Researchers Meeting Abstracts

Community workshops-based action research in coastal Washington State uses multi-hazard mitigation to update a range of local plans, from emergency management and hazards mitigation to long-range comprehensive land use. In the process, the authors envision strategies appropriate for more than one type, severity level, and occurrence probability of hazard. Participating communities discussed gradually cumulative sea level rise (SLR) and other climate-related coastal hazards. They also discussed acute, sudden-onset megaquakes and tsunamis, and both gradual and sudden land vertical movement – a rare combination of hazard information in local planning. The communication of chronic/gradual and episodic/sudden hazard information with a values-driven, asset-based participatory workshop protocol using weTable and other participatory use of GIS and geonarratives enabled stakeholders. This  generated long-term, localized resiliency and pre-disaster recovery plans with a robust suite of strategies, including relocation of critical facilities and preparation for possible resettlement on less vulnerable sites with flexible time scales. Similarities between long-term projections for land loss due to SLR and the projected land loss due to sudden coastal subsidence in a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake were especially effective in prompting increased attention to climate change impacts. Incorporation of local-historical geo-narratives of environmental and developmental change in the workshop protocol may further enhance the ability of participants to generate robust adaptation strategies. Processes that focus only on community vulnerability to severe (but low-probability) existential threats, by contrast, tend to generate primarily immediate life-safety strategies, and provide less useful information to long-term comprehensive planning. 

This study investigated the mental health impact of Ohio‘s 2024 tornadoes on socioeconomically disadvantaged populations in Franklin County, focusing on anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It explored how the tornadoes intensified existing mental health issues in vulnerable communities and examined coping mechanisms and resilience factors. Using a mixed-methods approach, the authors gathered data from surveys (N=521) and interviews (N=20) with adults from low-income households. Surveys assessed mental health outcomes (anxiety, depression, PTSD) and risk perceptions, while interviews provided qualitative insights into personal experiences, community challenges, and coping strategies. Findings revealed significant mental health disparities between individuals severely impacted by the tornadoes and those less affected. Those most impacted reported higher stress levels, compounded by financial hardship and limited access to mental health resources. Additionally, these individuals had heightened perceptions of risk severity and future weather events. Qualitative analysis identified themes of social isolation, dependence on family and social networks, and varied perceptions of local emergency communication. These results highlight the need for targeted mental health support, enhanced disaster preparedness, and culturally appropriate risk communication. The study emphasized the importance of policies focused on accessible mental health care, community resilience, and effective communication to reduce vulnerability and improve recovery in low-income populations, ensuring better preparedness for future disasters.

This study explored the relationship between housing conditions and risk perception, particularly how these factors influenced evacuation intentions during hurricanes and flooding in Florida. While research on risk perception in disasters has grown, there is limited exploration of how housing conditions affect risk perception, especially in the context of severe weather hazards. Existing studies have focused on specific housing types, such as mobile homes, with minimal attention to broader housing characteristics. This study aimed to bridge this gap by examining how housing conditions impacted evacuation decisions in Florida, where hurricanes and flooding pose frequent threats. A quantitative approach was used, involving a questionnaire distributed to 816 participants across five Florida cities: Miami, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Gainesville, and Ocala. The questionnaire was validated by experts and pretested to ensure accuracy. Statistical analyses using Excel, DataTab, and SPSS revealed that two housing factors—required dwelling repairs and whether the dwelling is on the ground floor—significantly influenced risk perception. However, risk perception did not significantly impact evacuation intentions based on logistic regression analysis. The findings suggest that emergency communication should not overly emphasize storm danger at the beginning of hurricane season, as it does not significantly influence preparation behavior when no storms are imminent. However, if a storm is approaching, communication should shift to highlight risk and prompt action. Additionally, efficacy and social norms were found to have a strong influence on evacuation intentions, suggesting that emergency messaging should focus on how to prepare and the importance of community participation in evacuation.

Natural hazards increasingly disrupt communities worldwide. This study examined the impact of convective storms on the well-being of midwestern communities in the US. The authors conducted a cross-sectional survey in 2024, surveying participants on demographics, housing conditions, risk perception, past severe weather experiences, and mental health. The total number of participants in this study was 909. Survey results showed that 132 participants (14.5%) reported being diagnosed with anxiety, 102 (11.2%) with depression, and 55 (6.1%) with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mental health scores revealed that 293 participants (32.2%) had high anxiety, 289 (31.8%) had high depression, and 102 (11.2%) had high PTSD. Logistic regression analysis found that high levels of convective storm impact was associated with increased odds of high levels of anxiety, depression, and risk perception (p<0.001). However, there was no statistically significant association between high levels of impact and PTSD (p=0.434). Significant associations were also observed with race, as Asian individuals had higher odds of anxiety (OR: 25.87, 95% CI: 2.19–305.59, p=0.010). Gender differences were evident, with females having higher odds of PTSD (OR: 2.79, 95% CI: 1.39–5.58, p=0.004) compared to males. These findings underscored the urgent need for targeted mental health interventions, improved access to stable housing, and strengthened social support programs to mitigate the psychological burden of disasters. Addressing these disparities and enhancing disaster resilience are critical to reducing the long-term mental health consequences for storm-affected populations in the Midwest.

This presentation discusses emergency managers‘ use of simulation and modeling data to minimize avoidable consequences of major coastal storms (e.g., hurricanes, tropical storms.) Following an “implementation research“ approach, findings are presented from interviews with emergency managers to better understand how better data supports pre-landfall decision-making. Climate change is increasing coastal populations‘ exposure to storm hazards while making it more challenging for emergency managers to anticipate the consequences of major storms in terms of community health, safety, and economic security. Despite decades of experience analyzing storm vulnerability, local communities continue to experience storm outcomes that decision makers either did not anticipate or did not prepare for, often with lasting and profound consequences for communities. Advancements in high resolution storm simulation and consequence modeling can help emergency managers make preparedness and response decisions. This research sought to better define “avoidable consequences“ in the context of storm response and connect physical hazard impacts with human outcomes based on data gathered from interview subjects. The research described in this presentation leverages the Coastal Hazards Analysis, Modeling, and Prediction (CHAMP) project to explore practical application of decision support tools to improve local storm preparedness and response. Contributions include advancing understanding of emergency managers‘ community storm vulnerability assessment and informing further development of decision support tools like CHAMP.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s “Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program“ (HSEEP) is the universally accepted standard for emergency management exercises in the United States that provides a templated format familiar to emergency management practitioners. This research examined the use of homeland security functional exercises to evaluate emergency managers’ use of simulation-based decision support tools for response to major coastal storms (e.g., hurricanes, tropical storms, nor’easters). Using a scenario-based approach to end-user evaluation provided a plausible, realistic environment that encouraged open and honest player feedback. The authors presented the results of several HSEEP-based workshops and exercises run as part of implementation research with the Coastal Hazards Analysis, Modeling, and Prediction (CHAMP) system. CHAMP combined high-resolution storm models with a database of critical infrastructure vulnerabilities to predict storm consequences and aid decision-making. The research includeds a CHAMP functional exercise with Rhode Island’s State Emergency Operations Center and another with external partners from local, state, and federal agencies who would potentially utilize CHAMP data during storm response. User feedback and observation data collected during the CHAMP workshops and exerciseswere used to inform real-world activation protocols and to guide ongoing development of the CHAMP system. Findings suggested that the HSEEP exercise format provideed a ready-made process for evaluating emergency management tools in a format comfortable and familiar to participants.

This study examined the challenges of post disaster reconstruction following the 2015 Gorkha earthquake in Nepal, focusing on how public perception of government recovery efforts and diverse resource availability influenced the progress and outcomes of post-disaster reconstruction. Multiple regression analyses of the data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs‘ Humanitarian Data Exchange (N=2012) revealed that better public perception of government recovery efforts were associated with shorter actual reconstruction and anticipated reconstruction time. However, resource availability showed contrasting effects on post-disaster reconstruction outcomes. The findings highlighted the importance of addressing both public perceptions and physical needs in governments‘ recovery strategies, providing insights to inform policymakers and practitioners on enhancing future disaster recovery and reconstruction efforts.

Buildings with insufficient seismic capacity are susceptible to extensive damage or collapse during an earthquake, contributing to economic losses and casualties. Effective risk mitigation strategies such as seismic retrofitting could potentially address the vulnerability of the existing building stock to earthquake hazards. Yet, seismic retrofit programs suffer from low take-up rates. Thus, identifying barriers for seismic retrofit adoption and strategies to increase take-up rates can help mitigate losses from future events. This study developed an agent-based model that uses theories from multiple disciplines to assess homeowner responses to seismic retrofit promotion strategies. The simulation framework was applied to a case study of owner-occupied, residential-detached dwellings in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. These strategies were compared regarding the number of adopters and the total losses to residential dwellings following a hypothetical Magnitude (M) 7.0 earthquake on the Strait of Georgia in British Columbia. The main barriers to adopting retrofit measures among different income groups were identified, and appropriate interventions to target those barriers were suggested. Modeling the impact of policies allows policymakers to evaluate their effects and fine-tune the policy interventions before their implementation.

Federal assistance plays a crucial role in disaster recovery, providing immediate relief and long-term support to affected communities. When disasters strike, the federal government mobilizes resources to help individuals and communities rebuild, with agencies like Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Small Business Administration (SBA), and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) spearheading recovery efforts. Through the Individuals and Households Program (IHP), FEMA offers immediate assistance for temporary housing, funeral assistance, personal property losses, and repairing/replacing damaged homes. HUD provides long-term funding through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery  (CDBG-DR) to address remaining unmet recovery needs. Despite these efforts, renters often face unique recovery barriers to accessing and utilizing critical aid, leading to prolonged housing instability and financial hardship. This study examined renters’ recovery journey within federal disaster assistance programs, focusing on gaps in impact and unmet needs assessments. These gaps often result in differential support and often drastically different outcomes driven in part by tenure alone and exacerbated by underlying social vulnerabilities. Utilizing disaster recovery data from OpenFEMA and HUD’s Quarterly Reports on CDBG-DR, this research employed a reverse engineering approach to identify discrepancies in reported renter impacts and associated recovery assistance. The analysis explored patterns of underreported damages, eligibility barriers, and systemic challenges renters encounter in securing aid. This research aims to inform policy adjustments that enhance equitable disaster assistance for renters by identifying inefficiencies and data gaps in FEMA and HUD programs. Findings from this study contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of renter-specific vulnerabilities in disaster recovery.

In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew devastated North Carolina, causing 26 fatalities statewide, including three in Robeson County, and inflicting an estimated $1.5 billion in damages across the state. Lumberton, the county seat of Robeson County, saw catastrophic flooding when the Lumber River crested at a record 24 feet, inundating entire neighborhoods, damaging critical infrastructure, and forcing mass evacuations. Schools were among the hardest-hit institutions, with extensive damage leading to prolonged closures, disrupting education for thousands of students, and compounding challenges for families already struggling with displacement and economic hardship. At the same time, Lumberton schools responded to the flooding and subsequent challenges in surprising ways, highlighting the potential of schools to play a critical role in disaster recovery of a community. 

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) studied the role of schools and their communities in disaster response and recovery through systematic literature reviews, field observations, and case study research, including in Lumberton, NC. This research aimed to identify key factors influencing the recovery of schools and assess the function of schools in the recovery of the community. By examining how schools contribute to disaster recovery efforts and whether they are well-equipped to serve as recovery hubs, this work provided critical insights into enhancing disaster resilience at both institutional and community scales. This research offered practical insights for policymakers, emergency planners, and educators seeking to optimize the role of schools in community recovery.

Drawing on action-oriented insights and findings from “Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation” the author demonstrates why climate resilience must be implemented centering the needs of older adults to achieve equitable community-scale outcomes. Older adults are overrepresented among fatalities in climate-fueled disasters. Within the full array of wildfire events, hurricanes, heat waves, winter storms and more—up to and including recent wildfires in LA and Maui—people over 65 are multiple times more likely to die than their younger counterparts. This pattern has remained unchanged in the 20 years since Katrina, and yet older adults are the fastest growing demographic in the US; in 2034, we will have more older adults than children for the first time ever. It is imperative that we reevaluate and refocus our approach to climate resilience by centering the needs of older adults in order to create communities that are safe for people of all ages. The author will review how and why climate change differently impacts older people, and use case studies to share solutions and strategies that can be deployed to reduce risk. Interventions in housing, transportation, emergency management, health care, utilities, and social infrastructure are necessary  to deliver a more climate-resilient community that serves the needs of this increasingly-large cohort. With a role to play for people in all sectors and at all levels, achieving climate resilience for an aging nation truly is a job for all of us.

On February 6, 2023, a significant earthquake with magnitudes of 7.9 and 7.6 struck 11 cities in Southeastern Turkey, leading to widespread destruction and numerous fatalities across various urban areas. Antakya experienced a loss exceeding 50% of its built environment, accompanied by a death toll surpassing 50,000. Antakya, recognized for its significant historical lineage, diverse cultural heritage, and strong ties to cultural identity, presents a critical case in the reconstruction process relevant to Turkey and the global discourse on urban resilience and post-disaster recovery strategies. This study examined the ongoing recovery process in Antakya, Turkey. The study’s objective was to identify the essential factors, constraints, opportunities, and challenges associated with reconstructing a city capable of withstanding future earthquakes. The data for this study were collected during fieldwork conducted in Antakya in June 2023. The methodology comprised 16 focus groups and in-depth interviews with stakeholders, including representatives from professional associations, local government agencies, and public institutions. The findings indicated that re-establishing educational services facilitates recovery in Antakya. In the disaster recovery framework, the study investigated the relationship between cultural connections to place and urban resilience. The findings indicated that cultural identity in Antakya may significantly impact its recovery process. The findings are relevant for policymakers, urban planners, and disaster management professionals who must address post-disaster reconstruction’s complexities while acknowledging residents’ cultural and emotional connections with their cities. This research offered significant insights into the complexities of urban recovery and reconstruction processes, enhancing the existing knowledge on urban resilience and disaster recovery. 

The rise in the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) presents a unique challenge for disaster planning. Their reliance upon the grid for fuel requires capable and resilient electricity infrastructure to withstand the surge in demand during evacuation scenarios. This grid resilience is crucial for safe and resilient evacuations by those living in areas highly vulnerable to wildfires. On the other hand, EVs present a novel opportunity to act as power sources that fulfill the electricity needs of communities that would otherwise lose power. Underpinning both challenges and opportunities is how EV drivers will behave, especially related to charging. However, research on this behavior in the context of disasters remains sparse. To address the behavioural gap, this study developed a series of discrete choice models to understand the factors that impact EV charging behaviour in a future wildfire. Through a non-probability panel from the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia of people living in high/medium fire risk, the authors distributed a survey (n=1371) to collect intended choices for a nearby wildfire, assuming a 400 kilometer range EV. Results indicate diverse EV charging patterns, both spatially and temporarily, which could limit some peaks in electricity demand and congestion. Across all models, the study found that EV ownership, a preference to reduce risk to property and family, intended evacuation choices, and past hazard experience influenced charging behaviour. Results indicated that targeted improvements in grid capacity and charging stations may be sufficient to meet future demand from EV drivers in evacuations.

Much has been made of the idea of the western United States’ surplus of “bad fire” and deficit of “good fire” in recent years but where is the line between the two? When is wildland fire an occurrence to be monitored—or even intentionally set—and when does it warrant the deployment of taxpayer-funded firefighters? The threshold at which certain natural or human-made processes, broadly speaking, are designated as concerning or problematic enough to warrant response or policymaking attention as hazards is an underexplored aspect of disaster management. Drawing these lines, a process this work refers to as “hazardification”, carries deep implications for disaster risk reduction policy making, and inherently determines whose lives, property, and interests are worth protecting. Analysis of the power dynamics in such processes are often focused on those assigned direct decision-making power by management systems, but hazardification is also influenced by those exerting what Steven Lukes‘s defines as two additional dimensions of power—agenda-setting and preference-shaping power. This research explored the history of hazardification, and modern attempts to re-hazardify, wildland fire in the American West, using Lukes’ dimensions as a lens. The study was structured as a historical case study of wildland fire hazardification in the western U.S. Findings aimed to better explain dynamics of support and resistance to ongoing attempts to modernize wildland fire management policies. 

