Assessment of social vulnerability in areas exposed to multiple hazards: A case study of the Khuzestan Province, Iran

The inability of a system to plan for, respond to, and adapt to hazards and unfavorable occurrences can lead to social vulnerability. Managers and planners can use social vulnerability assessment to optimize budget allocation, devise mitigation measures, and prepare for disasters. The purpose of this study was to determine the social vulnerability to natural disasters in the counties in Khuzestan Province (southwest Iran). This was accomplished by using geographic information system (GIS) methods and multi-criteria decision-making procedures. Data on the vulnerability to four distinct types of hazards (floods, earthquakes, landslides, and dust storms) were gathered, and the counties were ranked using fifteen social vulnerability indicators. The findings indicated that earthquakes and landslides have had the greatest impact on the vulnerability of the northern and northeastern counties in the province. Floods and dust storms have a greater impact on central, western, and southern counties. Western and eastern counties have the highest levels of social vulnerability, while southern counties have the lowest. The findings can be applied to establish plans for reducing social vulnerability and strengthening resilience in the province. Additionally, the methodology employed in the research project can be used to analyze social vulnerability in other countries with similar situations.