The aim of this study is to lay a framework for evaluating flood vulnerabilities. Specifically, it applies the proposed methodology to evaluate flood vulnerability index (FVI) across 21 districts comprising a significantly large part (drainage area of 85 859 km²) of Narmada River basin in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The study assesses sensitivity, adaptive capacity indices, and the exposure risk over a chosen set of 22 climatic, demographic, social and economic parameters, and applies principal component analysis to evolve a composite FVI. The results rank various districts for their vulnerabilities to floods. The analysis indicates that, in the study area, around a third of the vulnerability is accounted by two factors: a lack of adaptive capacity of the community and heightened sensitivity to floods. There exists significant scope to modify these two factors by appropriate policy interventions at the social and economic levels. It is expected that the framework would be of use to stakeholders such as planners, policymakers, flood management authorities, field engineers, district administration and local non-governmental organisations who strive to make the community less vulnerable to floods.

中文翻译：

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洪水脆弱性评估框架——以印度纳尔马达河流域为例

本研究的目的是建立一个评估洪水脆弱性的框架。具体来说，它应用所提出的方法来评估 21 个地区的洪水脆弱性指数 (FVI)，这些地区占很大一部分（流域面积 85 859 km ²) 位于印度中部中央邦的纳尔默达河流域。该研究评估了一组选定的 22 个气候、人口、社会和经济参数的敏感性、适应能力指数和暴露风险，并应用主成分分析来发展复合 FVI。结果对各个地区的洪水脆弱性进行了排名。分析表明，在研究区域，大约三分之一的脆弱性是由两个因素造成的：社区缺乏适应能力和对洪水的敏感性增加。在社会和经济层面通过适当的政策干预来改变这两个因素存在很大的空间。预计该框架将对规划者、政策制定者、洪水管理当局、现场工程师、