Hazard assessments can only be effective if they can be used. Lessons learned through decades of socializing the first generation of U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) volcano hazards assessments (VHAs) reveal the importance of soliciting user feedback before producing the VHAs. For the next generation of these assessments, the USGS Volcano Science Center (VSC) is expanding the concept of a VHA from a print map with an accompanying comprehensive report to a portfolio of products directly informed by user engagement. Through this process, questions have arisen about how much to standardize products across different volcanoes and observatories versus how much to customize products for different users and volcanic contexts. VSC staff has been identified as a major user group of these hazard assessments. As such, as a first step and in collaboration with other VSC staff, the authors documented a suite of agreed-upon practices to be applied across all subsets of USGS VHAs. Study guidance was determined through content analysis of past VHAs, a literature review, over 60 semi-structured interviews with VSC staff, participant observation of staff user engagement, and a series of workshops with VSC staff and other users. This study discusses the process for advancing the Next Generation VHA effort through social science research approaches, and reports key findings on standardizing versus customizing hazard assessments for different cases. 

The West Africa Ebola response in March 2014 was an extremely challenging emergency for the humanitarian response community. Few humanitarian organizations were prepared for its complexity, but they stretched their capabilities to respond when the urgent need became clear. Through an in-depth case study of one organization's Ebola response, this research explored the limits of humanitarian operational systems and processes in novel contexts and examined how they adapted to meet operational needs. The authors found that some operational processes were not flexible enough to meet the needs of the response. The resulting operational challenges were solved at least as often by individuals stepping up to find solutions as by changing the organization’s official processes. Humanitarian organizations should recognize the importance of individual efforts by response staff in adapting processes to novel needs, and should consider developing more flexible processes. The findings demonstrated the importance of individual knowledge and initiative when organizational systems and processes are stretched to their limits.

This study examined the integration of the Department of Homeland Security‘s Infrastructure Resilience Planning Framework (IRPF) into the Master Planning Process for ProvPort (Port of Providence, Rhode Island) to enhance resilience against natural hazards, such as hurricanes and rising sea levels. The planning process involved academic researchers, municipal planners, port representatives, community groups, and the GZA consulting firm contracted to undertake the master plan itself. Key research questions included: How can the IRPF be effectively embedded into infrastructure planning processes? What framework principles support and increase infrastructure resilience? How do deterministic and probabilistic mapping tools facilitate the planning framework? A mixed-methods approach incorporated interviews, participant observation, and innovative vulnerability mapping techniques developed at the University of Rhode Island. 

Results demonstrate the successful incorporation of IRPF principles into the ProvPort Master Plan Request for Proposals (RFP) and evaluation criteria, fostering a systems-based resilience assessment and robust stakeholder engagement. Findings reveal critical infrastructure dependencies and vulnerabilities identified through comprehensive risk assessments, utilizing established tools like Rhode Island Coastal Hazard Analysis, Modeling, and Prediction (RICHAMP) and STORMTOOLS vulnerability maps. 

The practical applications of this research contribute novel vulnerability mapping tools to the IRPF collection of case studies. Additionally, the lessons learned from this case study provide valuable insights for future applications of the IRPF in planning processes, particularly those aimed at strengthening resilience for vulnerable and underserved communities facing natural hazards. Findings further underscored the importance of inclusive decision-making in infrastructure planning to address the challenges posed by climate change.

As wildfire smoke becomes an increasingly pervasive environmental hazard, understanding the cues that shape public decision-making and adaptive responses is critical. This study examines the interplay of environmental, social, and informational cues in influencing how individuals perceive and respond to wildfire smoke. In contrast to other hazards that may be more discrete, observable, and immediate, wildfire smoke can be difficult to perceive even as it is being experienced. Through qualitative interviews in rural Eastern Oregon (Baker and Harney Counties, both of which experienced heavy smoke from nearby fires in 2024), this study explores smoke experiences, decision-making processes, and behavioral responses during smoke events. In particular, this study demonstrates how direct environmental observations—such as visibility of smoke and personal health symptoms—interact with air quality data and social cues to form risk perceptions. Findings reveal that many individuals use personal observation and sensory cues rather than informational or social cues in shaping their protection strategies. Despite recognizing the health threats of smoke, interviewees noted that most protective behaviors were inaccessible due to the demands of a rural lifestyle and other sociocultural barriers. This research observes that while service providers acknowledged patterns and trends in smoke events, coordinated planning efforts remained minimal. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions and programs that address community-specific barriers and motivations to addressing environmental hazards.

Disaster preparedness has long been thought to increase self-sufficiency, and to reduce vulnerability for individuals and households, especially in the first 72 hours of a disaster. Research and practice to assess preparedness activities are lacking. For example, no standardized definition of personal emergency preparedness is used in research or practice but most studies highlight that families and households are underprepared. In 2023, a survey of over 1000 people found that not only do individuals feel they are underprepared but their preparedness-level also varied by hazard, despite having undertaken different preparedness activities. There are differences in preparedness tasks that families undertake and a gap between actual preparedness and perceived preparedness. There are indications of challenges with collecting metrics in practice, where many public information campaigns rely on how many people reached as the sole data point. Additionally, several ethical concerns have been raised regarding the collection of preparedness activities as potentially perishable data during rapid, quick response research. These concerns include overburdening recently affected survivors, and  using much-needed housing resources in the impacted area. Most disaster decision-making studies require that investigators rely on secondary data available long after a disaster, or collect perishable data from survivors in the aftermath of a disaster. Therefore, this study explored opportunities and challenges in preparedness activities, metrics, and ethical considerations in data collection. Through a systematic literature review, and interviews with experts, the findings highlight recommendations for future disaster policy, practice and research.

In July 2023, the towns of Ludlow and Cavendish in rural Vermont were hit by severe flooding. Flood risk maps are an important tool that professionals and residents use to navigate flood recovery. This research project studied challenges related to the accessibility and accuracy of flood risk maps—specifically, the Federal Emergency Management Agency‘s National Flood Hazard Layer and the State of Vermont‘s River Corridors maps—in the aftermath of the July 2023 floods. It aimed to illuminate how local and state professionals, community organizers, and impacted residents used flood risk maps and the challenges that they encountered with finding, interpreting, or implementing them. The project also studied the accuracy, and perceived accuracy, of flood risk maps of Ludlow and Cavendish. Findings are contributing to efforts to make flood risk maps of rural areas more accessible to all users.This interdisciplinary, mixed-methods research project employed three primary data collection methods: qualitative interviews, participatory community mapping, and site visits. The research team conducted interviews with professionals and community organizers as well as impacted residents. Community mapping events enabled residents to show where the floods impacted them in different ways. Finally, site visits to flooded properties with community organizers provided essential context to the data gathered elsewhere.

Composite indicators, such as a social vulnerability index, are practical tools that help policymakers in summarizing complex and interdependent phenomena that are not directly observable. The quantification of social vulnerability in the context of natural hazards and climate change adaptation has become widespread over the past two decades. Understanding the social vulnerability of places and populations is increasingly informing local to federal policy related to flood mitigation and increasing capacities to respond and recover. Increasingly, social vulnerability and related indices are utilized as a proxy for equity to inform decision-making. For example, the White House Council on Environmental Quality‘s (CEQ) Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) has been utilized in various federal agency request for proposals related to the Inflation Reduction Act and the implementation of President Biden‘s Justice40 Initiative so that Federal investments are allocated to disadvantaged and historically underserved and marginalized communities. Despite increasing policy applications of composite indicators, questions of robustness, validity, and the subjectivity of decisions taken during the index construction stage are often not transparent or discussed. This research embeds the development of a Texas flood-specific social vulnerability index into the broader context of quantitative methods in the policy cycle. We ground the results of our research, which includes a systematic literature review, expert interviews, index construction, global sensitivity analysis, index revision, and dissemination, within the broader contours of using composite indicators for policy decision-support.

Oregon coastal community members face significant threats from natural hazards like a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and tsunami, for example. Potential fatalities and harm can be addressed through preparedness actions like practicing evacuation routes and preparing an emergency go-bag. Research on hazard risk communication suggests that social and cultural factors such as empowerment, trust, and social capital should be considered in developing educational materials, particularly for marginalized communities that often possess unique social resilience. In order to address these concerns, the authors co-developed new hazard trainings specifically for Latine coastal communities in Oregon. In partnership with trusted local community-based organizations, the authors created two videos and developed a training guide focused on emergency go-bag preparedness and tsunami evacuation routes, including a specifically tailored tsunami way-finding mapping activity. Community partners identified safe, familiar locations to hold the trainings and recruit participants. The study created an accessible and inclusive atmosphere by featuring Spanish and Mam language, and offered childcare and meals. To determine the impact of these trainings, researchers conducted a retrospective evaluation with attendees. First, semi-structured interviews were conducted to develop a short survey of attendees, which included questions about motivation for attendance, material comprehension, and preparedness actions taken post-training. Framed by Community Engagement Theory, study results show how trust, empowerment, and social networks influence disaster preparedness. This project explains the development of the training, evaluation, and next steps in developing a set of recommendations for emergency planners and community-based organizations.

As disasters increase in frequency and intensity, understanding community vulnerability is crucial. Researchers and policymakers often rely on metrics and indices to assess social vulnerability, which indicates how likely places are to be affected based on social characteristics. While this is a potentially useful strategy for resource allocation, there is limited research validating these indices, raising questions about their appropriateness. These indices typically focus on demographic features but often ignore the economic structure of communities. Disasters disrupt local economies, shifting needs and demands across industries. Therefore, vulnerability metrics should consider the ability of economic actors to engage in loss-averting behaviors and account for effects of multiple, sequential events and risks. However, these are often missing from existing indices, which usually emphasize static demographic and infrastructure indicators that may be correlated with social vulnerability but do not fully account for a community‘s ability to replace income streams and capital stocks. In this presentation, we discuss the construction of models to assess how disasters impact different households based on the structure of local economies, using a major hurricane in Louisiana as a case study. Our model results are compared with existing social vulnerability indices. We conclude with recommendations for researchers and policymakers on planning for future disasters, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive and dynamic approaches to understanding and addressing community vulnerability. 

Over the last 40 years, the frequency and intensity of wildfires significantly increased, leading to a doubling of the average annual burn area. This trend was further exacerbated by rapid population growth in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), highlighting an urgent need for enhanced planning, organization, and coordination efforts. This study examined community responses to wildfires through three phases: 1) Using FlamMap wildfire simulations integrated into tabletop exercises with wildfire response authorities, aimed at gathering critical evacuation decision-making points and messaging strategies; 2) both a WUI-Wide and targeted community survey to assess some households' responses to a previous wildfire and other households' expectations of their responses to a future wildfire; and 3) an integrated engineering agent-based transportation model to assess more accurate evacuation clearance times based on survey results. Collaboration with four WUI communities across two states allowed the researchers to identify key factors influencing critical evacuation intentions and behaviors. This study compares communities with historic large-scale evacuation experience, such as the City of Ashland, Oregon, to those without recent experience, like Ada County, Idaho. The researchers assessed communities that underwent recent wildfire evacuations in Valley County, Idaho, during the summer of 2024 to gauge actual response to wildfire evacuation decisions and messaging. Results from this study highlight drivers of behavioral household response to wildfire evacuation warnings. Furthermore, the shared results facilitate the refinement of pre-event hazard strategies used to foster greater community engagement and enhance local authorities' preparedness and evacuation planning efforts. 

Hurricanes pose escalating threats to coastal communities, with climate change and sea level rise intensifying the frequency and severity of these events. Socioeconomically vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected, facing heightened risks of building damage, prolonged displacement, and disrupted access to essential utilities. This study introduced a comprehensive probabilistic framework to assess hurricane-induced losses, encompassing building damage, repair time, household dislocation, and utility disruptions. The framework integrated climate projections and sea level rise scenarios across various time horizons, providing dynamic risk assessments that evolve with changing environmental conditions. By capturing direct and indirect impacts, the model offered a holistic evaluation of community resilience and recovery trajectories. A case study focused on a rural socioeconomically vulnerable coastal community illustrated the framework’s application, highlighting disparities in recovery outcomes and the compounded effects of resource constraints. The results are compared for both driving factors—climate change and sea level rise—demonstrating the significant effects and how ignoring these factors could severely underestimate long-term risks. Ultimately, this research underscored the importance of climate adaptability and incorporating socioeconomic factors into hurricane risk assessment. It also provided a valuable tool for community leaders to estimate expected risks in both the short and long term, and to prepare through various mitigation strategies and planning efforts.

Community resilience—the ability of individuals, communities, and institutions to withstand and adapt to chronic stresses and acute shocks—is critical for long-term sustainability. However, rural communities often lack the capacity and expertise to develop collaborative resilience strategies, and existing assessment frameworks fail to fully capture their unique contexts. To address this gap, the authors developed a university-community partnership model to conduct resilience assessments tailored to rural regions. The approach adapts the City Resilience Index for rural applications. Authors piloted this approach in the West Central Mountains region of Idaho, Valley County and south Adams County. The study synthesized existing reports, conducted over 40 stakeholder interviews, and facilitated a two-hour pre-assessment workshop with 150 participants at the West Central Mountains Economic Summit. These efforts have informed Phase II of the project, which includes a deeper assessment of four key resilience areas: (1) Sustainable Economy, (2) Thriving Today and in the Future, (3) Built to Last, and (4) Effective Disaster Management. Study methods included surveys to identify consensus and divergence, focus groups to explore root challenges, and facilitated workshops to develop community-driven solutions. The process culminated in a final workshop (June 2025) with 200 attendees, where solutions were translated into an actionable resilience plan. This research presents key outcomes and lessons learned, including research insights on qualitative resilience measurement and best practices for stakeholder engagement in rural settings.

In the last five years, the United States has experienced widespread catastrophic events including wildfires, hurricanes, and the COVID-19 pandemic. These disasters disproportionately impact marginalized communities, including those with disabilities. Although individuals with disabilities are traditionally seen as vulnerable to disaster, they can also make substantial contributions–especially in post-disaster volunteer capacities. Volunteer search and rescue organizations have integrated individuals with disabilities in their volunteer force, breaking from traditional notions of able-bodiedness in search and rescue operations. However, little research has been done to understand the experiences and contributions of individuals with disabilities in disaster volunteer settings. To contribute to this important and growing area of research, this study uses data from a larger ethnographic study with eight civilian volunteer rescue organizations aimed at understanding organizational growth and operations. The study adopts a grounded theory approach using the interview data from 99 participants, social media data, and observational data from the larger study to examine how individuals with disabilities have found space to contribute to search and rescue operations in volunteer organizations. Results show the myriad actions volunteers take within search and rescue groups for individuals with disabilities. Participants also pointed to themes of purpose and pride regarding their work in contexts that are often exclusionary. Drawing on the insights of volunteers, the researchers developed recommendations for established, official emergency response and search and rescue organizations to better integrate individuals with disabilities into disaster response operations. 

This study investigated the biophysical feedbacks of agricultural practices on microclimate regulation in the in San Diego County. This research employed advanced remote sensing techniques to analyze the impact of farm structural characteristics, including tree canopy density, on local microclimates and extreme weather adaptability. By leveraging the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Ecosystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS) datasets, this project assessed key variables such as land surface temperature (LST), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and evapotranspiration (ET). It used local maxima detection algorithms to estimate tree canopy density from Canopy Height Model (CHM) data and correlates it with temperature variations observed in ECOSTRESS datasets. By aligning and resampling multiple datasets to a common spatial scale, this research ensured accurate overlays and analysis. The relationship between agricultural structures and microclimate indicators was evaluated using linear regression models, which consider temporal and spatial variability. Outcomes include developing practical guidelines for integrating remote sensing data into agricultural management, enhancing climate resilience, and contributing to climate-resilient agricultural practices.

While one-third of disaster victims are children, they are often overlooked in disaster planning and management. Children have specific needs compared to the general population. The Western Regional Alliance for Pediatric Emergency Management (WRAP-EM), a federally funded pediatric disaster center of excellence, has led efforts to improve the ability of organizations to prepare and respond to the needs of children in a disaster. During the COVID-19 pandemic, significant disparities became more apparent. Although not in the original charge, WRAP-EM established a health disparities focus group to address the needs of children that came to light during the pandemic. WRAP-EM conducted 11 focus groups during April 2021. A follow-up discussion was held in 2023, led by an experienced facilitator. The authors analyzed focus group data to determine overarching themes. Responses focused on health literacy, health disparities, resource opportunities, addressing obstacles, and resilience building. Health literacy data highlighted the need to develop preparedness plans, to engage communities in cultural and language appropriate means, and to increase diversity in training. Obstacles faced included funding, inequitable distribution of research, resources and supplies, and lack of prioritization of pediatric needs. The authors referenced multiple existing resources and programs,  highlighting the importance of best practice sharing and networking.  Recurring themes included a stronger commitment to mental health care delivery, empowerment of individuals and communities, use of telemedicine, and ongoing cultural and diverse education.  Results of the focus groups can be used to prioritize efforts to address and improve health disparities in pediatric disaster preparedness.

