CDC/ATSDR SVI Fact Sheet
What is Social Vulnerability?
Every community must prepare for and respond to hazardous events, whether a natural disaster like a tornado or disease outbreak, or a human-made event such as a harmful chemical spill. A number of factors, including poverty, lack of access to transportation, and crowded housing may weaken a community’s ability to prevent human suffering and financial loss in a disaster.
These factors are known as social vulnerability.
Source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (2022). CDC/ATSDR SVI Fact Sheet.