Om social sårbarhet i samband med extraordinära händelser - en intervjustudie i 12 kommuner

Tuija Nieminen Kristofersson

Research output: Book/ReportReportResearch

Abstract

The aim of this report is to study how the authorities in twelve Swedish municipalities consider social vulnerability in disasters. The study is based on telephone interviews with ten officials responsible for safety and risk analysis and with ten officials responsible for social and psychological support after disasters. Three group interviews about the support for affected citizens after the storm Gudrun in southern Sweden in 2005, the Asian tsunami in 2004 and an accident with toxic gas in 2005 were conducted with municipal officials. The municipalities represent different kinds of cities and villages in Sweden.

The measures in the municipalities were performed with expert knowledge to keep the legitimacy of the municipal authorities. In some municipalities the support was performed with empowerment and was adjusted to the needs of the affected. The officials considered elderly and other people who already have care or nursing, immigrants and those without social network, as socially vulnerable. None of the respondents mentioned homeless people, tourists or illegal immigrants. These groups are often mentioned in international research. Some of the respondents discussed how far the responsibility of the municipal authorities should extend. They also discussed how much responsibility citizens living in the countryside should have for their own safety for example in case of power failure. The question ought to bring up for public and political discussion. Another question is whether the authorities or the affected have the right to define social vulnerability.
Original languageSwedish
PublisherLUCRAM, Lund University
Number of pages82
Volume1012
Publication statusPublished - 2007

Publication series

Name
Volume1012
ISSN (Print)1404-2983

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Human Geography

Free keywords

  • social vulnerability
  • empowerment
  • social networks
  • disasters
  • legitimacy

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