As communities experience more frequent and severe climate hazards, community-based organizations (CBOs) are emerging as leaders in adaptation efforts. How are CBOs engaging with their communities to understand emerging climate risks and develop local adaptation projects? This study comprised a two-part project jointly led by researchers at Rutgers University and two CBOs in the New York City metropolitan region, which served to build collective capacity to respond to climate risks in the region, in particular extreme precipitation events. Following a series of in-depth interviews with local adaptation partners, as well as two cross-community workshops, the research team developed a framework for CBO-led engagement and governance of adaptation. This framework informs a community-engaged research plan, including household surveys and targeted focus groups to understand local impacts of extreme rain events. The research project served two primary purposes: 1) to identify best practices of community engagement for adaptation planning and implementation for CBOs in the New York City metropolitan region, and 2) to build collective capacity for local governance of adaptation to climate risks, particularly extreme rainfall events. The project fostered relationships between CBOs, academic partners, and other local stakeholders to enable multidirectional knowledge transfer, build collective capacity, and shared strategies to support local adaptation practitioners. Data on community impacts of extreme rainfall in the region was used to inform ongoing and prospective flood mitigation and water quality improvement efforts, such as expanding urban tree canopy and implementing green infrastructure solutions.

Since its establishment in 1979, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has worked to professionalize emergency management (EM), a need underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explored professionals’ experiences, knowledge, and opinions to advance the field. Using surveys and focus groups, it examined key components of professionalization: specialized knowledge, education, ethical standards, and certification. Guided by a definition from the International Encyclopedia of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the research provided actionable insights and a holistic view of EM as a profession. The study employed Participatory Action Research (PAR) to integrate survey data into focus group discussions, fostering collaboration among local, national, and international professionals. Survey results informed focus group topics, enabling deeper exploration of findings and actionable recommendations. Preliminary results affirmed the need to professionalize EM through initiatives like licensure, accreditation of educational programs, scholarships, oversight organizations, leadership funding, and strategic planning. These findings validated theories from seminal EM scholars and addressed pressing challenges in the field. This research highlighted opportunities to shape EM’s future by strengthening its structure and impact. By combining survey insights with collaborative focus group discussions, the study offered a roadmap to enhance EM’s readiness and resilience on local, national, and global scales.

Understanding what influences post-disaster recovery at the community scale has consequences for how we plan for this process. Although there is a growing literature on how social, economic, and institutional capacity affect post-disaster recovery perception of households, much remains to be understood about how such factors interact with each other. Using a case study approach focused on post-hurricane recovery in Puerto Rico, the authors tested the extent to which aid from specific social networks (bonding, bridging, and linking) mediates households‘ recovery perceptions experiencing high levels of damage. Researchers collected data through a random sample household survey (n =251) in two Puerto Rican communities (Loíza and Comerío) affected by the 2017 Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The authors analyzed the data  using ordinal logistic regression methods with interaction terms to test whether households with high or low disaster damage and that accessed aid through bonding, bridging and linking social networks had more positive or negative recovery perception. The study findings indicated that aid acquired from bonding, bridging or linking social networks have varying (positive and negative) effects on the recovery perception of high damage-experiencing households. Such findings pointed to the need for a nuanced approach to disaster aid that balances diversity of aid opportunities with adequacy of that funding to achieve recovery. The study also provided insights into the pathways through which social networks influence disaster recovery at the household level, specifically, the roles of different types of networks and their specific limitations.

Wildfire insurance in California has evolved significantly over the years, shaped by the state‘s changing landscape of wildfire events, insurance practices, and regulatory responses. The convergence of climate change, economic pressures, and changing insurance markets has made it harder for homeowners to protect themselves and their properties. Key challenges have been related to rising premiums, nonrenewal of policies, underinsurance of properties with limited coverages, and changes in risk assessments based on climate projections, leading to the unavailability of insurance coverage in many high-risk zones. There is a clear need to restructure the risk redistribution approach and its role in catastrophic risk mitigation in California. Part of this reassessment requires insurers to incorporate new risk models that use data on factors like proximity to forests, vegetation, and past fire history to assess the changing risk of wildfires. These updates help insurers better understand the risks but also make it harder for homeowners in high-risk areas to get affordable coverage. In its conventional sense, insurance cannot function for wildfire risks. There is a need to consider a range of risk-pooling mechanisms to design wildfire risk coverage that works with residents and communities by prioritizing overall risk and loss reduction instead of coverage. The paper provides an overview of California‘s challenges in covering and redistributing wildfire losses using traditional insurance mechanisms. The author explores alternative risk distribution systems to help start the conversation on the transformation required in economic solutions like risk insurance to manage the risk of extreme events.

Vulnerability, resilience, and adaptive capacity are key concepts for understanding the societal preparedness for, and impact of, natural hazards and environmental change. These metrics are often assessed through composite indicators, which are valued for the simplicity of their interpretation and use, but are also subject to significant uncertainties associated with the construction process and input-data choices. While adaptive capacity is frequently treated as a sub-component in broader vulnerability or resilience assessments, fewer studies focus specifically on adaptive capacity itself or aim to refine its assessment methods. This study addressed these gaps by (1) evaluating how an adaptive capacity composite index is shaped by the index construction process and the context of the sample; and (2) developing a methodology to create an index that synthesizes information from multiple index variants. Using the same methods and spatial scales (U.S. census tracts in the State of Kansas), this research compared the determinants of adaptive capacity across distinct socio-economic contexts—metro, non-metro, and farming counties. Findings confirmed that adaptive capacity determinants and index scores varied based on context, challenging the “one-size-fits-all" approach, even within a single state. The authors proposed context-dependent composite indices that can be assembled, offering a more tailored measure of adaptive capacity for different places that remains relevant to decision makers operating at high administrative levels.

As the climate changes, extreme heat events are anticipated to occur more frequently, be more severe, and last longer, which can significantly influence individuals‘ health outcomes. People adopt various strategies to avoid exposure to high temperatures, for instance, reducing outdoor activities, avoiding active transportation modes, or even relocating. Therefore, understanding how travel behavior changes in response to heat risk is a key policy priority in preparing for intensifying heat. Communication and education are alternative ways compared to traditional engineering solutions, such as infrastructure innovation, to address extreme heat. These measures are the key to increasing public awareness of extreme heat risks, which can thereby prevent negative outcomes and promote more resilient behavior. Moreover, seemingly subtle linguistic choices can affect how people react to the same message. This study builds on a collaboration between linguistics and travel behavior and aims to devise the most impactful linguistic interventions by designing and experimentally testing different messages about heat and examining their impacts on adaptive heat risk behaviors and perceptions. Specifically, the study implemented a web-based choice experiment that experimentally varies the linguistic devices and messenger. The survey was administered to 2000 online US respondents, and difference-in-differences methods used to estimate the causal effects. The results of this research provide new insight into how information framing and messenger effects shape individuals‘ adaptation behavior, which can help government and city officials develop better communication strategies and targeted interventions, and guide citizens to more resilient behavior.

The increasing frequency and severity of wildfires due to climate change pose health risks to migrant farm workers laboring in wildfire-prone regions. This study focused on Sonoma County, California to investigate the effectiveness of air monitoring and safety protections for farmworkers. The analysis employed AirNow and PurpleAir PM2.5 data acquired during the 2020 wildfire season, to compare spatial variability in air pollution. Results show significant differences between the single Sonoma County AirNow station data and the PurpleAir data in the regions directly impacted by wildfire smoke. Three distinct wildfire pollution episodes with elevated PM2.5 levels were identified to examine the regional variations. This study also examined the system used to exempt farmworkers from wildfire mandatory evacuation orders, finding incomplete information, ad hoc decision-making, and scant enforcement. In response, the study makes policy recommendations that include stricter requirements for employers, real-time air quality monitoring, post-exposure health screenings, and hazard pay. Findings underscore the need for significant consideration of localized air quality readings, and the importance of equitable disaster policies in protecting the health of farmworkers in the face of escalating wildfire risks.

Communities continue to experience significant and damaging disasters, which has prompted governments to devise solutions to protect lives and reduce overall impacts. One emerging strategy is the development of resilience hubs, which can serve the community during disasters and everyday conditions. However, most research and guidance for resilience hubs remains theoretical. Moreover, research and practice have not fully integrated transportation into resilience hub design, such as how travel to and from resilience hubs is facilitated. In response, tthis empirical study analyzesdata from a survey of Edmonton, Canada, residents (n = 950) conducted between November 2022 and February 2023. Through descriptive statistics and discrete choice models, the study examined resilience hub usage, transportation design, and mode choice in both normal and disaster conditions. Results show a strong influence of household characteristics on the normal usage of resilience hubs, while individual characteristics were more influential on hub usage as a temporary shelter. No clear patterns of variables influenced mode choice (travel to/from hubs) except the insignificance of resilience hub usage (i.e., trip purpose) for normal conditions. Regarding mode of travel, results show a strong preference for private vehicles, yet a relatively high multi-modal split (e.g., walking, transit, shared mobility). Residents also preferred highly localized resilience hubs with a variety of transportation options, services, and amenities. Using these results, the study provides a series of practice-oriented recommendations for communities in the design and operations of resilience hubs. 

Natural hazards have historically led to significant human and economic losses. This concern is particularly relevant for coastal cities along the Pacific Ring of Fire (PRF).  Situated on this ring, Chile is among the countries with the highest levels of seismic activity in the world. Consequently, its population has developed a robust seismic culture, but there remains a notable lack of knowledge and awareness regarding other hazards, such as hydrometeorological events. This study aimed to evaluate household preparedness for various natural hazards in two coastal cities in Chile. To achieve this, the authors analyzed data from a survey conducted with a statistically representative sample from Valparaíso (n = 548) and Concepción (n = 585). The survey assessed household preparedness, participation in preparedness activities, and sociodemographic variables. The findings revealed that, regardless of geographic location, residents perceive themselves as more prepared for earthquakes and tsunamis than for fires and floods. This perception indicates that preparedness strategies must consider this multi-hazard scenario. Furthermore, it was noted that residents of both cities rarely engage in preparedness activities, underscoring the need to encourage community involvement in initiatives that teach skills and strategies for managing multiple hazards. Additionally, the results highlight significant disparities in preparedness linked to sociodemographic factors, with middle-aged adults demonstrating greater participation in disaster-related activities and higher levels of preparedness for earthquakes, tsunamis, and fires at home. This suggests that preparedness strategies should be specifically targeted at groups with lower levels of preparedness, particularly older adults.

The Planning for Solar at the Convergence of Resilience and Equity (SCORE) project has developed a novel approach to electric utility resilience planning that considers social benefits to communities. This study, conducted in Seattle, Washington, partnered with Seattle City Light (SCL), to integrate an analytic approach from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and community-driven resilience expertise from the University of Washington and the University at Buffalo. The objective was to integrate the critical needs and preferences of community members into resilience investment decision-making, specifically for prioritizing places of interest for solar and storage investments that would maintain services to the community during power outages. Although the analytic approach can be used to site resilience improvements based upon publicly available data, the authors argue that community input is necessary to gauge the social benefit of locations that otherwise may not be taken into consideration. This study evaluated how community engagement influences and improves the outcomes of the analytic approach to evaluate priorities for community resilience investments. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis from a community survey and focus groups revealed a distinct set of locations to be considered for siting resilience improvements and showed a preference towards certain locations over others based on a variety of factors, including household needs, proximity, quality of services, accessibility via public transport, affordability etc., which the analytical approach ignores. Ultimately, the process of community-engaged electric utility planning can be leveraged to help address inequities and reduce the social impacts of future power outages.

Renters, particularly low-income, are at heightened risk of housing instability after disasters as a result of limited resources and power over recovery decisions. Yet, empirical research on their experiences post-disaster is limited. This study presents the findings of a series of focus groups and interviews with renters across the state of Florida, to uncover gaps in renter-focused disaster response and recovery efforts, and to better understand renter needs. Four in-person focus groups were conducted in Spanish with 37 farmworkers in Apopka, Immokalee, and Myakka. Twenty-nine virtual interviews were also conducted in English with low- and moderate-income renters state-wide, as well as those displaced outside of Florida. Renters were recruited with the help of local organizations, and were provided gift cards for their participation. Transcripts were coded and analyzed in Nvivo to identify common themes. Findings from the analysis reiterated the unique challenges faced by renters, including housing insecurity, compounding financial instability, and displacement. Results also highlight differences in recovery experiences within renter populations due to language barriers, legal status, the presence of children and pets, and mental and physical health challenges. Renters often relied on informal support networks and local organizations due to gaps in formal assistance programs and challenges with landlords. As a result, this study suggests a need for greater discussion of renter-oriented disaster policies, such as renter preparedness programs, clearer communication of assistance programs, stronger legal protections, wage protection, rental assistance expansions, and the continued promotion of affordable housing reconstruction.

Disaster debris consists of the remnants generated from disaster events and can take on multiple forms. Past disaster events highlight the challenges disaster debris poses during response and recovery phases. Robust planning in the preparedness phase has proven effective in minimizing post-disaster obstacles. This research focused on debris management preparedness, response, and recovery for the Maine floods of December 2023. Two research questions were addressed: (1) How did pre-disaster debris management planning impact the response and recovery phases of the Maine floods? (2) What were the most significant debris management challenges in the Maine floods? Qualitative purposive sample of emergency management personnel who were involved in the debris management was applied. Structured interviews were subsequently conducted, transcribed, and coded for the purposive sample. Interview protocol included questions pertaining to the debris management in preparedness, response, and recovery phases. Results suggest that more debris management preparedness is necessary in impacted areas. Furthermore, the debris management training model  provided  by Federal Emergency Management Agency to local governments is insufficient for many of the impacted counties in rural Maine, as it is primarily designed for urban and suburban areas. These findings highlight the need for debris management training tailored specifically for rural communities. 

Increasingly common and severe wildfires produce heavy smoke. Even at moderate levels, the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) this smoke contains can cause acute exacerbation of respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Nationally, over one million older adults residing in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are particularly vulnerable to the effects of wildfire smoke exposure. A recent study found that LTCFs  experienced sustained periods of poor indoor air quality during wildfire season, with PM2.5 levels exceeding the national air quality threshold. This study asked: how do LTCF administrators perceive wildfire smoke risk? What wildfire smoke preparedness actions do LTCFs employ? Beginning in February 2025, brief telephone surveys of LTCF administrators were conducted. All 322 LTCFs registered as Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services nursing home providers in the Northwestern Geographic Area Coordination Center, which has experienced increasing wildfire and smoke vulnerability, were included. Previous studies inform a target of 150 LTCFs. Preliminary findings suggest roughly half of responding LTCFs report wildfire smoke experience despite demonstrated risk. Nearly all respondents consider smoke in their emergency preparedness plans. Protective actions focused on air filtration and building envelope maintenance during extreme acute events, while routine and indoor air quality monitoring was rare. Final results demonstrate differences across facility characteristics and inform ongoing, iterative smoke preparedness efforts. While LTCFs in wildfire-prone areas recognize smoke as a health hazard, more robust monitoring can quantify exposure and improvement. High staff turnover in LTCFs may interfere with proactive, patient-engaged smoke preparedness.

Can education play a transformative role in increasing disaster resilience? This study addressed this ambitious, and somewhat paradoxical question, given current social, political, and environmental tensions and uncertainties. Of the limited peer-reviewed scholarship on natural hazards education, the majority of cases are premised on overly simplistic education models of knowledge, attitude, behaviour that falsely assume that education‘s primary purpose is to instill correct knowledge that will translate into appropriate action. Whilst such instrumentally driven cases can be useful for safety instruction purposes, they leave a void for what could be a more transformative educational approach that factors in wider social aspects. If education programs for disaster resilience and natural hazard contexts continue to predominantly focus on safety preparedness and response, they ignore the call in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction for education to move beyond basic preparedness and response to recovery and rehabilitation, and recognizing that the school is a central feature to societal resilience building. This study revealed key findings from a critical review of 45 international school-based education cases centred on the topic of natural hazard and disaster that resulted in a reinterpretation of what constitutes a transformative educational praxis. New concepts were proposed that can enhance resilience through relational levels of motivation, critical reflection, and reflexive practices that are predicated within an ethical framework of competence. A conceptual toolkit for establishing a socialised predicate for transformative approaches to resilience education will be presented.

