Awareness of Coastal Disasters: Case of an Impoverished Low-Lying River Mouth Community in Southern Vietnam

Abstract

Impoverished communities often suffer disproportionately due to natural hazards, as their inhabitants live in lands which are particularly prone to natural hazards, and exhibit lower levels of awareness and preparedness than other communities. In the present research the authors conducted structured questionnaire surveys amongst a poor community living on top of discarded sea shells in a river bank in Phan Thiet in Southern Vietnam in order to understand the level of awareness of residents against coastal hazard. The results show that although local inhabitants appear to have a moderate to high level of awareness about flooding and typhoon hazards, the evaluation of the risk that they pose to them is moderate to low. Despite the low frequency of coastal hazards in the area, the consequences of any significant event would be disastrous, as the community is located less than half a metre above water level. Thus, it is imperative that better countermeasures are put in place in the area to improve the resilience of inhabitants and ensure the long-term sustainability of the settlement. .