Exposure to floods in Moravia, San José, Costa Rica: Exposure to floods in Moravia, San José, Costa Rica

Abstract

Humans have invaded some river's protected areas, both in rural and urban zones, turning them, most of the times, into high-risk areas. The exploration of the river valleys of Moravia allowed the confirmation and location of settlements and flood-prone areas. Such identification created the groundwork to risk management in order to protect the population from health hazards. This study required bibliographical research, fieldwork and photograph analysis. The main conclusions are: 1 – This research identified 9 cases of invasion to valleys of river and streams in Moravia, most of them are located along the Ipis river, 2 - Human activity generates undesired risk because people do not follow the normative to prevent disasters, 3 - In opposition to the known pattern, Moravia's middle-class people are living in high-risk areas.