This paper presents a historian‘s approach to the qualitative impacts of two hurricanes owned by Texas and Mexico. The archival records of Hurricane Alice (1954) and Hurricane Beulah (1967) begin to address the question: what do we make of disasters on a riverine international boundary? The US/Mexico border has remained a contested site for politics, labor, commerce, and cultures since its establishment in 1848. However, the riverine boundary of the Rio Grande is not often the topic for disaster study. Historiographic methods and alternative archives offer an entry into the study of transnational disasters by unearthing overlapping cultural perspectives not immediately visible to the social and natural sciences. This project surveyed cultural artifacts and media reports of the Rio Grande floods in the aftermath of Alice and Beulah in order to establish a qualitative historical precedent for local resources and resiliencies, which in turn may inform recovery and response efforts for future disasters in the region. Given the binational and bicultural characteristics of any weather event that impacts the borderlands, a comprehensive research project would necessarily require a double effort – a survey of US data and a survey of Mexican data. Thus lies the benefit in surveying cultural and media artifacts; they resonate with both sides of the Rio Grande. While the scope of this project sought to begin an earnest and comprehensive analysis of disaster culture in both the US and Mexico, the Rio Grande offers a geographic site for these two case studies that transcend political nationality. 

Atlantic Canada has experienced numerous natural hazards over the last several years including hurricanes, inland flooding, and the largest wildfires on record in the region. Alongside these growing threats, the Atlantic provinces have also experienced human and, subsequent companion-animal population increases. As residential areas expand in a region impacted by an increasing frequency of disasters, there is an urgent need for comprehensive emergency preparedness knowledge and awareness of resources available to residents—and their animals—in the event of a disaster. This study stems from a larger, mixed-methods project that broadly focused on preparedness knowledge and actions taken by companion-animal guardians in Atlantic Canada. The present qualitative study aimed to gather first-person accounts from companion-animal guardians regarding their roles and responsibilities towards their pets within disaster contexts, and how those views have been influenced by past experiences. To do this, the researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 companion-animal guardians across the Atlantic Canadian provinces. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded in NVIVO, and analyzed using a grounded theory approach. The findings from this study indicate that companion-animal guardians experience uncertainty in disasters because of inaccessible services from governmental or other support services. Furthermore, participants exhibited what the authors deem “planning avoidance,” derived from those uncertainties and reaching a planning plateau, where they feel nothing further can be done in terms of preparedness. These findings can assist government agencies and non-profit organizations with creating more accessible information, resources, and services for companion animal guardians and their animal counterparts. 

Community resilience is the concept of a community being able to prepare, respond, recover, and adapt to disruptions in a way that does not compromise long-term community functionality and well-being. As communities are encouraged to consider and plan for resilience, the need to measure resilience is imperative. Indicator and index development are common methodologies for quantifying resilience. Many community resilience measurement methodologies exist, but few have well established and validated quantitative methodologies. This research offers a validation method through the development of a benchmark for community resilience. This study comprised an overview of the NIST‘s inventory of frameworks and indicators, providing a comprehensive review of existing community resilience assessments and identified the most commonly used set of measurements. A summary of the research outcomes highlighted the gaps in current practices, particularly in the space of indicator validation. Ultimately, by providing science based guidance on the measurement of baseline resilience and changes over time, along with a toolbox for community resilience indicator development, this work supported a number of applications such as the prioritization of funding, evaluation of grant programs and investments, and disaster recovery planning. Community resilience was advanced by establishing a more comprehensive, integrated suite of metrics across the subsystems that remain meaningful in the absence of a disaster.

Effective flood risk communication is crucial in shaping public perception and influencing decision-making behaviors related to flood preparedness (e.g., taking preventive measures, purchasing flood insurance, and making informed property decisions). Prior work suggests that the effectiveness of persuasive communication is influenced by both the way information is presented, and the source from which it originates. This study tests this theory by measuring the extent to which the type and source of flood hazard information predict individuals’ risk perception, subsequent decision-making (e.g., property investment), and the likelihood of taking preparedness actions (e.g., purchasing flood insurance). Flood maps from two government agencies and one nonprofit scientific entity were used. The authors also utilized crowdsourced images of past floods and plain geographical maps. In a randomized controlled trial (N = 929), participants were randomly assigned to view flood risk representations and self-report their perceptions and intended behaviors. The analysis revealed that Federal Emergency Management Agency maps lead to the highest perception of flood severity, while National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration maps resulted in the lowest perceived severity. In addition, real-world imagery significantly increased perceived risk and willingness to take preventive actions compared to abstract map representations. Gender differences also emerged where women perceived flood risk as significantly higher than men and were more unlikely to buy or rent property. These findings provide actionable insights to improve flood risk communication and policy directions to enhance public understanding, to tailor messaging strategies, and to encourage proactive risk mitigation across various populations. 

This research focused on understanding how Oregon communities prepare for and respond to wildfire smoke, including identifying strategies to reduce smoke exposure, and related barriers. The researchers conducted a content analysis of community wildfire smoke response plans (SRPs) in all Smoke Sensitive Receptor Areas designated by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, outside the Portland Metro area (n = 9). The authors conducted interviews with the primary author(s) of each community wildfire smoke response plan (n = 10) to understand how they were being used, and specific challenges and opportunities communities have faced in implementation. Results show that SRPs can contribute to community preparedness and communication by being locally branded and trusted online resource hubs for a range of wildfire, air quality, and public health preparedness. Communities used different definitions and data sources for identifying vulnerable or sensitive groups based on local conditions. SRP processes also considered translation needs and interconnected health effects of smoke and other extreme events.  Community outreach surveys also informed the study onpublic behavior and communication andresource needs around fire and smoke. Implications include the need for ongoing involvement from public health practitioners and researchers in this developing area of public health research, and the opportunity to establish plans that also address other poor air quality events, extreme heat, and public safety power shut-offs.

Municipalities often lack administrative capacity to address complex challenges related to climate hazards, particularly in smaller cities. This study provides evidence that climate services delivered through interactive workshops can enhance engagement with stormwater adaptation planning and offset requirements for specialized personnel. The authors conducted a secondary analysis of FloodWise Communities, a field experiment testing approaches to supporting local officials‘ use of a web-based decision support tool. Officials (n = 219) from 46 small-to-mid-sized Gulf Coast municipalities formed “city teams“ (e.g., planners, engineers, mayors). They were randomized into three conditions: (1) self-guided tool use (control), (2) webinar-assisted, or (3) in-person workshops with adaptation professionals. All teams accessed the FloodWise tool, which provided tailored climate profiles, local social vulnerability data, and structured guidance for assessing stormwater system vulnerabilities. Engagement with FloodWise was measured using web analytics and content analysis of completed vulnerability assessments. In-person ([Equation] = 1.437, p = 0.002) and webinar-assisted ([Equation] = 1.389, p = 0.023) support significantly increased engagement overall. This effect diminished significantly for city teams with more adaptation-relevant personnel (ARP). This suggests that interactive climate services are most valuable for municipalities with limited in-house expertise. The number of ARP on city teams was not linked to hurricane exposure or social vulnerability, suggesting a potential misalignment between ARP distribution and areas with the greatest need. Insights inform approaches for scalable, tailored delivery of decision support that accounts for personnel constraints, a critical need as governments navigate increasingly frequent and intense climate hazards amidst growing challenges in administrative capacity. 

On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene struck the Big Bend region of Florida‘s Gulf Coast as a Category 4 hurricane, resulting in over 230 fatalities. Flooding events like Hurricane Helene present a multi-faceted threat to human health. However very little is known about the unequal distribution of adverse health outcomes of flooding, particularly those in rural and mountain communities in Appalachia, which are increasingly impacted by hurricane-related flooding. The current study collected critical insights into the spatial, temporal, and contextual factors of flooding and health disparities affecting low-income Appalachian communities impacted by Hurricane Helene-induced flooding. The authors surveyed households from areas with the highest density of damage impacted by Hurricane Helene and examined flooding exposure and post-flood stressors (e.g., injuries, loss of loved one, property damage, displacement, loss of resources); physical health impacts (e.g., respiratory, chronic diseases); mental health impacts (e.g., acute stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD); prior flooding experiences; physical, social, and psychological resources; sociodemographic and household characteristics (e.g., income, primary language, age, education, housing type, rural/urban, and transportation). Results identify key physical and mental health impacts of Hurricane Helene‘s flooding and associated risk, and protective factors associated with health disparities. These results provide better understanding of specific risk and protective factors for health-related impacts of floods in the region and support the development of flooding policy and practice solutions to address health and flood disparities. 

Climate models predict an increase in the frequency, magnitude, and duration of natural hazard events, including heat waves, droughts, and wildfires. People may be aware of these natural hazards but unfamiliar with the extremes expected under climate change, particularly in the locations where they live. Ideally, people would take action to protect themselves from natural hazard events—even those with which they have limited prior experience. While a large body of research literature explains how people perceive and protect themselves from the risks of natural hazards, fewer studies focus on extreme, or novel, events. Focusing on the western Pacific Northwest, known for its wet climate more conducive to temperate rainforests than wildfires, this study used structural equation modeling of social survey data from family forest owners to test the efficacy of traditional psychosocial frameworks. This modeling is based on Protection Motivation Theory to explain wildfire risk perceptions and risk mitigation intentions in the aftermath of the historic 2020 wildfire season. Despite the novelty of large wildfires in the western Pacific Northwest over the past century, the study found that forest owners‘ wildfire experiences and climate beliefs explained their risk perceptions and their risk and response appraisals explained their behavioral intentions. These findings support the utility of behavioral frameworks based on  Protection Motivation Theory. Even in the context of climate change, people must adapt to natural hazards with which they have limited prior experience. 

Culture‘s role in peacebuilding and post-disaster recovery processes is paramount, and increasingly recognised by international bodies. Yet, without an acute understanding of the role played by women and gender minorities as well as the threats they face, the cultural sector runs the risk of replicating these inequalities and adding to their vulnerability. Nordicity is assisting UNESCO in conducting a Global Analysis of Gender Dynamics in the Culture sector, looking specifically at contexts of crises and emergencies, and using an intersectional lens. The objective of this research is to raise awareness of imbalances and offer a rigorous basis for policymakers, cultural organizations, emergency responders, civil society organizations, and communities to design more gender-responsive initiatives. 

The research approach was composed of three key activities: a literature review covering existing policies, challenges and best practices at the intersection of gender, culture, conflict and Disaster Risk Reduction; a global survey of stakeholders; and qualitative deep dives showcasing best practices, challenges and opportunities in fiveregions of the world affected by crises or disasters. Nordicity‘s proposition builds on four decades of research expertise in the Cultural and Creative Industries sector on a global scale, associated with the expertise of gender specialists working in crisis sectors, culture and global development. 

This project mobilized our global network of colleagues working on culture to provide five in-depth case studies from a diverse set of lived and professional experiences in – the field and voices, ensuring crucial input from across UNESCO‘s five regions.

As hurricanes, atmospheric rivers, nor’easters, and more strike across the country, the Northeast and Gulf Coast have experienced large losses from extreme precipitation, wind, and storm surges in recent years. Insurance institutions have begun to buckle amid repeated disasters. Making decisions as to how to use insurance in times of recovery and growing risk, people grapple with questions of risk and vulnerability, finance and family, community and care. Current research poorly explains how homeowners address complicated uncertainties in purchasing and using insurance. We ask how homeowners with different socioeconomic situations and histories of previous disaster exposure obtain and use insurance. Through abductive analysis of about 40 in-depth interviews with residents across two small metro areas, each in New York and Louisiana, we examine how homeowners in varied situations work through decisions about purchasing insurance and filing claims. Initial findings suggest that the obligation to purchase insurance, whether through a mortgage or disaster loan requirement, is linked to homeowner decisions to make claims in times of loss and the quality of claims handling. Homeowners shared that previous claims experiences influence the tradeoffs they weigh in making claims, whereby people of limited means feel disincentivized to make a claim over concerns of increased premium burden. This suggests homeowners‘ current and forward-looking relationship to insurance is mediated through other financial obligations and past experiences with insurance and claims. This work qualifies recent work on cognition and trust in insurance decisions by showing how socioeconomic status and past experiences condition insurance decisions. 

This study investigates the role of loneliness in shaping disaster risk perception and preparedness behaviors among older adults, focusing on earthquake hazards in Japan. In the context of an aging population and increasing natural disasters, loneliness is a critical factor that may undermine individuals‘ capacity to prepare for emergencies. We created an extension of the theoretical framework of the Protective Action Decision Model (PADM), the Japanese Older Adult Preparedness Model (JOAPM), adjusted for the cultural context of the study. We examined whether loneliness influences risk perception of earthquakes and, in turn, protective actions. A survey was administered online in April 2024 to a sample of Japanese adults aged 55 and older across four prefectures with high seismic risk. Participants provided data on demographic characteristics, disaster experience, levels of loneliness measured by the UCLA Loneliness Scale, risk perception, and a range of preparedness behaviors, including household adjustments and insurance enrollment. Regression and mediation models assessed loneliness‘s direct and indirect effects on preparedness measures.Results indicate that loneliness has a significant negative direct effect on disaster preparedness; higher levels correlating with less preparedness. However, loneliness also indirectly increases preparedness through higher risk perception. Indicating loneliness can make people more aware of potential risks, leading them to take additional protective measures, but its direct negative impact on preparedness remains stronger overall. These findings illuminate the complexity of psychosocial factors in disaster response and the need for targeted interventions that address vulnerable older adults‘ emotional and informational needs in disaster-prone regions. 

Despite an ever-growing literature on emergency management and public policy, studies that utilize disaster scenarios to understand community needs for disaster preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation are limited. There is also a need for studies that are conducted in the United States (U.S.) territories such as Puerto Rico. Focusing on these gaps in the literature, this study asked the following questions: how do at-risk households prepare for emergencies, what do they do during an emergency, and what factors affect their decisions to stay and rebuild versus relocate after disasters. The study was based on case study research conducted in the Puerto Rican communities of Comerio and Loiza. Both communities were affected by the 2017 hurricanes (e.g., Hurricanes Maria, Irma) and subsequent disasters. The data are from small-and large-group based disaster-based scenario exercises with residents of these communities (n=60) that were developed with extensive input from policy makers and community leaders. The scenarios related to such disasters as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and coastal erosion. The outcomes of the scenario exercises revealed the interdependencies between households‘ decisions and what other households, businesses and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) do prior to, during and after disasters. They also offered several avenues for policy action on how these communities can better prepare for and build more resilient communities. These exercises were conducted as part of a research project on post-disaster relocation funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). 

This study examined Houston‘s Homeowner Assistance Program, managed by the City of Houston and later the Texas General Land Office (GLO), to support homeowners affected by Hurricane Harvey and other floods. It focused on the social vulnerability of eligible neighborhoods and the link between prior flooding experiences and home elevation decisions. Data were gathered through surveys and interviews with 50 households. Two elevation experts also provided insights in a recorded lecture. Public records show lower project completion rates in socially vulnerable areas. Frequent flood zones saw a higher rate of home elevations, with 70.27% of residents aged 60-79 choosing to elevate. Interviews highlighted government aid’s role in facilitating elevation, with mixed opinions on its necessity. Key considerations included preserving community aesthetics, accessibility, and mobility needs. Fieldwork identified various elevation methods: slab, dirt, and pier.

Nonprofit social, human, and health service organizations are key actors in community disaster resiliency. This three-year study  examined disaster planning in Indiana, specifically centered on  whether those community-based social safety-net organizations that are most likely to assist communities in disaster response and recovery are themselves taking risk mitigation and self-protection measures to assure business continuity. The authors collected data from 467 surveys and 32 interviews. The authors conducted analysis using regression and path analysis. Key findings of this research included (1) descriptive data about the range of service and community philanthropic organizations with a past history and future intention of disaster experience, most of whom are not linked to the formal Community Organizations Active in Disasters (COAD) infrastructure, (2) predictive data about organizational characteristics that support risk mitigation behaviors, and (3) lessons learned from high performers about working with and through boards of directors to make climate change adaptation a strategic priority. Conceptually, this study combined key explanatory theories of nonprofit behavior such as resource dependency theory with risk management theories such as protection motivation theory, offering a stronger and more predictive framework for disaster resiliency that can be tested in other parts of the United States under other risk scenarios.

Home fires are a major cause of unintentional injury and death in the United States. In 2023, home fires caused nearly 3,000 deaths. Smoke alarms and home fire escape plans are recommended to help prevent home fires and prepare households to evacuate in the event of a fire. In 2014, the Red Cross launched the Home Fire Campaign (HFC) to reduce fire-related injuries and deaths by installing smoke alarms and providing fire safety education to households. In 2023, National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago surveyed households that received an HFC visit the year prior, as well as a comparison group of adults living in low-income areas, to understand if they were better prepared for a home fire after the visit. The study assessed two main outcomes: the number of smoke alarms in homes, and whether households have a home fire escape plan.  Among the intervention group, respondents reported having 3.7 smoke alarms on average, compared to 3.0 among the comparison group. The difference was most significant for older adults who on average in the intervention group had 3.7 alarms while older adults in the comparison group had only 2.5.  Additionally, the intervention group was associated with a 36% greater prevalence of having a home fire escape plan than the comparison group. The difference was most significant for adults under 45 years old, where 86% of the intervention group had a plan, versus only 50% of the comparison group.

