ABSTRACT
In this article we present an evaluation of social vulnerability for all municipalities in Portugal, taking the national framework as reference, and also an evaluation of social vulnerability at the town level within a regional framework. One variable can be irrelevant at the municipal scale, but be very important at the town scale. Furthermore, scale is not only relevant for the unit of analysis used in research but also an issue of compatibility with decision making (Eakin 2006). As the national level allows the formulation of strategic and structural recommendations, the municipal level sets the basis for urban and emergency planning; the town levels are useful to delineate specific intervention and mitigation actions. The ideal scenario is an articulation between different scales.
