Assessing the Relationship between Social Vulnerability and Community Resilience to Hazards

• In Event: 046 - Section on Environment and Technology Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 09. Hazards and Disasters

Abstract

This article contributes to the disaster literature by measuring and connecting two concepts that are highly related but rarely studied in concert: social vulnerability and community resilience. To do so, we empirically evaluate the relationship between community resilience and social vulnerability in counties across the United States and find a correlation between high levels of vulnerability and low levels of resilience, indicating that the most vulnerable counties also tend to be the least resilient. We also find regional differences in the distribution of community resilience and social vulnerability, with the West being particularly vulnerable while the Southeast is prone to low levels of resilience. By looking at both social vulnerability and community resilience, we are able to map communities’ social risks for harm from threats as well as their capacities for recovering and adapting in the aftermath of hazards. This provides a more complete portrait of the communities that might need the most assistance in emergency planning and response, as well as whether such interventions will need to be tailored toward reducing damage or finding the path to recovery.

Authors

• Kelly Bergstrand, University of Arizona

• Brian Mayer, University of Arizona

• Babette Brumback, University of Florida

• Yi Zhang, University of Florida