Usually the seismic risk evaluation involves only the estimation of the expected physical damage, casualties or economic losses. This article corresponds to a holistic approach for seismic risk assessment which involves the evaluation of the social fragility and the lack of resilience. The complementary evaluation of social context aspects such as the distribution of the population, the absence of economic and social development, deficiencies in institutional management, and lack of capacity for response and recovery; is useful in order to have seismic risk evaluation suitable to support a decision making processes for risk reduction. \ud The proposed methodology allows a standardized assessment of the social fragility and lack of resilience, by means of an aggravating coefficient of which summarizes the characteristics of the social context using fuzzy sets and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The selection of 20 social indicators is based on the indicators used by urban observatories of United Nations and other social researchers. These indicators are classified according to social item they describe, in six categories. Applying the determination level analysis, thirteen prevailing social indicators are selected. The proposed methodology has been applied in the cities of Merida (Venezuela) and Barcelona (Spain).Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Risk management due to natural hazards is a multidimensional and complex problem since it requires the knowledge and experience of several disciplines. The effectiveness of risk management can be analyzed, inviting to the action through weakness identification of the urban area. This article proposes a methodology based on the morphological analysis to support the decision-making on disaster risk management, taking as a starting point the results of a holistic evaluation of the seismic risk. The results of the holistic evaluation of risk are achieved aggravating the physical risk using the contextual conditions, such as the socioeconomic fragility and the lack of resilience. In consequence, the risk mitigation can be performed through the reduction of the potential damage and consequences involved; and the improvement of social conditions.The proposed methodology allows prioritizing the risk reduction strategies according to i) performance level of component indicators involved into the Disaster Risk Management index, 𝐷𝑅𝑀𝑖; ii) physical risk factors dependent from the potential damages, and iii) aggravating factors involved in the aggravating coefficient. Moreover, it involves 35 strategies to reduce the physical risk and the aggravating social conditions of the urban area.The proposed methodology has been applied to the city of Mérida (Venezuela), located within an area of high seismic activity. The performance level of the indicators involved in the 𝐷𝑅𝑀𝑖 was evaluated by a survey to local experts. As a result, eleven strategies have been identified to reduce the potential damage and to improve the social conditions of this city.

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