How do local political economic factors such as intra-party conflicts, religious or ethnic community norms and social capital held by different marginalized groups impact multidimensional decision-making in the context of enrolling in State-funded adaptation schemes? How do street-level bureaucrats influence policy uptake? This study addressed these overarching questions by focusing on the following research question: between policy features and trust in Street Level Bureaucrats, what drives policy uptake and through which specific local-level political-economic mechanisms? The study combined a conjoint survey experiment (n=409) with prior ethnographic observations to examine the extent to which local-level political economic factors drive the uptake of a small irrigation augmentation policy in West Bengal state in India that mandates the formation of Water User Associations (WUA) to plan for groundwater management in communities of small-holder farmers. Fielded among WUA members across two districts in West Bengal, the survey captured the drivers of uptake in a multidimensional choice environment. The experimental design was theoretically grounded in the concepts of (a) street-level bureaucracy, (b) trust and social capital, (c) administrative burden of policy enrollment, (d) policy communication, and (e) collaborative governance. Initial findings based on respondents’ choice modeling suggested that local politics determines trustworthiness of policy informants. Trustworthiness varied across religion with religious minorities showing, at least outwardly, deeper trust in the state. The religious majority exhibited explicit lack of trust in local government. The study contributed to emerging literature on the socially embedded nature of the response to and outcomes of climate adaptation planning.

Little is known about the mental health impacts of disaster displacement on the LGBTQ+ population in the United States (US), despite known social disparities before, during, and after disasters. The US Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey (HPS) is the first survey to collect national-level data at multiple scales (e.g. region, state, metropolitan statistical area) on disaster experiences and sexual orientation and gender identity demographic data. Using the HPS from January-July 2024, this study assesseds disparities regarding LGBTQ+ status compared to non-LGBTQ+ status in higher mental health burden outcomes among displaced populations up to one month after a disaster . The LGBTQ+ population had 3.08 times higher odds of high mental health burden compared to the non-LGBTQ+ population. These results are driven by the significantly worse mental health outcomes of the transgender population who had 22.49 times higher odds of high mental health burden. In addition, LGBTQ+ people with intersecting marginalized identities along axes of race/ethnicity, age, income, and disability had higher odds of high mental health burden after disaster displacement. This study is significant because it is one of the first studies on mental health disparities among the displaced LGBTQ+ population, and it demonstrated significant health disparities in the US. This research indicates a need for policy change and increased resources for LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender people, and those with intersecting marginalized identities.

Wildfires are increasing in frequency and severity across the United States in large part due to climate change. Despite efforts by emergency managers and other government officials to educate the public, residents remain dangerously unprepared. This research addressed the urgent need for effective wildfire communications, which could enhance the public's preparedness and response. This project investigated the public's understanding of National Weather Service (NWS) messaging on social media and then designed and tested more effective messages that could help save lives and protect livelihoods. Content and design analysis found that NWS fire weather messaging lacked consistency in form and substance within and between offices. Survey and focus group data determined that the public preferred the use of maps and icons in social media messaging. Additionally, the public preferred the inclusion of specific details such as humidity and wind speeds; however, a significant number of respondents preferred plain language. There was widespread confusion over the meaning of Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches, and this confusion was reduced after exposure to the newly created messages. The effectiveness of the new designs was evident from the public's improved understanding of how to respond to the message and ease of understanding the message. The newly created messages were also taken more seriously and considered trustworthy.

When communities make decisions surrounding mitigation of natural hazard impacts, they often use benefit-cost analysis tools that calculate the risk-neutral expected value of a decision. Natural hazard events are often low-probability and high-cost events for communities, so not accounting for risk preferences of communities could lead to suboptimal decisions if the community is risk averse. This study examined how community-level risk preferences are different from individual-level risk preferences for researchers and practitioners in Community Resilience Planning. This study used survey data collected in 2024 and included different methods for eliciting risk preferences and perception including lottery-style questions and Likert-style questions. Additionally, the study used selected questions from the domain-specific risk-taking scale preference measurement items. The survey also included questions about the types of roles that individuals play in community resilience planning and their disciplinary background in addition to other control variables. Preliminary results indicated that the risk preferences of an individual are highly sensitive to the type of question used to elicit the preference. Additionally, the study found that on average community resilience planning experts are more risk averse when advising a community than when the decision is an individual level decision. Understanding the differences of community-level and individual-level risk preferences is important, since there is a lack of community-level measurement of risk preferences. Since individual-level risk preferences are different than community-level preferences, more research should be done to determine the parameters used in benefit-cost analysis at the community scale.

Past literature suggests that recovery plans can be developed independently or integrated into general plans, with the latter being more effective. However, how these plans interact at the level of specific measures, particularly in large-scale disasters, remains unclear. This study examines the role of recovery plans in shaping post-disaster general plans by analyzing the inclusion of specific measures in municipalities affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and identifies the role recovery plans should play. Using data from 79 municipalities, we compiled a comprehensive list of measures documented in recovery and general plans, categorized municipalities by the severity of human casualties - severe, moderate, or minor - and systematically identified and analyzed measures carried over from recovery plans to post-disaster general plans. Results indicate that municipalities with minor damage incorporated not only disaster prevention infrastructure, such as seawalls and seismic retrofitting, but also urban development measures, including medical facility improvements and business attraction. These municipalities actively revised their post-disaster general plans by leveraging lessons from neighboring areas. Conversely, severely affected municipalities primarily inherited non-structural measures from recovery plans, such as disaster education, the transmission of disaster experiences, and community center development. This difference suggests that municipalities with minor damage positioned recovery plans as extensions of general plans for urban re-development, whereas severely affected municipalities used them as guiding frameworks for recovery. These findings indicate that the role of recovery plans varies depending on the impacts of the disaster.

Tornadoes disproportionately impact residents of manufactured homes. Notably, many manufactured housing communities are required to have on-site shelters available to residents in the event of extreme weather. This study addressed a significant public health concern and threat to natural hazard preparedness—a diagnosis of the perceived and practical barriers that meaningfully influence community shelter use by residents of manufactured housing communities. A crowdsourced sample of residents of manufactured housing communities completed up to three surveys for a rapid and comprehensive community barriers diagnosis. The first was an open-ended survey that aggregated a broad list of perceived barriers to community sheltering. The second and third used simulated behavioral economic tasks that manipulated the magnitude of the most frequently perceived barriers via tightly controlled hypothetical scenarios. The extent to which respondents exhibited sensitivity to changes in hypothetical barrier magnitude signified its practical influence on sheltering decisions. Behavioral economic modeling produced metrics indicating the precise barrier magnitudes that should be targeted through interdisciplinary intervention and public policy. 

After a disaster, relocation is common due to home damage and destruction. As disasters increase in frequency and intensity, the need for those affected to find a safe home also increases. Despite this concern, little is known about the impacts on  the day-to-day lives of displaced people in the short-term. This study focused on the connections between displacement, transportation access, and several wellbeing factors, including housing quality, connection to community, food access, feelings of safety, mental health, and daily stability. The authors integrated findings from a unique post-disaster survey and interview dataset of those affected by the 2023 Vermont floods with key insights gleaned from a community advisory committee, comprised of federal, state, and local stakeholders. The study evaluated the linkages between displacement, sociodemographic factors, transportation access, and wellbeing factors, with special consideration for people experiencing homelessness, renters, and low-resourced individuals. The results shed light on the experiences and challenges displaced communities face, providing guidance for future policies aiming to increase resilience of displaced people. 

The Coastal Hazards, Analysis, Modeling, and Prediction (CHAMP) system is a coastal storm early warning system that integrates improved storm models with actionable information regarding storm impacts to critical infrastructure for emergency management use. Decision support tools that visualize storm model outputs and contain analytical functions for assessing hurricane impacts, such as CHAMP, can aid in storm preparedness and response. However, barriers to technology adoption in emergency management, and lack of end-user participation in tool development hinder implementation of such into practice. Researcher-practitioner partnerships offer a solution, as practitioner needs and workflows can be directly integrated into the development of storm forecasting and decision support tools. Therefore, this exploratory research developed a framework to guide such collaboration using the CHAMP system as a case study. Results evaluated a decade-long interdisciplinary research project collaborating with emergency managers to develop and operationalize the system in Rhode Island, USA. Through interviews with researchers and emergency managers involved in the development of CHAMP, the framework highlighted challenges and best practices for researcher-practitioner partnerships and can guide future research collaborations, as well as support adoption of such decision support tools more broadly.

With recent advances in disaster resilience modeling, there has been an exciting growth in disaster resilience planning decision support tools which lead to important questions around the usefulness and usability of the tools. This researchshared the findings and lessons from a multi-year partnership process between a research-modeling team and several community organizations around the use of Interdependent Networked Community Resilience Modeling Environment (IN-CORE), a decision support tool for resilience planning. The analysis addressed two questions: What are the needs and opportunities for using model-based resilience planning tools by local community practitioners and what best practices can enhance usefulness and usability of these decision support tools. The analysis used data from observations, discussions, and notes of the research, modeling, and engagement team during and after community IN-CORE workshops, feedback from practitioner community workshop participants during and after the workshops and throughout their process of using the tool, and evaluation of the products developed using the IN-CORE tool. Findings described how community engagement is translating scientific knowledge and models into practice. Also, by presenting an example of using resilience models for decision-making this study proposed a process to get buy-in for a science-driven modeling tool from practitioner users. Finally, by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of a process for getting feedback on the IN-CORE tool as it was being developed, this case study provided lessons for calibrating decision support tools in reasonable time frames and testing their use with the practitioner community. 

In many coastal areas of the United States, as the population is growing, affordable housing is shrinking, aging, and deteriorating whereas seasonal vacation housing is increasing and improving. The increasing frequency of coastal hazards are widening disparities in availability and vulnerability of housing types that serve two different groups: low-moderate income permanent residents and seasonal residents and tourists. This study examines how pre-disaster development policies shape housing vulnerability through a study of Lee County in Florida before and after Hurricane Ian. The paper first compares the intended and expected effects of pre-disaster policies on vulnerability and exposure between seasonal housing market and affordable permanent housing. For this analysis forty-one policy, planning, regulation, and funding documents were reviewed for Lee County from 2000 to 2022 and coded using Atlast.ti software. Using co-occurrence and other query tools, overlaps between development tools and housing outcomes were identified. The analysis shows the specific tools that are contributing to reducing or increasing vulnerability and exposure and how certain tools are contributing to an outcome for example through restricting growth, development incentives, or conservation easements. To examine how pre-disaster development policies affect the actual housing vulnerability and exposure the next step was to establish the connection between expected and observed vulnerability and exposure. Physical survey data from a sample of 1600 houses and Hurricane Ian damage assessment data by the Lee County GIS Department were analyzed using statistical and spatial techniques focusing on housing type, occupancy status, proximity to coastline and extent of damage.

Canada is underprepared for the consequences of a damaging earthquake, despite significant risks in British Columbia and the Quebec City-Montreal-Ottawa corridor. Earthquakes in these regions could disrupt cities like Vancouver and Montreal, causing significant national economic losses. Additional consequences, like prolonged displacement, reconstruction delays, and casualties, highlight the need for a holistic approach to disaster risk reduction. Canada‘s Emergency Management Strategy and National Risk Profile point to key gaps in earthquake risk assessment and preparedness, including the lack of a standardized national system to identify, prioritize, and retrofit vulnerable buildings. Retrofitting can reduce economic losses and damages, but high upfront costs hinder adoption when assessed through direct monetary savings only. However, a more holistic framework that considers societal benefits can emphasize retrofitting as a strategic investment aligned with Canada‘s resilience goals. This research assessed the holistic benefits of seismic retrofits for residential buildings using probabilistic damage maps created with Monte Carlo sampling for five earthquake scenarios across Canada obtained from the Canadian National Earthquake Catalogue. Retrofits are assessed with regards to their capacity to reduce earthquake-induced damage, displacement, long-term indebtedness, and consumption losses using state-of-the-art seismic risk assessment methodologies. Results with and without seismic risk mitigation are compared to assess how a subsidized retrofit program may affect monetary and holistic impacts, identifying eligibility conditions and subsidy amount that maximize the net benefits. These results inform equitable, cost-effective policy decisions to foster resilient communities. 

This research integrated disaster science and implementation science through a case study of the Medical Response Surge Exercise (MRSE). It examined the MRSE‘s implementation within the Federal Emergency Management Agency‘s (FEMA) federally supported, state-managed, and locally executed model. The key research questions included: ‘How do federal agencies, states, and healthcare coalitions collaborate to prepare for disasters in healthcare settings?’ and ‘What determinants influence the planning, execution, and learning from disaster management exercises?’ Utilizing a multiphase mixed methods approach, the study primarily employed the sociotechnical model and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to analyze these factors. The results aimed to uncover barriers and facilitators and proposed strategies to enhance the effectiveness of disaster management practices. This research addressed significant gaps in the literature regarding the practical use of implementation science to improve disaster preparedness exercises. Focused on Health Care Coalitions funded by the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, this research highlighted their crucial role in disaster management as local hubs. By exploring how implementation science can improve disaster preparedness strategies, this research contributed to developing more resilient healthcare systems. The findings informed policy recommendations and advanced knowledge on collaborative disaster preparedness exercises, supporting the creation of more robust and efficient frameworks. 

Pregnant women living in a disaster recovery environment may be at risk for pregnancy-specific anxiety. This study tested this in a prenatal peer support program, Mentors Offering Maternal Support (M-O-M-S), focused on improving mental health in hurricane-affected areas in southern Louisiana. Thirty-two participants in M-O-M-S on the Bayou reported their hurricane experiences and worries about future storms, and completed the Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire (PSEQ), w hich assessed readiness and fears of labor and birth, relationships, and identification and acceptance of pregnancy. The relationship between hurricane experience and PSEQ scales was tested using Spearman correlations and chi-square tests. Most participants were either Black (46.9%) or White (31.3%) and had at least post-high school education (81.3%). Most (78.1%) said their most severe experience was Hurricane Ida. More severe experiences of hurricanes were correlated with higher anxiety related to the relationship with mother (r=0.26, p=0.18) and birth preparation (r=0.23, p=0.24). Increased hurricane worries were associated with lower concerns of pain and control in labor (r=-0.37, p=0.04), and with more negative partner relationships (-0.24, p=0.20). For the subscales of hurricane experience, having a family member with illness or injury due to the hurricane was associated with less preparedness for labor, increased relationship anxiety with mother and partner, and more concerns about well-being in labor. Experience of damage or danger was not associated with PSEQ scales, nor was hurricane experience associated with acceptance of or identification with pregnancy. Some disaster experiences may reduce the ability of pregnant women to prepare for labor or to cultivate relationships.

Pregnant women are a vulnerable population after disasters. Their health may be improved through community-based support programs in addition to their standard prenatal care, which can be disrupted in times of disaster.  In response, this project created an implementation manual outlining the necessary background, logistics, and resources needed for implementing a program.  This manual addresses characteristics of successful group interventions, choosing a program, gathering stakeholders, considering details, staffing, program conduct, and evaluation.  It lists considerations for pre- and post-disaster planning, deciding on a disaster-specific or more general program, determining the best format, staffing and hiring, intervention components, marketing and recruiting, recruitment and retention, and provides lists and checklists of resources and steps for implementation.  The authors’ experiences conducting such projects have informed this guide that may be useful for pregnant people facing this challenge. 

Renters experience unique social and economic vulnerabilities to natural hazards, including an elevated risk of post-disaster displacement. While previous research links climate-related disasters with worsening housing insecurity, little is known about how hurricanes specifically affect eviction risks. Vulnerable populations, especially renters, often bear the brunt of such hazards due to fewer adaptive resources . This issue is particularly acute in areas with severe housing deficits, where rent inflation can displace low-income households. This study draws on a decade-long dataset (2009–2018) covering U.S. counties along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico to explore how hurricane frequency interacts with eviction risks. Two-stage panel regression models indicate that more frequent hurricanes correlate with higher eviction filings and threats due to rising rents in both the disaster year and the subsequent two years. Moreover, aggregated federal aids are found to mitigate these outcomes, as counties receiving higher amounts of assistance report fewer eviction filings and threats four years post-disaster. These findings contribute to the link between hurricane-induced housing cost burdens and eviction and highlight federal aid‘s potential efficacy to lessen adverse impacts. These results underscore the need for targeted post-disaster policies that protect renters, particularly those already confronting socioeconomic and housing insecurity. Coordinated strategies that integrate federal relief with local planning and housing justice measures may help safeguard vulnerable populations from the worst consequences of climate-related hazards.

