This paper investigates the impact of race and wealth on disaster evacuation patterns using anonymized GPS data from over 150,000 users in the Greater Houston Area during Hurricane Harvey. While evacuation distance followed a similar distribution across different neighborhoods, significant disparities were found in evacuation likelihood, timing, and destination choices. Disadvantaged minority populations were less likely to evacuate than wealthier white residents, and there was strong social cohesion among evacuees from advantaged neighborhoods in their destination choices. These findings highlight social inequalities in disaster response and provide policy recommendations for improved emergency planning.

Hengfang Deng, Daniel P. Aldrich, Michael M. Danziger, Jianxi Gao, Nolan E. Phillips, Sean P. Cornelius, Qi Ryan Wang