A conceptual framework for measuring the exposure to tsunamis of Puerto Rican coastal communities

Abstract

In the last decade, there have been devastating tsunamis that have caused a substantial amount of death and economic losses. Even though Puerto Rico has not had a tsunami since 1918, its geographical location makes it extremely vulnerable to the onslaught of a tsunami. For such reason, it is essential to have metrics, at a national level, that allow simplifying the planning and mitigation efforts for all the potential losses associated with a tsunami. This work intends to present a conceptual model of an analytical tool that can quantify the vulnerability to tsunamis of all Puerto Rican coastal communities; that is, rank the 46 cities with territories within tsunami evacuation zones (TEZ) based on their exposure to tsunamis. Overall, the analytical tool will serve three aims: (1) identify the characteristics of the coastal communities that increase their vulnerability to tsunamis in terms of: economy, population, facilities, and land use; (2) support disaster management professionals in post-tsunami resource allocation, and (3) assist urban developers when determining the safety requirements for all structures erected in TEZ.