This study investigated the often undercounted and hard-to-value economic consequences of Compound Coastal Water Events (CCWEs) in rural Eastern North Carolina (ENC). Focused on the cumulative impacts of flooding, the research drew on data from two focus group workshops conducted with local planners, emergency managers, and public officials in 2020 and 2022. The analysis revealed that while direct costs like property damage are often considered, a more comprehensive understanding of economic consequences required examining five interconnected categories: (1) Human Capital and Social Costs (loss of livelihoods, health impacts, social capital erosion); (2) Environmental Costs and Ecosystem Services (agricultural productivity, ecosystem damage); 3) Infrastructure and Public Services (damage, disruption); (4) Business and Investment Climate (deterioration, uncertainty); and (5) Other Indirect and Long-Term Impacts (e.g., population decline, mental health). The findings highlight challenges of capturing less tangible costs in traditional economic analyses, and emphasize the need for improved tools and methods for community resilience planning in the face of increasing CCWE frequency and severity due to climate change. The research provides a more holistic framework for assessing the true economic burden of CCWEs in rural coastal regions, and to inform more effective resilience strategies. These categories of economic impacts require additional study in areas affected by other types of hazards, especially those of a complex nature.

Planning for the impacts of sea level rise and storm surge depends on effectively communicating risks and potential adaptation strategies to stakeholders and decision makers. However, engagement may be hampered by limitations in conceptualizing impacts or solutions using two-dimensional representations. Furthermore, planners seek to provide messaging that motivates action through a sense of agency rather than inaction due to a sense of anxiety. Finally, in the current moment, visualization strategies seek to engage a variety of audiences by finding common ground. The researchers partnered with the City of West Palm Beach, Florida, to create an immersive experience in virtual reality to present flooding risks in public parks along an intracoastal waterway. Participants also saw how adaptation infrastructure, including nature-based solutions, could be implemented. A survey collected data about the experience and preferred solutions. This presentation shares the methodology and results of the work. In VR, as opposed to a tablet/360 video experience, people found the adaptation strategies depicted to be more effective. In VR, the emotional response was higher. In VR, people were more receptive to being informed about future strategies to mitigate the impacts of flooding in their community. This presentation also shares preliminary results of a follow-up project. The research team is producing a VR experience that demonstrates flooding impacts around cultural and natural spaces and neighborhoods in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Spatial composite indices are increasingly used in policy initiatives to identify disadvantaged, overburdened, or vulnerable communities for priority funding. However, while these indices determine which communities are prioritized, they do not necessarily shape the type of funding distributed to communities. This raises concerns that investments may be framed as beneficial even if they generate harms that worsen the very conditions that led to a community‘s prioritization. These concerns reveal an opportunity to advance the use of spatial indices in policy beyond identifying priority areas to also assessing investment impacts. This paper offers an analytical framework grounded in distributional justice ethics and composite indicator science to assess how investments impact the burdens that led to a community‘s prioritization. We demonstrate the framework using the Sutter Decarbonization Project, a Justice40 investment near Yuba City, California. We evaluated the investment‘s impacts through two initiatives using spatial indices to direct funds to prioritize communities: Justice40 and California State Bill 535. Through the application of the framework, we determined that the Sutter Decarbonization Project would not constitute as a benefit under either initiative.

Disasters and associated stressors have forced approximately 2.3 billion people worldwide to live in water-stressed conditions, dependent on various modular, adaptive, and decentralized (MAD) water systems. Moral economies for water—norm-based institutions governing water redistribution—play a critical role in these MAD water systems. However, the socio-political and socio-environmental dynamics that enable or hinder these moral economies remain understudied. This study examined water-sharing practices within a moral economy framework among 20 water-insecure households in coastal Bangladesh, investigating whether and how moral economies function in a disaster context. Using  semi-structured interviews, the authors explored three key dimensions of moral economies for water: understanding of water justice, normative economic practices, and mechanisms of social pressure.  qualitative data analysis revealed the presence of these norms in disaster-induced water insecurity. Comparative analyses across gender, religion, and class revealed that social class (e.g., sharing water with the poor, sick, or needy) and social distance (e.g., sharing with family, neighbors, or relatives) played a greater role than gender or religion in shaping water-sharing practices. Lower-income individuals identified upper-class elites, such as community leaders, as responsible for redistribution, while elites viewed it as a social obligation. Notably, 109 cases of water sharing stemmed from social ties, compared to 16 cases driven by hierarchy and status. Thus, the authors concluded that moral economies functioned in disaster-induced water-insecure communities and were driven primarily by social distance rather than status differentials. Finally, the authors indicated that more scholarship is needed to better understand moral economies for disaster resilience.

Insurance is a critical tool for mitigating financial losses from natural hazards and enabling recovery. However, rising premiums and long wait times for payments undermine the efficacy of insurance to provide financial resilience to future disasters. Proposed innovations within the insurance market aim to address these challenges by reducing payment delays and easing insurers’ administrative burdens. For example, parametric insurance models typically provide a predetermined, or model-based, payment to policyholders based upon hazard-related metrics (e.g., hurricane wind speed). While largely untested, these policy innovations could significantly improve resilience of coastal communities by enabling more efficient financial recovery. Using original survey data collected in 2024 from homeowners affected by Hurricane Ida in Louisiana (2021) and Hurricane Ian in Florida (2022), this research aims to 1) measure the effect of the insurance payment timing on the pace of disaster recovery and 2) assess desirability of an alternative parametric insurance model. As expected, preliminary survey results suggest that longer wait times for insurance payments are associated with slower disaster recovery. Interestingly, respondents largely preferred traditional insurance over parametric models when presented with a hypothetical scenario. Innovations in the insurance market are essential for accelerating disaster recovery in coastal communities. However, the findings of this research highlight the need for intentional community engagement before piloting similar insurance innovations.

The Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon oil spills remain impactful, ranking among history’s worst environmental disasters. Exxon Valdez released 11 million gallons into Alaska’s Prince William Sound, devastating marine life, fisheries, and local economies. Deepwater Horizon, the largest U.S. marine spill, discharged 134 million gallons into the Gulf of Mexico, causing habitat destruction, health effects, and major losses tourism and seafood industries. Both disasters prompted political reforms to improve oil transport and offshore drilling safety. With the oil and gas industry still dominant in United States energy, vigilance is crucial to prevent and respond to future technological disasters. In 2024, the Gulf Research Program launched an initiative to examine best practices and lessons learned from these spills by uniting affected communities. Workshops in Anchorage, Alaska, and Thibodaux, Louisiana, gathered community members, policymakers, responders, academics, and industry leaders to discuss impacts and potential improvements to the spill response process.Workshop participants discussed enhancing local involvement in pre-disaster planning and post-disaster decision-making, integrating health outcomes into the Incident Command System, and prioritizing mental health and community wellbeing. Further, many community members espoused the need for better communication in response to disasters and the need to improve trust by building relationships before disasters happen. While the workshops were centered on oil spills, many takeaways apply broadly to a range of other disasters.

Although climate-induced hazards and disasters disproportionately impact Black communities, scholarly discourse on these issues has historically been dominated by those outside the affected communities. To address the role of systemic racism in unequal disaster experiences, scholars must adopt approaches that center Black experiences and knowledge. This research delved into the intersections of Black geographic thought and disaster studies to support Harlem Park, a predominantly and historically Black community in Baltimore, Maryland, in their goal of creating a community climate resilience program aligned with abolitionist climate justice. Using a Community-Based Participatory Action Research approach, and drawing on Black geographies scholarship, community members and stakeholders redefined concepts like “disasters”, “environmental hazards”, and “disaster preparedness”, revealing how Black communities already resistisystemic racism in disaster situations. The significance of this research lies in its advocacy for tailored, place-based disaster preparedness interventions rooted in the community’s lived experiences and knowledge, promoting equity and combating racial violence in Black communities.

This research explored ways in which micromobility (lightweight vehicles including, but not limited to, bicycles and scooters) can be used to support place-based disaster response and recovery efforts as well as everyday community resilience. Drawing upon expert interviews and a series of focus groups in the study communities of Seattle, Washington and Stillwater, Oklahoma, this study centered on three primary research questions: 1) What are the potential functions and applicability of micromobility during and after disasters?; 2) What are key considerations for integrating micromobility into the design and operation of resilience hubs?; and 3) How can place-based micromobility resources and community social networks be leveraged to support disaster resilience by building community capacity during non-disaster times? By investigating opportunities and challenges in both a metropolitan coastal city and an inland suburban community, we aimed to guide more equitable transportation strategies and preparedness measures for multiple vulnerable locations. This study bridges research and practice by integrating considerations of human systems, the built environment, and the natural environment to support community preparedness. It was informed by a range of expertise and experiences in pedestrian safety, shared mobility, emergency management, disability advocacy, multimodal transportation planning, and public health, as well as on-the-ground community perspectives. Findings include the identification of potential opportunities and barriers associated with the use of micromobility in disasters and recommendations for the integration of micromobility modes into the planning and operation of resilience hubs. We also share novel community-generated ideas for making use of micromobility in a range of disaster scenarios.

The increasing incidents of wildfires across the United States highlights a need for better integration of long range land use planning into wildfire management. However, this is impeded by inconsistent conceptualization and use of land use planning strategies within the disaster cycle. This systematic review examined how academic and policy documents define and categorize wildfire management strategies, focusing on five key phases: preparedness, response, mitigation, adaptation, and recovery. Using the PRISMA methodology, the study analyzed 92 peer-reviewed articles published between 2013-2024, extracting 455 distinct strategies and classifying them according to a comprehensive land use planning framework developed through literature review and stakeholder feedback. The framework included five broad categories with 23 distinct strategies to standardize terminology. The analysis revealed significant academic disagreement in phase classification, with 80.95% of strategies spanning multiple disaster management phases, creating potential confusion for funding streams typically tied to specific phases. While mitigation was the most commonly attributed phase across all land use strategies (73.6% of all entries), substantial inconsistency exists across academic literature. Four strategies (Defensible Space, Development Pattern, Zoning Regulations, Land Preservation Incentives) appeared across all four major phases, highlighting substantial conceptual overlap. This temporal analysis further demonstrated that this lack of consensus has increased over time, with approaches shifting from mitigation-focused to increasingly recognizing adaptation. The lack of consensus creates implementation barriers as inconsistent clarification of strategies throughout the disaster cycle can create inconsistency in funding and coordination across them, thus acting as a barrier to long term wildfire resilience. 

Place attachment captures how individuals perceive and bond with their built, natural, and social environment. While place attachment is a central concept in disaster studies, few studies have explored how place attachment drives residential decisions after disasters, particularly in the wake of a wildfire where connections to place are negotiated. This study addresses this research gap by conducting photovoice interviews with 70 survivors across Northern California to capture where and how they decided to rebuild after wildfires. This innovative, visually-based method provided us with contextualized insights regarding the factors that shaped residential decision-making after the fires. Relying on both inductive and deductive analysis, this study found that multiple dimensions of place attachment factored into decision-making for survivors and that these dimensions of place operated at different scales. For instance, the study found that when survivors were referring to their homes, they often highlighted the role of place identity, place dependence, and nature bonding, describing the important milestones they had experienced in that place, elements such as privacy or self-reliance that their property afforded them, and their bonds with the natural environment. In contrast, when describing attachments to their town, participants described their sense of community and focused on place affect.  The study also found that, at times, survivors highlighted how the fire had undercut their attachments. For example, the burnt trees, vacant lots, relocation of the neighbors, increased property prices, and perceived risks of future wildfires provoked second thoughts among survivors regarding their residential adjustment decisions. 

Recent studies increasingly highlight the association between disasters and vulnerability. Recognizing the unequal impacts on vulnerable populations, governments provide plans and policies aiming to support equitable recovery after disasters. However, disparities in living status among affected residents often resurface in the process, yet research exploring the reasons for intensifying gaps is limited. This study investigated the relocation processes and current living statuses of residents who formally resided in high-hazardous (red) zones of central Sulawesi before the 2018 earthquake. While construction of relocation sites was completed officially at the end of 2024, many residents continue to live in red zone areas and in temporary status as of early 2025. To understand in-depth, this study asked: 1) how and why residents‘ living status diverged; and 2) how these differences shape residents‘ lives. Fieldwork began in 2019, with semi-structured, open-ended interviews in late 2023 and early 2025, collecting over 110 responses. Initial analysis suggested that the relocation programs designed to implement recovery by national standards fail to support all residents in unique local contexts. For instance, residents with temporary housing status could not show government-recognized documentation about land ownership. This was an obstacle to participating in recovery schemes. Furthermore, large families could not fit into the new housing units built to national standards, leading to homelessness. As a result, these residents continue facing uncertainties, exacerbating the gap between themselves and those who have already settled in permanent housing.

Disaster preparedness is essential for disaster risk reduction (DRR); it enhances public awareness and response to disasters, reducing the likelihood and severity of disaster effects. Risk knowledge drives participation in DRR and strengthens adaptive responses to disasters. While studies have examined how disaster-specific risk knowledge influences preparedness, less research exists on climate change knowledge (CCK) and its effect on preparedness despite growing recognition of climate change as a contributor to  extreme weather. Additionally, few studies have explored how risk knowledge influences different preparedness measures. This study examined the relationship between self-rated CCK and the likelihood of taking preparedness actions for potential floods using data from a survey of 414 residents in New Orleans, Louisiana. It also explored whether self-rated CCK influences structural (e.g., property adjustments) versus non-structural (e.g., stocking supplies) preparedness measures differently. Results showed that higher levels of self-rated CCK were significantly associated with a greater likelihood of taking protective actions against flooding, even after accounting for sociodemographic characteristics. Significant differences were also found across race and previous flood experience. While self-rated CCK influenced both the number of structural and non-structural measures taken, the adoption of structural measures was also significantly shaped by sociodemographic factors like prior flood experience and education. Conversely, non-structural measures were primarily driven by self-rated CCK, with less influence from sociodemographic factors. These findings suggest that while perceived climate literacy may influence whether people take preparedness actions, mitigating social vulnerabilities may be particularly important for supporting high-investment preparedness actions.

This presentation highlights the interdisciplinary and community-engaged Living with Water Project, a collaboration between the University of Washington (UW) and the Duwamish River Community Coalition (DRCC), an environmental justice grassroots organization. Situated in Seattle‘s Duwamish Valley—a historically marginalized area facing environmental injustices and disproportionate sea-level rise risks—this project seeks to co-develop equitable, community-driven flood adaptation strategies by employing a range of participatory research methods, including interviews, participatory workshops, and community-driven design sessions. Preliminary findings reveal strong community preferences for nature-based solutions (NBS), such as green infrastructure and wetland restoration. At the same time, flood-zone residents underscore persistent challenges, including anxiety over recurring floods, mold exposure, and housing insecurity and displacement—concerns that disproportionately affect historically displaced and frontline communities. These findings highlight the need for sustained trust-building and inclusive adaptation planning to ensure more just and effective resilience strategies. However, funding limitations and competing stakeholder interests hinder implementation. Using interdisciplinary environmental studies, political ecology, and cultural anthropology frameworks, this presentation highlights the preliminary findings to examine the experiences of residents living in the flood zone, the root causes, and the ways in which community-led research can inform equitable governance and long-term resilience planning. This work contributes to broader discussions on climate justice, disaster risk reduction, and interdisciplinary hazard mitigation strategies, while centering community voices. 

The United States faces persistent systemic inequities across racial, economic, environmental, and public health domains, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. Despite the recognition of equity as a core value in public administration, its operationalization remains inconsistent and often symbolic. To address this gap, this research developeds an ontology-based framework to comprehensively conceptualize and categorize equity and related concepts.This exploratory qualitative research employed  a three-phase methodology: 1) ontology development through literature and policy review, 2) codebook creation to operationalize equity concepts, and (3) policy analysis of 90 Equity Action Plans from federal agencies. The author used thematic analysis, hierarchical categorization, and ontology mapping to systematically organize equity concepts and their interrelationships. The study addressed four key research questions: (1) How are different forms of equity defined and related in public policy scholarship? (2) What equity targets are prioritized in public policies? (3) How can an ontology-based approach create a coding system for equity? (4) How do policies incorporate or overlook equity principles?This research nesteds relevant equity concepts into a unified framework, offering a structured and integrative approach to understanding equity in its full complexity. The intellectual merit lies in synthesizing fragmented theories of fairness, justice, and equality into a cohesive ontology, advancing academic discourse on equity and providing a foundation for future studies. Broader implications include equipping policymakers with actionable tools to design and evaluate equitable interventions, addressing systemic disparities in  healthcare, education, disaster and climate resilience.

