Disasters and residential change in the United States, 1997-2013

• In Event: 433 - Regular Session. Internal Migration

Abstract

Disasters are associated with housing damage and destruction, and hence residential change, but migration scholars know little about the scale of this phenomenon or the processes underlying it. The American Housing Survey, 1997-2013, provides a unique opportunity to examine disaster-related mobility, selection effects, and residential outcomes. This research examines selection into five mover types (employment related, housing-related, family-related, disaster-related, and other forced moves) and residential outcomes for each of these mover types. Findings show that although small, disaster-related moves are a consistent proportion of all recent movers, and the proportion increases in response to extremely active recent hurricane seasons. Furthermore, disaster-related movers have different socio-demographic profiles than non-movers and other mover types. Finally, disaster-related movers are least satisfied with their current housing and neighborhoods. These findings are consistent with theories of involuntary migration and open new terrain for understanding disaster-related mobility.

Author

• Elizabeth Fussell, Brown University