The goal of this study is to explore how flood-affected communities in Kuala Lumpur use their community-based
organisation (CBO) in dealing with their vulnerability. Data was collected for this study through interviews, survey
questionnaire, document analysis and field observation. The study finds CBO has a crucial responsibility in managing
disasters affecting their communities especially in ensuring community members are ready for any eventualities and
reducing their vulnerabilities. This research also found that the urban poor are the group that is hit the worst in most
flooding incidents and the experience that they shared have shaped how they lead their lives.
© 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the Centre for Environment-
Behaviour Studies (cE-Bs), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.
Keywords: Sustainable communities; community-based organisation; urban hazards; adaptation