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.
