Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

2-2021

Abstract

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, multiple media sources claimed the event was an “equal opportunity” storm. These claims challenge existing social vulnerability research that finds marginalised groups have both unequal risk exposure and subsequent differential impacts from disasters (Cutter, Boruff, and Shirley 2003, “Assessing Current and Future Freshwater Flood Risk from North Atlantic Tropical Cyclones via Insurance Claims.” Scientific Reports 7 (February): 41609; Faber 2015, “Superstorm Sandy and the Demographics of Flood Risk in New York City.” Human Ecology 43 (3): 363–378. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-015-9757-x; Thomas et al. 2013, Social Vulnerability to Disasters. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press). To understand the accuracy of this “equal opportunity” assertion, we use ordinary least squares, simultaneous autoregressive, and geographically weighted regression techniques to investigate the relationships between indicators of social vulnerability and FEMA-approved housing damages from Hurricane Harvey across five cities in the Houston area. Findings suggest Harvey had disproportionate impacts on housing damages for Black, Latinx, and mobile home residents. These results serve as a foundational analysis for the broader purpose of informing policy decisions regarding recovery efforts and future approaches to improving flooding resilience in the Houston area.

Keywords

Hurricane Harvey, vulnerability, environmental justice, flood impacts, resilience

Discipline

Geography | Human Geography

Research Areas

Integrative Research Areas

Publication

Local Environment

Volume

26

Issue

2

First Page

216

Last Page

238

ISSN

1354-9839

Identifier

10.1080/13549839.2021.1886063

Publisher

Taylor and Francis Group

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2021.1886063

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