Driving Factors of Rural Social Vulnerability for Communities at High Risk of Riverine Flooding in the United States
Publication: ASCE Inspire 2023
ABSTRACT
This paper examines the differences in factors of social vulnerability and flooding risk between rural and urban areas in the United States. Using data from the FEMA National Risk Index, US Census Bureau, CDC, and BRIC Community Resilience index, we analyze the relationship between overall riverine flood risk, social vulnerability, and community resilience and statistically significant differences are reported. Our findings show that rural counties with a high risk of riverine flooding have higher percentages of vulnerable populations, such as those living in poverty, without a high school diploma, over 65 years old, with disabilities, and living in mobile homes, compared to their urban counterparts. The work presents a timely and significant contribution to the field and provides a comprehensive snapshot of the national differences in community risk associated with flooding between rural and urban areas in the United States.
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Published online: Nov 14, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Business management
- Disaster risk management
- Floods
- Geography
- Geomatics
- Hydrologic data
- Hydrologic engineering
- Hydrology
- Infrastructure
- Infrastructure resilience
- Infrastructure vulnerability
- Practice and Profession
- Risk management
- Rural areas
- Social factors
- Urban and regional development
- Urban areas
- Water and water resources
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