Flooding unevenly affects vulnerable communities, exacerbating existing socio-economic vulnerabilities. Traditional flood mitigation funding models, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency‘s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, often prioritize cost-effectiveness over equity, leaving vulnerable populations underfunded. This research evaluated how integrating equity principles into flood risk management models influences resource allocation and risk reduction outcomes. Using the Coastal Hazard, Equity, Economic Prosperity, and Resilience (CHEER) project‘s Stakeholder-Based Tool for the Analysis of Regional Resilience (STARR) framework, the study simulated ten funding scenarios grounded in distinct equity principle. These scenarios were applied to census tract-level data in North Carolina, a state with high flood risk and significant socio-economic disparities. The study addressed the research question: How do different equity priorities and optimization objectives affect the allocation of mitigation funding and the distribution of risk reduction outcomes? Metrics such as the Gini Coefficient, disparity ratios, and correlation analyses were used to assess equity and efficiency in funding distribution. Geographic mapping and correlation charts visualized outcomes, highlighting overlaps and gaps in resource allocation. The findings provided informed strategies for designing equitable flood mitigation policies. By linking theoretical equity principles with practical policy applications, this research contributed to the scholarly discourse on distributive justice and offers tools for policymakers to address systemic disparities. The study‘s broader implications include fostering resilience in vulnerable communities and advancing inclusive disaster risk reduction strategies. This work represents a significant step toward operationalizing equity in flood risk management, ensuring that funding mechanisms are both effective and just. 

Disaster preparedness is essential for minimizing the impacts of disasters and ensuring effective response and recovery. This study examined the perspectives of United States Disaster Research and Management Center directors regarding individual and community disaster preparedness skills. The study categorized these skills into four main areas: practical, cognitive, social, and adaptive skills, highlighting their significance at individual and community levels. At the individual level, preparedness focuses on risk awareness, emergency planning, emergency kit preparation, and self-sufficiency. Key cognitive skills include decision-making under pressure, situational awareness, and problem-solving. Social skills such as communication and collaboration enhance disaster response effectiveness, while adaptive skills like resilience and lifelong learning help individuals adjust to evolving risks. At the community level, preparedness involves collective risk assessment, emergency response planning, and resource management. Community resilience, social inclusion, and public communication play crucial roles in strengthening disaster response capacity. Continuous learning, training, and simulations improve community preparedness. This study emphasizes the importance of integrating disaster preparedness into education and policy to build resilience. Findings provide a framework for enhancing preparedness programs, ensuring that individuals and communities can effectively respond to and recover from disasters. By fostering collaboration and adaptive learning, disaster preparedness efforts can become more sustainable and inclusive.

Heat is a major public health concern worldwide, with varyingimpacts , based on geographical and socioeconomic factors. Traditional approaches to assessing heat vulnerability often rely on socioeconomic data from the Census Bureau and Land Surface Temperature to predict heat-related health outcomes. However, this approach may introduce biases and misalignments between residential locations captured by census data and actual places of exposure to extreme heat. This study geolocated heat-related 911 calls in Phoenix, and analyzed the characteristics of areas experiencing persistent increases in emergency calls between 2014 and 2022. Findings indicate that the historical neighborhood grading system established by the Homeowners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) is a significant predictor of heat-related emergency calls. Notably, up to 70% of these calls originated from Grade C (“Definitely Declining”) and Grade D (“Hazardous”) neighborhoods. Furthermore, Grade B (“Still Desirable”) and Grade D neighborhoods exhibited persistent increases in heat-related emergency calls, with Grade D experiencing the most substantial rise. Across all comparisons, call volumes were significantly higher (p>/=; 0.05) in less-invested areas than in Grade A (“Best”) neighborhoods, with mean differences of 37, 55, and 43 calls for Grades B, C, and D, respectively. These results highlight the lasting influence of historical disinvestment on contemporary heat vulnerability. This research connected housing discrimination with heat exposure, demonstrating the need for more inclusive urban heat adaptation efforts. Public health officials should consider how past housing policies, socioeconomic disparities, and systemic disinvestment contribute to emergency response patterns and urban heat exposure.

Increasing chronic and extreme heat poses a growing threat to communities everywhere, but especially in Arizona‘s expanding urban corridor. To effectively confront this challenge, the full network of community plans that shape the future of the built environment and community operations must collectively advance heat resilience. While heat planning and governance is still in its infancy, research suggests that silos and conflicts in networks of plans often impede resilience. Integrated heat resilience planning therefore requires a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the silos and conflicts relevant to heat resilience within communities’ networks of plans. This study was the first to combine three emerging, complementary plan evaluation methods to assess how cities’ networks of plans address heat resilience. The study applied Plan Quality Evaluation for Heat Resilience, Plan Integration for Resilience ScorecardTM for Heat, and social network analysis of plan cross-referencing to 21 plans from seven Arizona cities: Phoenix, Tucson, Tempe, Flagstaff, Casa Grande, Mesa, and Nogales. This sample of cities represents communities of different sizes, geographies, planning capacities, and heat risks. The study found similarities and differences in how these cities‘ networks of plans address heat hazards. The plans have consistently high-quality participation and coordination principles but lack details on vulnerability and climate change uncertainty, suggesting a need to move beyond immediate heat risks. The study also identified opportunities to diversify policy mechanisms, spatially target high heat risk areas, and better connect planning efforts. These results lay the foundation for future collaboration with decision-makers to more effectively plan for heat resilience.

The concept of habitability is critical to the discussion of post-disaster displacement and migration. Habitability is generally described as the qualities of a home/shelter that allow its residents to perform their average daily activities in a healthy and safe environment. While numerous studies have examined the concept of shelter habitability, a critical research gap exists in understanding why residents choose to return or not to their previous homes after a disaster. Thus far, research has found that the decision to leave or return is influenced by a range of variables, including the extent of damage, loss of functionality, availability of community features and services, access to resources, and demographic factors such as age, race, family size, and household income. These determinants reflect the intersection of physical and social vulnerabilities, shaping habitability perceptions. Using a survey of single-family  U.S. households in Florida and Louisiana impacted by hurricanes Ian and Ida, this study aimed to expand our understanding of how damages to specific housing features, utilities, social support, and neighbourhood facilities and services shape homeowners‘ perceptions of habitability and choice of leaving their homes post-disaster. The study identified essential features and facilities that influence residents‘ decisions to return. By identifying the specific housing features and utilities that most significantly shape perceptions of habitability, these findings can ensure that recovery resources are directed toward the most critical habitability concerns, reducing prolonged displacement and facilitating an equitable rebuilding process.

Timely information from rapid needs assessments (RNA) during a disaster can improve situational awareness and guide disaster response and recovery efforts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‘s (CDC) Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) is a household-based RNA that provides information about a community, allowing public health leaders and emergency managers to make informed decisions. While CASPERs have proven successful, the traditional CASPER 30x7 design is not always feasible or ideal, such as in smaller disasters, rural/frontier communities, jurisdictions with fewer resources, and when needed to tailor to specific populations (e.g., persons experiencing homelessness) and other groups at higher risk for negative impacts.CDC developed and field-tested new RNA methodologies as alternatives to CASPER, field-testing four approaches: combined stratified systematic and purposeful sampling, simple random mail-based sampling, targeted sampling based on damage assessment data, and a combined 1- and 2-stage cluster sample method. The stratified sample yielded representative data but required extensive planning and analysis. The one-stage cluster sample reduced selection bias in a cost- and time-efficient manner but had lower internal validity and necessitated oversampling of clusters. Purposeful sampling allowed for intentional selection, but integrating these results into the broader RNA proved challenging. The multi-tiered approach offered flexibility for tailoring to specific populations, but complicated weighting and analysis. Based on lessons learned from these field tests, CDC continues to refine RNA guidance for situations where CASPER is not the best fit. This session will share the new methodologies, their pros/cons, potential uses, and lessons learned.

This study explores the effects of climate change attributable impacts on housing stability following Hurricane Harvey, using Harris County, Texas as a case study. The degree of damage and flooding attributable to climate change were quantified using extreme event attribution (EEA), and these estimates were paired with Houston County Appraisal District data to analyze how these factors affect residential turnover differently from typical disaster impacts. Multilevel logistic models incorporating parcel- and tract-level variables, including socioeconomic factors and neighborhood demographics account for neighborhood context and spatial variation in housing stability. Our analyses suggest nuanced patterns of property turnover, particularly in communities with heightened vulnerability, and indicate that climate change driven impacts influence turnover differently than impacts that likely would have occurred regardless. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of climate driven displacement and inform policies aimed at promoting housing stability in the context of escalating climate risks. 

While residents in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) are closely affected by prescribed burning, non-WUI residents can still be impacted by wildfire smoke and still have influence over state policy regarding wildfire risk decision-making. In the summer of 2021, for example, smoke from California‘s Dixie Fire caused Denver, Colorado, to have some of the worst air quality in the world. Understanding how attitudes and risk perceptions vary with individual- and community-level factors can help to characterize these risk-risk tradeoffs more robustly to inform prescribed fire research, communication, implementation, and policy. From Dec. 2024-February 2025, researchers surveyed over 1,200 Colorado residents to understand factors influencing acceptability of prescribed burning as a mitigation measure to reduce wildfire risk. While the majority of respondents regardless of geographic region in the state would support statewide and local policies to expand the use of prescribed burning, approximately one-third are unsure or have reservations. Further, while most respondents support expanding the use of prescribed burning in Colorado, a higher percentage still indicate wanting to know more about the practice overall. The survey data collected on geographic region, income, and other determinants can inform practitioners and researchers involved in fire science, hazard mitigation, and public health fields to increase understanding and communications practices about the risks and risk-tradeoffs of prescribed burning to effectively and safely expand its practice in Colorado and beyond.

This study explored the use and limitations of the socio-ecological framework to articulate the structural drivers of ongoing and compounding disaster in frontline coal communities. Drawing world systems theory into conversation with disaster studies, community health, and political ecology, this scholarship advances two arguments. First, the current socio-ecological framework insufficiently explains the nexus between ecological health, disaster, and human health, including compounding effects of chronic exposure and sudden disaster in frontline communities. Second, it offers an expanded structural-ecological framework for disaster that situates determinants of (ecological-, social-, community-, and individual-physical and psychological) health at a global level. As such, the structural-ecological framework offers an important intervention into disaster and hazards scholarship through inquiry into extractivist global systems of knowledge, economy, sociality, and politics which shape the lived experience. This research is grounded through life history interviews with community members from Central Appalachian coal towns that reveal how extractivist orientations to the natural world creates physical, ecological, and cultural reverberations and displacements across generations and ecosystems. This framework is adaptable, generative, and transformational for understanding the drivers of disaster, and the cascading and compounding effects that interconnect across scales, geographies, and disaster contexts. Moreover, it reorients disaster inquiry to the structural roots of disasters and thereby locates actionable leverage points of change for communities, policymakers, and scholars.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, more than 30 years old, is often one of few educational programs that teach community members about hazards and localized risks; this has become critical due to limited resources of rural areas to focus on hazard reduction. The CERT program often studied in more urban areas is understudied in rural areas and specifically, rural places of color. Rural communities have higher social and physical vulnerabilities because of historic disenfranchisement, low economic investment, higher exposure to hazards and repeated impacts from low attention disasters. This project examines the impact of the CERT model as a disaster preparedness and emergency management program in rural communities of color in the US. A mixed methods design is used to assess differential strengths, barriers, and opportunities to support community resilience and preparedness with semi structured interviews and spatial analysis utilising Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Three research questions are examined: 1) How is the CERT program used and how does it influence the culture of preparedness and hazard mitigation; 2) What are the conditions that threaten, support or impede the operation of the program and lastly, 3) What is the geographic relationship between the location of CERTs, hazard exposure, rurality and social vulnerability? Research findings indicate the importance of partnership, cultural responsiveness and engaging children and youth in disasters as core elements of fostering preparedness and emergency management capabilities in rural areas. These findings offer practical implications for engaging rural communities in preparedness and pre-disaster recovery planning.

Flooding, as the primary and secondary hazard, causes significant economic and life losses, which indicates the importance of purchasing flood insurance to improve household financial resilience. However, it is not uncommon that families in disaster-prone areas or those experiencing multiple times of flooding still choose not to purchase flood insurance. Past research finds that factors such as affordability, risk perception, disaster experience, and economic status significantly impact individuals‘ insurance purchase decisions. Individuals‘ understanding of their responsibilities in flood preparedness and their satisfaction with government actions may also show influence. If people tend to depend on government actions for flooding response and recovery, they may feel reluctant to allocate personal funds toward purchasing flood insurance. Using a survey conducted in the northeast Houston area, this research examines whether individuals‘ attitudes toward the government—specifically their perceptions.

Aging systems, climate change, and limited access to wastewater infrastructure threaten public health. In Florida, over two million households rely on onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS), such as septic systems, which are increasingly vulnerable to changing precipitation patterns. Excessive rainfall can saturate soil, causing OWTS effluent to rise to the surface or back up into homes. Despite their prevalence and growing risks, little is known about the governance factors influencing OWTS failure or which communities are most at risk. This study examined how governance and heavy precipitation influence OWTS failure in Florida, where OWTS use is widespread, precipitation events are frequent, and wastewater governance varies. We used binomial logistic regression models to analyze OWTS failure risks, based on heavy precipitation and governance factors, such as local incorporation status, county-level planning authority, and state-level installation standards. Models used parcel-level failure data (2010-2022) and a statewide OWTS inventory from the Florida Department of Health. We found that failure is more likely after heavy precipitation and in communities with weaker governance, such as unincorporated areas, weak county planning authority, and less stringent inspection and installation requirements. Failure is also more common in areas with poorly draining soils, high septic system density, and high poverty rates. Identifying these failure drivers can help target policy interventions and investments to improve infrastructure resilience.

Natural hazards recurringly leave staggering effects on the United States economy, especially in coastal regions. Hurricane Maria’s 2017 landfall resulted in numerous fatalities in Puerto Rico, and inflicted damages of billions of dollars. As most studies analyze Puerto Rico’s economic shock and recovery from Hurricane Maria on a macro level, variation in loss and recovery from the micro-economic aspects remain understudied. This research analyzed household-level economic indicators to quantify households’ economic shock, coping mechanism and recovery from Hurricane Maria. Using a combination of household survey, census, and geospatial datasets, the authors conducted a longitudinal study to explain the change in household income and consumption in three distinct time intervals between 2017 and 2020. Employing a Difference in Difference (DID) approach, the study estimated how household characteristics and experience of Hurricane Maria determine a household’s economic vulnerability and resilience. Results indicate increased monthly expenditure and reduced average weekly work hours within groups facing higher total damages. Results help understand the nature and extent of vulnerability in promoting resilience in disaster-prone regions.

Since 1954, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has provided low-interest loans to disaster survivors to help them recover. Over time the profile of the loans and borrowers has changed and currently 80% of SBA disaster loans are actually made to homeowners. Recently the SBA started to see repeat disaster borrowers and decided to make a concerted effort to promote its “mitigation option“ that provides funds to people to rebuild stronger. This panel will discuss longitudinal studies in the SBA disaster lending program and how they can inform future initiatives.  

The panel will be a facilitated discussion format with Jeff Lusk, Director of SBA‘s Field Operations Center West, serving as moderator and providing context. Shannon Rhoten, SBA Deputy Director for Data Analytics and IT, and Natacha Vacroux, SBA Program Analyst with the Policy, Planning, and Partnerships Division, will offer their perspectives and analysis, discussing how SBA has adapted its approach in response to emerging trends.  

Among the topics covered will be the results of a recent study examining 12 years of business disaster loan data that revealed SBA loans reduce bankruptcies and exits from a market after a disaster, increase employment and revenue, unlock private credit, and reduce delinquency. SBA will also share how it used a data-informed approach to encourage both business owners and homeowners to add mitigation funds to their disaster loans and how these funds can be a force multiplier when used as cost-share for state initiatives. 

