College
College of Public Health
Mentor Information
Elizabeth Dunn
Description
Traditional disaster planning strategies often rely on broad countywide approaches that fail to address neighborhood level needs. Identifying communities with overlapping social vulnerability and physical risks can inform more equitable preparedness interventions. To identify neighborhoods with overlapping social vulnerability and coastal flooding risk in Hillsborough County and inform targeted preparedness interventions for vulnerable populations based on physical and socioeconomic risks, Geographic Information Systems mapping was used to overlay 16 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Social Vulnerability Index indicators with coastal flooding risks to isolate 36 high priority census tracts. Socioeconomic factors, age, limited English proficiency, vehicle access, and housing structures were evaluated alongside regional evacuation survey data across zip codes. Thirty-six census tracts representing 18 neighborhoods and 15 zip codes were identified as high risk. Inland urban core areas face intense language and financial barriers; Drew Park and Town N Country hit limited English proficiency peaks of 35.0% and 26.7%, while Old Seminole Heights hit a 61.0% poverty rate. Conversely, southern coastal tracts face physical threats due to housing, with mobile home residency reaching 22.1% in Gibsonton and 21.9% in Palm River. Findings highlight substantial variation in community preparedness needs across Hillsborough County. Disaster management must focus on people rather than just infrastructure, moving from convenience to absolute necessity. Household centered interventions like multilingual materials, community training, and low-cost preparedness kits bridge this localized information gap while respecting inherent strength.
Using Social Vulnerability and Coastal Flooding Risk to Inform Preparedness Interventions in Hillsborough County
Traditional disaster planning strategies often rely on broad countywide approaches that fail to address neighborhood level needs. Identifying communities with overlapping social vulnerability and physical risks can inform more equitable preparedness interventions. To identify neighborhoods with overlapping social vulnerability and coastal flooding risk in Hillsborough County and inform targeted preparedness interventions for vulnerable populations based on physical and socioeconomic risks, Geographic Information Systems mapping was used to overlay 16 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Social Vulnerability Index indicators with coastal flooding risks to isolate 36 high priority census tracts. Socioeconomic factors, age, limited English proficiency, vehicle access, and housing structures were evaluated alongside regional evacuation survey data across zip codes. Thirty-six census tracts representing 18 neighborhoods and 15 zip codes were identified as high risk. Inland urban core areas face intense language and financial barriers; Drew Park and Town N Country hit limited English proficiency peaks of 35.0% and 26.7%, while Old Seminole Heights hit a 61.0% poverty rate. Conversely, southern coastal tracts face physical threats due to housing, with mobile home residency reaching 22.1% in Gibsonton and 21.9% in Palm River. Findings highlight substantial variation in community preparedness needs across Hillsborough County. Disaster management must focus on people rather than just infrastructure, moving from convenience to absolute necessity. Household centered interventions like multilingual materials, community training, and low-cost preparedness kits bridge this localized information gap while respecting inherent strength.
