“The fist of hurricane”: GIS analysis of hurricanes and domestic violence in Florida

• In Event: 2251 - Section on Environmental Sociology Roundtables (1 hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: 20. Sociology of Disasters

Abstract

Natural disasters lead to social devastation resulting in fatalities, injuries, property loss, and crop loss leaving people injured, displaced, financially broke and emotionally distressed. Previous research based on various data about natural disasters indicates that reported violence against women increases in communities hit by environmental disasters (Enarson, 1999; Zahran et al, 2009; Anastario et al, 2018; Gearhart et al, 2018). Recent studies found that volume of crime during hurricanes generally decreases during and after natural disasters while the number of reported violence in domestic context increases (Zahran, 2009, p. 44).
Florida attracts tourist with its fine beaches, warm climate and diverse wildlife. However, geographic location that makes the Sunbelt state a popular vacation and retirement destination also makes it more vulnerable for natural disasters, in particular hurricanes, tornados and tropical storms.
The purpose of this study is to analyze spatial distribution of domestic violence offences on a county scale in Florida as an outcome of natural disasters. In particular, this paper is focusing on how property loss volumes caused by hurricanes and tropical storms in Florida in 2004 affected domestic violence incidences. The study utilizes Spatial Hazard Events and Losses Database for the United States (SHELDUS) to obtain the data about the loss caused by hurricanes and statistics about domestic violence offences in Florida counties from Florida Department of Law Enforcement database.

Author

• Karina Powell, University of Central Florida