Global warming arising from climate change has been exacerbating its damage as it affects not only on water resource and food but also environment, health and ecosystem. And, natural disaster from weather accident has expanded its scale, threatening m...
Global warming arising from climate change has been exacerbating its damage as it affects not only on water resource and food but also environment, health and ecosystem. And, natural disaster from weather accident has expanded its scale, threatening many nations across the world. Especially, customized disaster and safety welfare for the socially vulnerable groups (including the aged, the disabled and foreigner), who hardly can cope with the disaster in comparison with regular adult, is required.
In that sense, this study is to explore severity of natural disaster arising from climate change, and current status of socially vulnerable groups who may be severely damaged from disaster. And also it is to suggest improvement plan of Disaster-Safety Welfare for the aged in order to prepare for Korea’s aging population.
For the investigation method, the senior citizens (above 65 years old) living in Jeollabuk-do district were selected, and disaster’s vulnerability of the aged was classified into economic, physical and environmental aspects in order to collect and restructure statistic data of the aged’s information including economic activity, recipient of basic living, average income, restriction in activity, disability and social relationship network. It was followed by a survey related to the vulnerability of disaster (targeting to 100 senior citizens living in Imsil district which indicates the highest elderly proportion in Jeollabuk-do) and analysis of actual proof.
Based on the study, it drew a conclusion as below.
First, the aged class in Jeollabuk-do showed economical vulnerability as they were not involved in economic activity without income, while it has lower proportion in terms of recipient of basic living. Also, maintenance and repairing for detached houses were found to be required because it was judged to be vulnerable to heavy rain and flood as most of the detached houses were built more than 30 years ago. When it comes to insurance for damage from storm and flood, the insurance purchase rate was low, and many people did not even know about the insurance. Therefore, it was found that promotion, support and education for the insurance were found to be inevitable.
Second, it was found that they were capable of Daily Living Activities, and they did not complain about inconvenience or difficulty in daily life. But, given that they may not move immediately, swift information delivery and behavioral know-how are required in case of disaster. When it comes to the disabled, it was found that they were judged to have enough ability to escape from disaster as the disability rating were low despite frequency of physical disability was detected as high. But, it was judged that medical service is required as ratio of the aged was high.
Third, it was found that energy support plan is required for vulnerable groups as they have experienced severe difficulty during the winter season (than summer). It was mainly because vulnerability in room temperature was shown due to high cost for fuel and light. When it comes to the basic firefighting facilities, the support for elderly of non-take up is required as they were not equipped with the basic firefighting facilities even though recipient of basic living had enough facilities thanks to local government. There were many senior citizens who have not been provided with Disaster and Safety Service while many of them may escape from disaster on foot. Therefore, it was found that it may be difficult for them to move to 1st evacuation place faraway from them.
Fourth, it was found that they have had not enough experience in natural disaster while education on behavioral know-how and evacuation place were not properly provided. Also, it was found that education on disaster plan and training service (targeting to the aged) are inevitable as they have not been provided with training and experience until recently. Meanwhile, when it comes to frequency of contact with family, relative, friend and neighbor, it was found that cooperation and information delivery system with friend and neighbor were well organized as they showed higher frequency of contact with friend and neighbor rather than their own family and relative.