ASSESSMENT OF VULNERABILITY AND RESPONSE CAPACITY TO FLOODS IN BUENOS AIRES WITH LIMITED DATA

Abstract

The determination of infrastructure lifeline vulnerability and community response to flooding is a significant aspect of hazards management. The availability of information, such as spatial and non-spatial data characterising the built environment and population, defines how detailed vulnerability assessments can be and how can they inform decision-making processes. Flood risk areas in Buenos Aires city in Argentina have been identified geographically using modelling software, and also investigated from a socioeconomic and political perspective by analysing the level of income in those areas and management strategies (regulatory framework, land use, flood control infrastructure). However, the relationship between flood risk, vulnerability, potential damage and the city’s response capacity has not been analysed deeply. Furthermore, the potential damage of properties and their contents has not been established as a function of their use (residential, commercial, or industrial). Therefore, there is a need to examine flooding vulnerability and the response capacity in Buenos Aires with limited available information. Even though Buenos Aires socioeconomic statistics are publicly available, they need to be tabulated and collated, while official data about flood impacts are nonexistent. The objectives of this study are: • To determine the extent of community and infrastructure lifelines vulnerability to flooding with limited information available. • To identify which factors have the greatest effect in increasing flood spatial vulnerability and emergency response capacity. • To propose appropriate flood mitigation measures for current conditions and projected flood impacts resulting from sea-level rise over the 21st century.