Disaster preparedness capacity development: A scenario-based system for social vulnerability reduction

While capacity development in the field of disaster risk management should be evidence-based, institutional capacity building is rarely rooted in a thorough vulnerability analysis. This study highlights gaps in all-hazards disaster preparedness approaches and examines how disaster preparedness planning can systematically draw upon social vulnerability triage. We propose a novel system for identifying and prioritising vulnerable groups in various hazard scenarios and for translating their needs into institutional capacity-development plans in five domains of disaster management: (1) governance, (2) infrastructure and critical services, (3) risk management, (4) communication, and (5) engagement. To enhance preparedness, scenario-based social vulnerability assessments must be integrated into disaster management capacity development.