The perspective of communities in mapping flooding risk areas

The case of Slum 21-24, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

The objective of this article is to involve the community in the flooding risk identification and analysis, from a participatory approach, in Slum 21-24, south of Buenos Aires City, Argentina. I defined 27 risk sectors, whose residents were invited to a social cartography workshop and mapping of areas at risk. The results showed 81 points of problems (environmental and constructives) over practically all sectors and 20 points of positive aspects. In addition, we mapped 18 sectors with a low risk degree, 7 with a medium risk degree and 2 sectors with a high risk degree. Community involvement in risk mapping allows interaction favorable to disaster risk reduction, helping both the most vulnerable groups and the different governmental spheres.