The Importance of Susceptibility, Hazard and Risk Maps in Disaster Recovery

This chapter examines the essential role of susceptibility, hazard, and risk mapping in disaster management, focusing specifically on Türkiye's exposure to natural disasters. Globally, natural disasters have increased significantly since the 1960s, driven mainly by rapid population growth and the settlement of hazardous zones. Türkiye is frequently subject to devastating events including earthquakes, landslides, floods, rockfalls, and avalanches due to its complex geological, meteorological, and topographic characteristics. Active faults cover nearly 90 percent of the country, while landslides rank highest in overall frequency among mass movements. Modern integrated disaster management stresses pre-disaster risk management over post-disaster crisis intervention, seeking to evaluate potential hazards before they escalate into disasters. The text clarifies core terminologies: susceptibility measures spatial probability based on physical parameters; hazard estimates event magnitude and recurrence time; and risk indicates expected losses, defined by the formula Risk = (Hazard * Vulnerability) / Capacity. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software, deployed by AFAD since 2016 across all provinces, provides crucial data visualization to guide urban planners and decision-makers, prevent unsafe settlement choices, and effectively minimize future losses of life and property.