Spatial planning of cyclone shelters in Barguna district based on vulnerability analysis

Abstract

This study wa~ conducted from the realization of the need for identification of the areas that are vulnerable to disaster and provide some guidelines for effective emergency planning during post-disaster phase. Disasters have much more severe impa,,'ts in a developing country than in a developed country. For instance, the damage caused by the last catastrophic cyclone SIDR was extensive in Bangladesh. TIlls is why; developing an effective strategy for disaster IIllUl!IEementfor cyclone zones .is a challenging issue to emergency planners. This study examines spatial variability in evacuation assistance needs during cyclone hazard in Barguna district and identifies the optimum locations and non-engineered stmcturai design of cyclone shelters. For this, composite vulnerability map of unions in Barguna district is developed based on the community demographics, resources, structures and geophysical risk indicators. Four evacuation dimensions are; population character and building structures, differential ,access to resources, special evacuation needs, and a combination of three dimensions. Moreover, the difference between the cyclone shelters demand and existing shelters in the highest vulnemble areas are analyzed. Results indicate that relative majority of the unions are characterized by high evacuation assistance need and similar scenario exi~"1sin the spatial distributions of geophysical risk and socio-econornic vulnerability. Nevertheless, spatial disparity of socio-economic vulnerability is also observed among the unions within the geQphysicalrisk wne. Barabagi union of Amtali upazila was identified as the most vulnerable union in terms of both geophysical risk and socio-economic factors. Towards this, methodology was developed for determination of number of new shelters required and their tentative locations in the same union. Moreover, this study also provides some guidelines for construction of low cost housing, which can withstand during tropical storm. Thus, in an environment where financial and human resources are limited, spatial analyses should be iru:orpomted in disaster-management procedures of both the government and development agencies to decrease the vulnerability of the country's population, especially in rura1 and remote regions. In order to integrate spatial analyses it is essential that the government and its agencies and others, keep up, or better, iru:rcase the compilation of spatially referenced data sets and share them as well.