to the degree to which individuals, families, and communities are susceptible to the adverse impacts of hazards such as floods, earthquakes, wildfires, or severe storms. It's not just about where you live, but also about personal circumstances, available resources, and preparedness levels. While large-scale mitigation efforts are crucial for communities, understanding and addressing your personal vulnerability is the most powerful step you can take today.

 

Understanding Your Personal Vulnerability: A Self-Assessment

Before you can prepare, it's essential to understand your own unique risks. Take a moment to consider the following:

1. Geographic and Environmental Risks:

  • What natural hazards are common in your area? (e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, blizzards). Look up your local hazard maps if available.

  • Is your home in a high-risk zone? (e.g., floodplain, near a fault line, in a wildfire-prone area, coastal erosion zone).

  • What are the potential secondary impacts? (e.g., power outages, water contamination, road closures).

2. Household and Individual Factors:

  • Who is in your household?

    • Children: Do they know what to do? What supplies do they need?

    • Older Adults: Do they have mobility limitations, chronic health conditions, or require specific medications? Are they socially isolated?

    • Individuals with Disabilities or Special Needs: What specific accommodations or assistance might be required for evacuation or sheltering?

    • Pets: Do you have a plan for their safety, including food, water, and transportation?

  • What is your housing situation?

    • Is your home structurally resilient to local hazards? (e.g., bolted to foundation, protected against high winds).

    • Do you live in an apartment building, a single-family home, or a mobile home? Each has different considerations.

  • What are your financial resources?

    • Do you have an emergency fund for unexpected expenses or temporary relocation?

    • Is your home adequately insured against relevant hazards (e.g., flood insurance, earthquake insurance)?

  • Are there language barriers? If English is not a primary language for anyone in your household, ensure emergency information is accessible in their preferred language.

  • What are your social networks like? Do you know your neighbors? Do you have out-of-area contacts who can serve as communication points?

 

Actionable Steps You Can Take Today

Even small actions today can significantly reduce your vulnerability and increase your safety in the event of a disaster.

1. Build an Emergency Kit (Go-Bag and Shelter-in-Place Kit)

Start gathering essential supplies for both evacuating quickly (a "Go-Bag" or "Bug-Out Bag") and sheltering at home for several days (a "Shelter-in-Place" kit).

  • Water: One gallon per person per day for at least three days (for drinking and sanitation).

  • Food: At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food.

  • First Aid Kit: Including prescription medications, pain relievers, and any personal medical items.

  • Flashlight and extra batteries.

  • A battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA weather radio with tone alert.

  • Whistle: To signal for help.

  • Dust mask: To help filter contaminated air.

  • Plastic sheeting and duct tape: To shelter-in-place.

  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties: For personal sanitation.

  • Wrench or pliers: To turn off utilities.

  • A manual can opener for food.

  • Local maps.

  • A cell phone with chargers and a backup battery.

  • Cash: ATMs may not work.

  • Important documents: Copies of insurance policies, identification, bank records in a waterproof, portable container.

  • Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person.

  • Change of clothing for each person.

  • Fire extinguisher.

 

2. Make a Family Emergency Plan

Discuss what you will do in an emergency before it happens.

  • Communication Plan:

    • Out-of-State Contact: Choose one person outside your immediate area who everyone in your family can contact to report their status. This is often easier than trying to reach local numbers during a widespread emergency.

    • Meeting Points: Designate two meeting places: one just outside your home (for sudden emergencies, such as a fire) and one outside your neighborhood (in case you can't return home or need to evacuate).

  • Evacuation Routes: Familiarize yourself with multiple routes out of your neighborhood and community. Practice them.

  • Shelter-in-Place Instructions: Learn how to seal off a room if advised to shelter in place due to hazardous materials.

  • Specific Needs: Account for the needs of children, older adults, individuals with disabilities, and pets.

  • Practice: Regularly review and practice your plan so everyone knows what to do.

 

3. Stay Informed and Connected

Knowledge and community connections are powerful vulnerability reducers.

  • Sign Up for Local Alerts: Register for your community's emergency alert system (e.g., Reverse 911, Nixle alerts). Download relevant weather apps.

  • Know Local Emergency Services: Be aware of the contact information for your local police, fire department, and emergency management agency.

  • Connect with Neighbors: Get to know those living around you. They can be a critical resource during an emergency, especially if you need help or need to help others. Consider forming a neighborhood watch or community emergency response team (CERT).

  • Monitor Reliable News Sources: During a disaster, rely on official government channels and trusted news organizations for accurate and reliable information.

 

4. Secure Your Home

Mitigation measures around your home can prevent or reduce damage.

  • Anchor Heavy Furniture: Secure bookshelves, televisions, and other tall, heavy items to the walls to prevent them from toppling during an earthquake.

  • Secure Water Heaters: Strap your water heater to the wall studs.

  • Install Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Test them monthly and change the batteries annually.

