Case Study: Caracas (local hazards) Flashcards
(36 cards)
Where is Caracas
Venezuela
How does infrastructure make Caracas vulnerable?
Caracs’ infrastructure is poor and run across seismic faults
How many water pipes run across a seismic fault?
3
How many people live per km2 in barrios?
25,000/ km2
How is the population of the city growing?
Rapidly, 3.1% per year
Why may the main bridge have to be rebuilt?
The main bridge may have to be rebuilt due to a slip in the plates
What is the major inequality in Caracus?
Economic, unequal wealth
Is there any planning around hazards in the city?
NO planning around hazards in the city - none in the country as a whole
What is the issue with the government in Caracas?
There government lacks stability
Which hazards is Caracas exposed to? (6)
TED can sometimes laugh
Tropical storms
Earthquakes
Drought
Cyclones
Sea level rise
Landslide/ rockfall
What are social class divisions reflected by?
Social class divisions are reflected by the occupancy of residential areas
How did members of the upper class gain wealth?
Through sale of land and real estate
Where do the upper class live?
On thé Eastern margins of the valley and the Caribbean coast
What do the upper class homes avoid?
Landslides and earthquake risk
Where do lower class people live?
In hillside shanty towns overlooking the West and South
How do building regulations differ between the city centre and shanty towns?
On thé hillside there are no building regulations and no means of escape, everything would be destroyed.
In the city centre l, international building regulation and flat land provides safety
What is high in Caracas?
Unemployment
What % of Venezuelas GDP is based on oil sales?
50%
Why has the city focused it’s services in?
Banks
NGO’s
Shops
How do planned responses vary around the city?
Each company has its own individual planned responses, rather than city wide, common plans
What are the areas most at risk in Caracas? (3)
Transportation and utilities as well as squatter settlements
Which university recently developed framework plan for building disaster resiliance?
Columbia Univerisity
What are the 3 IMMEDIATE disaster avoidance goals?
Strengthening:
critical infrastructure, housing stock and emergency services
What are the more INTERMEDIATE goals? (3)
Upgrading fragile housing units
creating hazard maps
incorporating disaster education into cultural activities
