Title: An Assessment of Human Vulnerability to Hazards in the US Coastal Northeast and mid-Atlantic
Abstract: The US coastal Northeast and mid-Atlantic region is a densely populated urban corridor that is susceptible to a variety of natural hazards, including hurricanes, nor’easters, and flooding. Climate change impacts, such as rising sea levels, further exacerbate the vulnerability of this region. Given the region’s exposure to natural hazards and its importance as a population core, it is imperative to assess the vulnerability of the population that resides here. This paper examines the human vulnerability of 184 counties based on demographic, social and economic factors. Data from the American Community Survey (2005 to 2009) is used for analysis. Results indicate that 7 of the 15 most vulnerable counties have population sizes of more than half a million each. Most counties at the bottom end of vulnerability spectrum have low populations. The most vulnerable counties are located along the Atlantic coast. Economic and social conditions correlate more highly with vulnerability than does demographics.
Publication Year: 2012
Publication Date: 2012-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 9
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