PrintSensitivity Summary
In summary, sensitivity is the degree to which people and the things they value could be harmed by exposure to a hazard. To understand sensitivity, we need to consider both the components of sensitivity to a hazard and measures of that sensitivity. The two aspects of a community most often considered in sensitivity assessments are demographics of the population and the infrastructure of the built environment. Of these, infrastructure is the more straightforward of the two to assess. Understanding the condition and quality of infrastructure enables assessment of its sensitivity to hazards, and consequently the sensitivity of populations that rely on the infrastructure. Demographic factors such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status can also play an important role in assessing sensitivity to coastal hazards. However, these factors are highly context-specific, and can also interact with one another.