Identifying Socially Vulnerable Population to Storm Surge Flooding Based on Local Planning Needs: A Case Study of Lee County, Florida.

Abstract

Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coastal communities share unique risks to location-based hazards from seasonal tropical cyclone events. These inevitable storms require local emergency management officials to prepare for and be capable to recover from the reality of powerful wind and water borne dangers. While most residents have the personal wherewithal to evacuate from an impending hurricane, there remain population segments who maintain an inability or a lesser ability to evacuate and or seek adequate shelter. Hazard susceptibility is exacerbated when considering the compounded effect of pre-existing socioeconomic characteristics. Beachfront communities are understandably the common focus of much hazard planning, but farther distance from the shore does not always equate to lesser vulnerability. This study utilizes experience from local government and emergency management officials, publically accessible data, and GIS technology to visualize sub-county spatial distribution of socially vulnerable populations to tropical cyclone borne storm surge through an additive calculation from simple spatial overlay. This study found that communities farther inland may have higher or equal vulnerability as coastal communities due to their socioeconomic status.