Bender argues that in hazards research military experiences inform civil action. For example, mass evacuation, triage, and similar perspectives dominate the view of disasters. The focus is evolving more into cause and effect rather than a snap-shot of an event. Concern with sustainable development adds a time dimension. However, there is not a research program that focuses on lessening vulnerability as a goal.
Most research focuses on wealth creation.
The capacity to turn vulnerability into strength depends on government polices which create or relieve vulnerability. Most important are the gaps in communication that place limits on a community to have or develop a coherent capacity to respond. Susan Cutter stated that the underlying theme to vulnerability analysis is inequity or uneven distribution. A concern with the latter issue brings the importance of context and changes in context as central. The goal is to create a composite hazardousness of Georgetown, by producing a baseline for response and for operationalizing the vulnerability concept.