Adjustments of Socially Vulnerable Populations in Galveston County, Texas USA Following Hurricane Ike

Abstract

The role of socio-demographic vulnerability to hazards is an increasingly important aspect for consideration in disaster mitigation and adaptation. This paper examines the spatial adjustments of populations to the 2008 Hurricane Ike by estimating the effects of damage on the changes of socially vulnerable populations pre- and post-Hurricane Ike. Multivariate regression models are used to understand household-level adjustments in different flood zones and inundation levels at the block-group level in Galveston county. In contrast to past literature that suggests that vulnerable populations remain or move into hazardous areas post-disaster, our results indicate that socially vulnerable populations have moved out of highly damaged areas. The tremendous investment opportunity post-disaster and the slow distribution of funds to recover public housing on Galveston Island provide potential explanation of the estimated adjustment patterns. Analyzing post disaster adjustments offers important insights into the “resilient” recovery of Galveston County post-Hurricane Ike. Our results also point to potential vulnerabilities that may arise in the future because of the change in community identity and the loss of social memory. Understanding disaster-driven changes in community make-up will help inform potential recovery trajectories from future catastrophes.

The impacts of tidal wetland loss and coastal development on storm surge damages to people and property: a Hurricane Ike case-study

“…The population analysis used census data from 2010 which may not reflect the actual population in the region during H. Ike in 2008. The aftermath of Hurricane Ike caused some of the worst-affected regions like Galveston Island to lose population due to people moving away from the island 53 . Evidence from Galveston Island suggests a reduction in population of approximately 11,000 or 5% of the total population within the region flooded by Hurricane Ike’s storm surge 54 .…”

“…S1 ] and Reynold-averaged Navier–Stokes equations [Supplementary Eqs. S2 and S3 ]) on a computational grid with an implicit finite volume approach to simulate coastal hydrodynamic processes 17 , 53 , 54 . This study uses Delf3D-Flow in the 2D mode.…”

“…Delft3D-FLOW is a well-developed numerical model commonly used for solving three-or two-dimensional (depth-averaged) unsteady-shallow water equations (continuity [Supplementary Eq. S1] and Reynold-averaged Navier-Stokes equations [Supplementary Eqs.S2 and S3]) on a computational grid with an implicit finite volume approach to simulate coastal hydrodynamic processes 17,53,54 . This study uses Delf3D-Flow in the 2D mode.…”

Flood vulnerability of a few areas in the foothills of the Western Ghats: a comparison of AHP and F-AHP models

“…They are also physically vulnerable to death, injury, illness, and abuse, and disasters often impair or delay their educational progress (Peek 2008 ). Moreover, the lack of financial resources of the marginalized populations to recover from disasters, are regarded as vulnerable to disasters (Fucile-Sanchez and Davlasheridze 2020 ).…”

Impacts of household vulnerability on hurricane logistics evacuation under COVID-19: The case of U.S. Hampton Roads

“…The impact of hurricanes on the demand side, particularly on vulnerable displaced populations ( Taioli et al, 2018 , Fucile-Sanchez and Davlasheridze, 2020 ), including transportation and shelter needs, has also been evaluated ( Bian and Wilmot, 2017 , Dulebenets et al, 2019b , Dulebenets Maxim et al, 2020 ). Existing studies highlight the complicated idiosyncrasies of vulnerable populations during evacuation logistics ( Renne, 2018 ) in terms of communication complexity, lack of resources, their special needs, and difficulties locating and assisting those populations ( Turner et al, 2010 ).…”