Social vulnerability and community resilience in Hulu Langat flood-prone area, Selangor

The Hulu Langat District, known for its dense network of rivers, is highly susceptible to flooding, which has had significant impacts on its communities. This study explores the relationship between social vulnerability factors such as age, health conditions, employment status, household income, and access to disaster education and community resilience components (connectedness, risk awareness, action planning, and resources) in flood-prone in Mukim Hulu Langat, Selangor. The research involved 100 participants from Kampung Batu 18, Kampung Batu 20, and Kampung Batu 21 in Mukim Hulu Langat, all of whom were affected by the 2021 floods. Data were collected through a combination of online and physical survey forms distributed via the heads of households. The study identifies key areas of vulnerability and evaluates the community’s capacity to respond to and recover from flood disasters. Results show that age (18-60) enhances social connectedness and resource access, while good health supports resilience capacity. Disaster education demonstrated the strongest correlations, significantly improving connectedness, risk perception, planning, and resource mobilization. Employment status moderately influenced connectedness and risk awareness, whereas income showed only weak associations. Findings highlight that resilience is shaped by the interaction of vulnerabilities with institutional and community support. Targeted interventions, including disaster education, financial aid and early warning systems, are vital. This aligns with Malaysia’s disaster risk reduction agenda and multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These findings can support local authorities and related agencies in identifying high-risk areas, improving the strategic allocation of aid, and refining land-use policies to better mitigate the flood impacts.