Social vulnerability to flood risk in informal settlements of theGuadalajara Metropolitan Area, Jalisco

Abstract

This article aims to analyze social vulnerability to flood risks in irregular settlements under
conditions of poverty in the Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara (AMG), Jalisco. The populations
residing in these settlements face particular challenges related to vulnerability and risk in the
context of flooding. For instance, there is a prevalent tendency for such settlements to be located
near urbanized streams, often lacking adequate infrastructure and essential basic services to cope
with flood events. Grounded in the social construction of risk approach, the study is structured
around three thematic areas: the characteristics of flood hazards, conditions of exposure, and coping
capacity. The methodology employed integrates quantitative data from the Social Characterization
of Irregular Settlements under Conditions of Poverty and the Metropolitan Risk Atlas, alongside
qualitative sources such as newspaper articles and reports from governmental bodies and civil
society organizations. The principal finding reveals that the lack of institutional recognition of
irregular settlements perpetuates vulnerability by hindering access to essential public services and
proper urban planning, thereby constraining the right to secure housing. Based on this premise,
the article underscores the urgency of promoting more inclusive urban and territorial planning
practices that account for the multiple variables influencing the decision to inhabit vulnerable areas.
In this regard, the implementation of risk management policies must holistically address the needs
of the most vulnerable populations in order to mitigate the impacts of flooding and improve living
conditions in the peripheries of the AMG.