Assessing socioeconomic vulnerability of cyclone remal-affected coastal communities in Bangladesh

Cyclones have caused significant socioeconomic vulnerability among coastal dwellers in Bangladesh. In this study, a Socioeconomic Vulnerability Index (SeVI) is constructed to assess the consequences of Cyclone Remal, which impacted the coastal regions of Bangladesh on 26 May 2024. The research focuses on four Unions—Arpangasia, Pathatghata, Dakua, and Baliatali- situated in four Upazilas within the Patuakhali and Barguna Districts. These places were selected based on their high vulnerability to natural disasters. The study analyses the SeVI by classifying the 34 indicators using sensitivity, exposure, and adaptive ability. Data from 400 families were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire to acquire insights into socioeconomic characteristics, cyclone impact, and community resilience. Regarding vulnerability, the statistics show significant variation, with Patharghata Union having the highest score (0.461) and Arpangasia Union having the lowest level (0.389). Baliatali Union exhibits the lowest sensitivity score at 0.083, while Dakua Union has the second-highest exposure score at 0.571. Only 32.25% of the survey respondents evacuated, even though 99.25% were aware of the cyclone warnings, which indicates problems with evacuation procedures and communication effectiveness. This study's findings offer policymakers a valuable tool for prioritizing measures and allocating resources to increase resilience in cyclone-prone coastal areas.