Introduction: Floods are among the most frequent and destructive disasters globally, posing significant threats to human life, infrastructure, cultural and environmental heritage, and economic activities. The impact of floods is expected to grow due to climate change, population growth, and economic factors. Effective flood risk management involves assessing three key components: the hazard, exposure, and vulnerability. While understanding of hazards and exposure has improved, the terminology and methodologies for assessing vulnerability remain in development. Methods: This study focuses on evaluating the flood vulnerability level in municipalities of Mazovia Province, Poland, using a flood vulnerability index and open-access data. Research was conducted in municipalities identified as flood hazard areas (fluvial floods) with a 1% probability of occurrence. Results: The total flood vulnerability index of municipalities showed that the municipality of Wyszków had the greatest vulnerability, which stems from its highest exposure indicator, its high lack of resilience level, and its low level of susceptibility. The proportion of individuals with non-Polish nationality is relatively low in this area. Additionally, the percentages of people living in hardship, older individuals, and women are moderate compared to other municipalities. Conclusion: Municipalities, where vulnerability is mainly influenced by exposure, should implement spatial policies that limit land use within flood hazard areas. In areas where susceptibility significantly influences flood vulnerability, it is crucial to educate residents on how to protect themselves from flooding and to inform them about appropriate behaviors during a flood. Municipalities with low resilience should invest in the necessary manpower and equipment for effective rescue operations, facilitate a swift return to normalcy, and increase funding for civil protection efforts. Additionally, they should assess whether the number and availability of emergency services (such as firefighters) align with the population size and distribution. Acknowledgment: This research was funded by the National Science Centre, Poland, under the OPUS call in the Weave programme 2023/51/I/HS4/00255.
Borowska-Stefańska et al. (Sun,) studied this question.