Vulnerable communities are disproportionately located in low-lying, flood-prone neighborhoods with deficient infrastructure and limited access to shelter. This study integrates access to national emergency shelters into a national risk index for riverine floods in eight U.S. cities at the block group level using clustering techniques. Results show shelters are more accessible for inner-city residents, and communities with high flood risk and low shelter access disproportionately house underserved Asians and the elderly. This highlights urban flood equity disparities and informs policy needs by prioritizing areas for improved emergency response and resource allocation.
Publisher
Communications Earth & Environment
Published On
Jan 02, 2024
Authors
Alireza Ermagun, Virginia Smith, Fatemeh Janatabadi
Tags
flood risk
emergency shelters
urban equity
vulnerable communities
resource allocation
clustering techniques
underserved populations
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