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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.