Hana Etemadi

This study assesses urban resilience in Khormouj, Iran, using a multi-criteria framework across 15 neighborhoods. Results reveal significant spatial disparities: newer, advantaged areas exhibit high resilience, while historically marginalized neighborhoods demonstrate substantially lower levels. Over half the city shows moderate to high physical resilience, with southern districts benefiting from better emergency infrastructure access. However, central areas within deteriorated urban fabric remain vulnerable due to limited critical infrastructure proximity. In arid contexts, flash floods present a dual challenge functioning as both hazardous phenomena and vital water resources for aquifer recharge. Enhancing resilience requires an integrated approach combining neighborhood-oriented planning, rehabilitation of deteriorated structures, and adaptive flood management that transforms episodic events into hydrological opportunities. This research demonstrates spatial analysis as an effective decision-support tool for prioritizing interventions in medium-sized arid cities.