An Assessment of Human Vulnerability to Hazards in the US Coastal Northeast and mid-Atlantic

Abstract

La costa noreste y la región del atlántico medio de los EE.UU. es un corredor urbano densamente poblado susceptible a una variedad de amenazas naturales, incluyendo huracanes, tormentas de inviernos (nor’easters), e inundaciones. Los impactos del cambio climático, tales como el incremento en el nivel del mar, agravan aún más la vulnerabilidad de esta región. Teniendo en cuenta la exposición de la región a estas amenazas naturales y su importancia como núcleo poblacional, es imprescindible evaluar la vulnerabilidad de la población que ahí reside. Este artículo examina la vulnerabilidad humana de 184 condados, basados en factores demográficos, sociales y económicos. Datos del “American Community Survey” (2005–2009) se utilizan para el análisis. Los resultados indican que 7 de los 15 condados más vulnerables tienen un tamaño de población de más de medio millón cada uno. La mayoría de los condados en el extremo inferior del espectro de vulnerabilidad tienen bajas concentraciones demográficas. Los condados más vulnerables se encuentran a lo largo de la costa atlántica. Las condiciones económicas y sociales se correlacionan más estrechamente con la vulnerabilidad que lo que demuestra la demografía.

Policy Recommendations for Reducing Vulnerability to Disasters in Canada: Perspectives From Practitioners in Waterloo Region, Ontario

“…This supports many of the ideas already introduced in the earlier literature review on vulnerability, whereby lack of access to information, resources, power, and assets are all seen as underlying processes creating vulnerabilities (see Blaikie et al, ; Hewitt, ; Prasad, ; Wisner et al, ). Ferrier () suggests that improving access to assets is one of the primary roles of the community, and the presence or absence of resources and assets can affect the community's overall ability to cope during a disaster.…”

“…In addition, Watts and Bohle (1993) viewed access to and control over assets, including economic, socio-political, infrastructural, ecological, and personal assets as key components affecting vulnerability levels. Although this perspective is now over 20 years old, access to assets continues to be identified as a key contributor to levels of vulnerability (Cutter, Boruff, & Shirley, 2003;Joakim, 2013;Kelly & Adger, 2000;Morrow, 1999;Pelling, 2011;Prasad, 2012).…”

Disaster vulnerability of elderly and medically frail populations

“…Table 1 describes how each variable contributes to the vulnerability of the individual. International, 1999International, , 2012Henderson et al, 2010;Lamb et al, 2008;Mayhorn, 2005;Pekovic et al, 2007;Powell et al, 2009;Prasad, 2012;Smith & Notaro, 2009;Tuohy, Johnston, et al, 2015; Female gender: Elderly and medically frail women are more vulnerable in disaster than men because they live longer, making them more likely to live in poverty and inadequate housing. Due to cultural prohibitions, older women may also be less likely to evacuate to shelters that do not separate individuals by gender.…”

“…Elders are also less likely to recover economically from the expenses related to the disaster, making them at high-risk for poverty. Abramson et al, 2015a;Abramson et al, 2015b;Ardalan et al, 2010;Benson, 2007;Christensen & Castaneda, 2014;DeVos, 2011;Durant, 2011;Fernandez et al, 2002;Fonseca et al, 2009;HelpAge International, 1999;Henderson et al, 2010;Hoopes-Haplin, 2013;Jhung et al, 2007;Lamb et al, 2008;Mokdad et al, 2005;Nicogossian et al, 2012;Pekovic et al, 2007;Powell et al, 2009;Prasad, 2012;Seplaki et al, 2006;Smith & Notaro, 2009;Zakour, 2015 Low education: Elderly or medically frail individuals who have a low education level are vulnerable in disaster due to their difficulty or inability to access quality information resources. Durant, 2011;Seplaki et al, 2006 Continued on next page:…”

A Geospatial Assessment of Social Vulnerability to Sea-Level Rise in Coastal San Luis Obispo

“…Civilian labor force unemployed B23025 Cutter, Mitchell, and Scott, 2000;Burton, Kates, and White, 1993;Blaikie et al, 1994;Peacock, Morrow, andGladwin, 1997, 2000;Hewitt, 1997;Prasad, 2012;Puente, 1999;Platt, 1999;Moser & Ekstrom, 2012.…”