Study of environmental vulnerability and risk perception of residents Morro dos Piolhos - Ouro Preto-MG

Abstract

In January 2012 the residents of a hillside known as “Morro dos Piolhos”, located in São Francisco neighborhood, in the city of Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil were threatened by a large landslide caused by summer rains. In that day the bus station of the city was buried, killing two taxi drivers and attracting attention of the entire national media. The population was immediately removed from their homes, but few months later everyone was back in their normal routines. This paper presents a study of the social and environmental risk to which this people are exposed. The research methodology was composed by an analysis of official documents and application of a perception survey among neighborhood residents. The survey asked how the population is aware of their risk and questioned about the reasons for residents to remain in Morro dos Piolhos. The results indicate that respondents are vulnerable to environmental hazards existing on site. They have low socioeconomic status and not enough information circulating within the community.