  • Address Exterior Risks: If in a wildfire area, clear brush and maintain defensible space. If you live in a hurricane-prone area, secure loose objects and consider installing storm shutters. If in a flood area, elevate utilities and consider flood vents.

  • Review Your Insurance: Understand what your current policies cover (homeowner's, renter's) and determine if you need additional coverage, such as flood or earthquake insurance.

 

5. Financial Preparedness

Having a financial safety net can significantly reduce post-disaster stress and speed recovery.

  • Emergency Savings: Aim to have at least 3-6 months of living expenses saved in an easily accessible account.

  • Review Insurance Policies: Understand your deductibles, coverage limits, and what specific perils are covered or excluded.

  • Keep Copies of Important Documents: Store copies of birth certificates, passports, insurance policies, property deeds, bank account information, and wills in a waterproof, fireproof safe at home, and ideally, also keep digital copies in a secure cloud storage.

By taking these practical steps today, you transform from a passive observer of potential disasters into an active participant in your own safety and resilience. Every small action contributes to a more prepared and secure future for you and your loved ones.

Sources:

·       Factors contributing to vulnerability relating to disaster risk:

o   ResearchGate: "5 Factors contributing to vulnerability relating to disaster risk" (https://www.researchgate.net/figure/5-Factors-contributing-to-vulnerability-relating-to-disaster-risk-management_tbl10_288966470#:~:text=Increased%20regional%20vulnerability%20and%20risk,urban%20areas%2C%20unplanned%20and%20rapid)

o   PMC: "Factors influencing disaster preparedness behaviors of older adults" (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11870370/)

o   PRB.org: "Disaster Risk and Vulnerability: The Role and Impact of Population and Society" (https://www.prb.org/resources/disaster-risk/)

o   PreventionWeb.net: "Understanding Disaster Risk" (https://www.preventionweb.net/understanding-disaster-risk/component-risk/disaster-risk)

o   e-Education.psu.edu: "Vulnerability to Natural Hazards | GEOG 30N: Environment and Society in a Changing World" (https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog30/node/379)

·       How communities assess their disaster safety vulnerability:

o   EMILMS.fema.gov: "Lesson 3: Lesson Overview" (https://emilms.fema.gov/is_0393b/groups/85.html)

o   Enterprisecommunity.org: "How to Conduct a Community Risk Assessment" (https://www.enterprisecommunity.org/learning-center/resources/how-conduct-community-risk-assessment)

o   PrepareCenter.org: "Risk Assessment - PrepareCenter - Global Disaster Preparedness Center" (https://preparecenter.org/topic/risk-assessment/)

o   Scied.ucar.edu: "Assessing Vulnerability and Risk of Natural Disasters in My Community" (https://scied.ucar.edu/activity/assessing-vulnerability-and-risk)

o   WFCA.com: "What is Community Risk Assessment? | WFCA - Western Fire Chiefs Association" (https://wfca.com/preplan-articles/what-is-community-risk-assessment/)

·       Disaster safety vulnerability assessment tools:

o   Flypix.ai: "Top Disaster Assessment Tools for Effective Response" (https://flypix.ai/blog/disaster-assessment-tools/)

o   ASHE.org: "Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (HVA) Tool" (https://www.ashe.org/hva)

o   Balbix.com: "Top 10 Vulnerability Scanning Tools" (https://www.balbix.com/insights/what-to-know-about-vulnerability-scanning-and-tools/)

o   Numberanalytics.com: "Vulnerability Assessment in Disaster Preparedness" (https://www.numberanalytics.com/blog/vulnerability-assessment-disaster-preparedness)

o   PreventionWeb.net: "Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Analysis Tool Kit" (https://www.preventionweb.net/files/3393_toolkit.pdf)

·       Strategies to reduce disaster safety vulnerability:

o   Toolkit.climate.gov: "Disaster Risk Reduction | U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit" (https://toolkit.climate.gov/disaster-risk-reduction)

o   Publichealth.tulane.edu: "What Is Disaster Management: Prevention and Mitigation - Tulane University" (https://publichealth.tulane.edu/blog/what-is-disaster-management/)

o   Numberanalytics.com: "Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies - Earth Science" (https://www.numberanalytics.com/blog/disaster-risk-reduction-strategies-earth-science)

o   UNISDR.org: "Essential Nine: Ensure Effective Disaster Response - Home - Beta Version - UNDRR" (https://www.unisdr.org/campaign/resilientcities/home/article/essential-nine-ensure-effective-disaster-response.html)

o   EPA.gov: "Smart Growth Strategies for Disaster Resilience and Recovery | US EPA" (https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/smart-growth-strategies-disaster-resilience-and-recovery)

 

·       Content generated by Google's Gemini AI model, accessed on June 26, 2025, based on Disaster Vulnerability research by Dr. Carlos Comperatore, Human Endurance Systems, LLC - humanendurancesystemsllc.com.