Typology of Human Mobility and Immobility for Disaster Risk Reduction: Exploratory Case Study in Hillsborough County, Florida
Publication: Natural Hazards Review
Volume 22, Issue 4
Abstract
Disaster induced and climate related migration and displacement are a crucial issue in the era of climate change. Particularly, human mobility, immobility, and trapped populations are forms of proactive or inactive responses to those negative disturbances. The authors hypothesize that human immobility is deeply rooted in socio-geographical factors such as income, home rental or ownership, insurance coverage, how long one has lived in the area, and previous disaster experiences. This comparative case study was administered at the neighborhood level in Hillsborough County, Florida, which was impacted by Hurricane Irma. The results indicate that new residents who lived in their homes for less than five years were more likely to be non-insurance holders whether they were renters or homeowners. Long term residents, who lived in the same home for more than 13 years, tended to be immobile while holding several types of home insurance coverage. Those who indicated that they do not have home insurance and answered “no idea” when asked whether they will stay in one place or move in years to come have a higher potential to become “trapped” when disaster strikes.
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Data Availability Statement
All data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This research was funded by The Doctoral Dissertation Research Program in Fulbright Scholarship and The Overseas Challenge Program for Young Researchers Program in Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. The authors sincerely thank Mr. Eugene Henry and Ms. Christina Hummel in Hillsborough County, Florida, and Dr. Robert Olshansky, emeritus professor of Urban Regional Planning Department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, for great professional advice to the study. The first author also appreciates Ms. Lanette Glass, Mr. Ryan Glass, and Mr. Cody Bilbrey, for generous support while in Florida.
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Published In
Natural Hazards Review
Volume 22 • Issue 4 • November 2021
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© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 11, 2020
Accepted: Apr 2, 2021
Published online: Jul 16, 2021
Published in print: Nov 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Dec 16, 2021
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