Number of Damaged Houses

The indicator assesses the number of houses damaged by hazardous events over a given time period.

There are two main options for gaining the required data:

1) Use Official Statistics: If the relevant authorities in your target area have a reliable system of collecting data on the number of damaged houses, use this data.

2) Conduct a Survey: If there is no data available or if you do not trust the quality, conduct a representative survey among people living in the target areas asking them: "In the past [specify the time period], did your houses become damaged as a result of a storm, strong wind, flood, wildfire or other natural event?" (amend the examples according to the local context)

If possible, collect and crosscheck the data from both sources.

1) Since many hazardous events (fortunately) do not occur very frequently, the indicator is more suitable for longer-term interventions.

2) Define the minimum damage level specifying what "damaged house" means.

3) It is recommended that you also assess the extent of the damage by using standard engineering assessment practices modified for non-technical specialists. Distinguish the following damage levels: none or slightly (green), moderately – can be repaired (yellow), heavily - not safe to inhabit (red), totally damaged. These can be distinguished for each construction type, with a set of photographs.