A Review of Disaster Risk Assessment and Mitigation in Vulnerable Coastal Communities: An Example from the South China Sea Coast.

Feng, H.; Zhu, L.; Wu, J., and Squires, V.R., 2023. A review of disaster risk assessment and mitigation in vulnerable coastal communities: An example from the South China Sea coast. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(2), 328–333. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. This review examines and analyses key issues that underpin the development and successful implementation of risk assessment. The focus is on coastal areas (including the nearshore hinterlands) on the coast of the South China Sea, especially the coastal zone around the Gulf of Tonkin (also known as Beibu Gulf) that borders Vietnam. Consideration is given to aspects of the process of engaging with local communities in areas at risk of disasters and in those sites that are affected with severe consequences on peoples' income, wealth, health, and social state. Vulnerability is an important factor and its nature and implications are examined. This paper first sets out the context for this review, including some key information about the study region. Second, risk assessments and recent developments in mitigation are discussed. Third, the focus shifts to mechanisms (and benefits) of engagement with local peoples from areas that are at risk or have undergone severe damage. Finally, concluding thoughts and a synthesis of the whole paper is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]