Literature on community resilience has highlighted the critical role of sense of community and social networks as coping mechanisms in disaster response and recovery phases. However, the processes through which these bonds, or in other words, coping mechanisms, form during emergencies remain understudied and underutilized in practice. This study addresses this gap by examining survivors’ narratives of how community bonds emerged and evolved during Hurricane Harvey and its subsequent flooding. Using interview data from the Harvey Oral Narratives on Record (HONOR) dataset, this study analyzes 100 conversational interviews with 112 Houston residents, collected through snowball sampling and flyer recruitment. Preliminary coding of 50 interviews reveals key patterns in survivors’ experiences. Even with flexibility to share personal narratives during the interview, interviewees dominantly discussed the topics of sense of community and informal evacuation among several other stories. Findings indicate that a sense of community emerged primarily during and after the hurricane, which is dominantly shaped through personal interactions rather than pre-existing place-based ties. Informal evacuation efforts, volunteer support, faith-based organizations, and online networks played a vital role in forming and strengthening these social bonds. Post-disaster convergence primarily served as the fundamental reinforcement of community resilience during the response and recovery phases. By examining how these social connections developed in crisis, this study provides nuanced insights for disaster response strategies, suggesting that grassroots and community-led initiatives are vital for resilience-building. Strengthening organic community bonds can help policymakers and emergency responders develop more effective, community-centered recovery efforts. 

Natural hazards are increasing in frequency and intensity due to climate change, resulting in a drier and more hazard-prone environment in Australia. Though many of these hazards cannot be prevented, we may intervene to reduce the risks of negative impacts on community members by increasing mental health resilience and community cohesion/support. Following in-depth consultation, which included interviews with community members as well as leaders and stakeholders, the research team co-developed and co-facilitated a version of the Community-based Disaster Mental Health Intervention—adapted for the rural Australian bushfire context—to a bushfire-affected rural community. Based on insights garnered from this extensive engagement, the final program focused on: 1) decreasing mental health symptoms, and 2) increasing: (a) disaster preparedness, (b) social cohesion, (c) social support, and (d) coping. The interactive program balanced information delivery (e.g. on physical symptoms of panic) with practical exercises to build community cohesion (e.g., learning how to have ‘difficult’ conversations with neighbours). The co-development and delivery of the program ensured that the knowledge stayed within the community. Self-report data (N = 10) indicated that the intervention was highly acceptable (e.g., “I just remember the whole thing being positive. I remember leaving at the end, and going, that was good. That was worthwhile going to”). It was perceived as helpful, decreased overall psychological distress, and improved resilience, preparedness, help-seeking intentions, and coping. Adapted versions of this program will be delivered across nine rural communities at risk of extreme weather events (e.g., drought, bushfire) across Australia starting in 2026.

Wildfire smoke is a growing public health threat in the United States. Distinct from other climate change-related hazards, the recurrent nature of wildfire smoke may lead to variations in threat perception and response, even within families. Using a dyadic qualitative design, this study aimed to examine the distinct mental health concerns, risk perceptions, and protective behaviors among two vulnerable but understudied age cohorts: young adults (18-34) and members of the ‘sandwich generation’ (50-64).  Informed by an innovative Wildfire Smoke Footprint Map, the researchers identified two California counties with high historical smoke exposure—Sonoma County and Butte County—that also experienced a smoke event during the 2024 wildfire season. The researchers recruited families in each county to participate in an in-depth interview, using a combination of purposive and snowball sampling. Interviews were conducted with each family member separately then iteratively compared during data analysis. To date, the researchers have conducted and analyzed 20 interviews. Preliminary findings suggested that, for both generations, wildfire smoke events had a sensitizing impact on mental health in the near-term, with the smoke exposure triggering memories of past wildfire-related traumas. However, despite heightened anxieties during an acute event, findings also suggested that recurrent exposure to wildfire smoke may have a numbing effect, curbing personal protective action. These findings indicate the need for long-term disaster mental health supports beyond acute exposure periods, as well as theory-based interventions to support long-term protective behavior.

Millions of people who live in hurricane and tornado prone states rely on shelters for protection and harm reduction from these natural hazards. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) invested more than $1.4 billion dollars in building shelters and safe rooms, refining building design practices to ensure these structures withstand wind hazards. However, it is unclear if, how, and why people choose to use these shelters and what their sheltering experiences are like. Similarly, it is unknown if updating building designs could improve shelter conditions such as accessibility and increase use. This study sought to assess how storm shelters that meet FEMA guidelines are being used during extreme wind events and the extent to which they meet human-centered best practices. To address this, the researchers developed a shelter checklist from recommendations outlined in the social and behavioral science literature on storm sheltering. The authors applied this checklist to 25 shelters in tornado and hurricane-prone states and interviewed 30 emergency managers and shelter operators to understand shelter use. This project filled an information gap around shelters and provided a list of recommended updates to the design and function of shelters, leading to improvements in use and people’s’ experiences sheltering during extreme wind events. 

Since the dawn of disaster research, records of organizational communications have served as a valuable source of information on disaster response activities. Despite their considerable utility, a chief issue has been in extracting complex semantic information from large volumes of text such as thick records of situation reports (SITREPs) or millions of short-form public messages disseminated through social media. Modern advances in machine learning-based natural language processing (ML-NLP) have the potential to greatly simplify the task of information extraction from diverse corpora generated from real-world conditions. However, naive use of ML-NLP tools trained on conventional materials may result in very poor performance in hazards settings, requiring careful method design and evaluation tailored for the domain. Moreover, to be effective for informing policy decisions, data extraction methods must be designed to suit data analytic approaches used in the field, such as network analysis that is central to the ability to study complex socio-technical systems and their resilience to disruption. 

This study explored the efficacy of ML-NLP methods, particularly large language models, for the extraction of complex semantic information from massive corpuses of hazards communications. This reesarch focused on two specific case studies: the extraction of organizational task performance from SITREPs authored during the 2005 Hurricane Katrina, and the extraction of causal narratives in official COVID-19 messages. Results from this study contributed to methodologies of large-scale information extraction, decreasing costs previously associated with obtaining high-quality data from records, while increasing the potential value of underutilized historical case studies.

Disaster alerts are crucial in disseminating timely and life-saving information. Alerts generated by an alerting authority were required to follow a standardized format and often lacked personalization or missed relevant, actionable information, potentially affecting their effectiveness. This research investigated using a large language model (LLM) to generate customized disaster alerts tailored to individual users while ensuring compliance with the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) guidelines. The study employed an experimental design with two participant groups: a control group receiving standard alerts, and an experimental group receiving personalized alerts generated by the LLM prompted by participants' responses to a set of customization questions. Personalization factors included the presence of dependent family members, medical needs, and self-reported preferences, among others. To evaluate the impact of personalization, both types of alerts were assessed using a five-point Likert scale across key metrics of communication clarity, trustworthiness, relevance, impact on decision-making, response confidence, and uncertainty reduction. The authors conducted statistical analyses to identify response differences between the two participant groups and determine whether personalization enhanced engagement and perceived effectiveness. Preliminary findings suggested that LLM-generated alerts improved relatability and user engagement compared to standardized alerts. This research had significant implications for enhancing disaster communication strategies, optimizing public warning systems, and integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into emergency response frameworks. Future work included refining the LLM's adaptability to multilingual support, and exploring non-textual alert formats such as audio and visual components to improve accessibility. 

Wildland fires are among the most destructive hazards that affect communities, and climate change is exacerbating the problem. This issue is especially acute in the western U.S., where significant development has occurred – and continues to occur – in the wildland-urban interface (WUI). To help address this problem, a multidisciplinary project team of faculty and affiliates from Cal Poly and Texas A&M University partnered with five California cities and counties to develop and test the Plan Integration for Resilience Scorecard™ (PIRS™) for Wildfire methodology. Originally developed for flooding, the PIRS™ method enables the systematic and spatial evaluation of a community‘s network of plans (e.g., Comprehensive Plan, Hazard Mitigation Plan, Community Wildfire Protection Plan). The process aimed to harmonize a community‘s plans by assessing policies using tailored geospatial analysis fitted to local needs. It facilitated an understanding of the heterogeneous effects of policy across a community, as well as the identification of policies that support resilience and those that inhibit risk reduction. Results indicated that the PIRS™ method can be applied to the wildfire hazard with slight methodological and contextual modifications. Wildland fire in the WUI presents a special challenge due to the dynamics of fuels (from the natural and built environment) interacting with climate, topography, and human variables (e.g., land use, development patterns). This presentation will provide an overview of the PIRS™ for Wildfire process, including methodological adjustments, findings from its application in the partner communities, and future research- and practice-oriented directions. 

Understanding the factors that influence evacuation behavior is critical for improving disaster response strategies. This study examined how trust in various information sources and institutions influenced evacuation decisions during Hurricane Irma (2017). Using survey data, the study employed logistic regression analysis to assess the relationship between trust variables (social media, coworkers, family, government institutions, and emergency management) and evacuation behavior, while controlling for demographic factors such as age, gender, education, political ideology, income, and risk perception.  Findings revealed that social trust (trust in social media, coworkers, and family) played a more significant role in evacuation decisions than institutional trust (government and emergency response agencies). Individuals who highly trust family, social media and coworkers for evacuation information were more likely to evacuate. On the other hand, trust in government agencies showed a weaker association with evacuation behavior. Among control variables, gender was a strong predictor, with women significantly less likely to evacuate than men. While income was not a major factor, there was a marginally significant negative effects, suggesting that higher income individuals were slightly less likely to evacuate. These findings emphasize the importance of leveraging social media, workplace communication channels, and local communities to disseminate evacuation orders more effectively. Policymakers and emergency response agencies should strengthen collaboration with social networks and digital platforms to increase evacuation compliance. Future research should explore how misinformation and digital trust dynamics affect evacuation decisions in real-time crises. 

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with immersive analytics and high-fidelity disaster simulations offers a new frontier of research in disaster and climate risk, enabling innovative ways of understanding risk and engaging in risk reduction and adaptation. This emerging research focused on developing a robust framework for experiential multi-hazard disaster simulation, leveraging generative AI and latent-diffusion models (LDMs) to create scientifically accurate post-disaster immersive environments with high spatial and contextual resolution. The generalized framework integrates risk assessment with visual-evidence data to generate hazard-dependent visual damage states of infrastructure and general disaster environments of varying severity. This framework was applied to a pilot case study in New York City to create immersive visualizations of future climate impacts in high-risk areas, using 360o Google Street View panoramas, custom LDMs, and data-driven narratives. The experience focused on post-storm recovery, combined with local business and community information from Google Places Application Programming Interface and New York City Open Data. By translating abstract risk models into tangible, immersive experiences, this research aimed to foster a deeper connection to resilience efforts, enabling communities and decision-makers to experience the consequences of their future choices in a more actionable and engaging manner.

Flooding remains the most prevalent natural hazard worldwide, prompting an urgent need for effective flood risk management around the world. Weather-related hazards, such as severe flooding disproportionately impact sub-Saharan Africa, where development-related obstacles undermine resilience to climate shocks. In May of 2023, flash flooding and landslides, killed 131 people, destroyed over 5,000 homes and impacted over 10,000 households in several provinces of Rwanda. After repeated flood and landslide events, Sebeya River has long been a focus of a wide variety of improvement initiatives from both domestic and international organizations. Implementation of flood resilience projects in Rwanda is complex because of severe land constraints due to its high population density, dependence on agricultural land for subsistence, challenging topography restricting safe areas for human settlements, and extreme poverty. Rwanda is called a “donor darling“ and a shining example of sustainable development progress with its willingness to embrace the United Nations (UN) and other multilateral development frameworks. Local planning documents and land regulations acknowledge hazard mitigation as essential for sustainable development, often referencing the UN Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and many international actors fund flood improvement projects. This research investigates the influence of global policy instruments and land use planning on damage in the 2023 floods in the Sebeya River basin via reviewing and analyzing existing land development policies, plans and projects overlayed with locations of damaged infrastructure. Lessons drawn from this case have potential to inform land use planning practices of both domestic and international actors around the world. 

As climate change accelerates the frequency and intensity of disasters, frontline communities face compounded emotional and material losses, yet the relationship between grief and resilience remains under-explored. Current scholarship often frames grief as an individual, psychological phenomenon, and correctly highlights its negative impacts on individuals and vulnerabilities. However, scholarship on grief has largely maintained conceptual silos between personal loss, acute disaster grief, ecological grief, and grief from structural inequality, treating these forms of loss as distinct rather than deeply interrelated. This fragmentation limits our understanding of how grief, as a relational and structurally embedded process, intersects with communal resilience in disaster-affected communities. This research employed a critical, intersectional sociological lens, combined with case study analysis of grief-aligned organizing in frontline climate justice communities—such as The Descendants Project in Louisiana’s River Parishes—to explore how grief-aligned practices shaped social cohesion and adaptability. This study showed that grief, when understood as a collective and relational process, fostered communal bonds and sustained long-term resilience, challenging dominant narratives that frame grief as a disruptive individual experience. By reframing grief as a generative force, this research advances theoretical and practical approaches to climate justice, offering insights to foster relational economies and care-based systems in the face of recurring disasters. Ultimately, this work underscored the importance of integrating intersectional-ecological grief literacy into disaster preparedness and recovery frameworks, highlighting grief’s potential to bridge differences and fortify community networks in an era of climate crisis. 

A Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and tsunami will cause significant damage to the natural, built, and human environments. Residents in the Pacific Northwest of the United States are at risk of being cut off from places, resources, and people within and between their communities through potential “islanding“ as a result of the loss of functionality of transportation systems and building damages. This study considered a M9.0 earthquake and subsequent coast-wide tsunami to quantify the damage and recovery of the transportation infrastructure and buildings. The authors used previously established metrics for connectivity and service area analyses, focusing on emergency services. The study simultaneously evaluated access to 53 hospitals in the region and access from 40 fire stations within 18 coastal communities in Oregon. Damage and recovery simulations of both the transportation networks and building components reinforced the importance of contextualizing local hazard impacts within a larger regional system. Quantified losses in access to emergency services for communities across the Oregon coast provide opportunities to consider: redundancies that may reduce response times, and prioritizing recovery by reducing restoration times. The results further contextualized these performance losses through demographic information which may impact both pre-disaster vulnerability and post-disaster capacity for recovery.

For 10 years the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Disaster Research Response (DR2) program has provided training, funding, and tools to build capacity for health research in response to disasters and public health emergencies. Disasters and public health emergencies, such as earthquakes, tornadoes, wildfires, and more, involve complex combinations of exposures and hazards that impact many different health outcomes. The DR2 program catalyzes disaster efforts and engages with partners to improve research through access to tools, information on funding and support, and training and educational materials. The DR2 Resources Portal is a curated repository of over 500 data collection tools that aid researchers in the field. The DR2 community of practice is essential to sharing information and fostering collaboration on disaster research and development of resources. The translation of knowledge from such studies into policies and interventions can strengthen recovery efforts, reduce adverse health impacts, and build resilience, especially in populations experiencing disproportionate impacts from disasters. The DR2 program has played a pivotal role in facilitating the building of community trust and connecting communities with the vast disaster research community. The DR2 program has grown and evolved to meet the ever-growing need for resources to inform future response, recovery, and preparedness efforts, which in turn, will help increase resiliency among individuals, communities, and nations. 

Environmental determinants of health, including natural disasters and public health emergencies, have a wide range of impacts on human health. To advance health research on these topics, comprehensive and robust data are needed. Complex environmental exposure and health data are often collected for reasons other than health research, particularly in disaster and emergency settings, and require much effort to access, harmonized, and linked. The National Institute of Health has developed a data ecosystem for the Connecting Health Outcomes Research and Data Systems (CHORDS) project,  funded by the Office of the Secretary Patient-Centered Outcomes Trust Fund, aimed at addressing these challenges. The suite of CHORDS resources includes a curated data catalog, software tools and tutorials tailored to users of different levels of expertise, and standardized, linked datasets. This project showcases data resources and provides a brief overview of software and educational materials the research community, policymakers, educators, and the general public can use to facilitate health-related disaster research. As part of the study, a wildfire-use case is employed to demonstrate a practical application of these resources. With these tools and tutorials available from the CHORDS data ecosystem,  clinicians, environmental health specialists, exposure scientists, and disaster and preparedness researchers can find data access, harmonization, and integration processes easier to navigate and achieve.

Compound natural hazard events are increasing globally, but emergency management agencies and the communities they serve are not always well prepared for multiple hazards occurring in the same place at the same time, or in quick succession. Defined as “two or more extreme disaster events occurring simultaneously or sequentially“ in a given location or “combinations of extreme events with underlying conditions that amplify their impact“, such compound hazard events are increasing under climate change. This Australian research scoped global best practices on compound hazard communication and then sought to understand how compound hazards are currently communicated in practice in Australia. This study asked: (1 )What is international best-practice for awareness, education and communication around compound natural hazards?; (2) How can emergency management organisations in Australia best engage with communities for preparedness, response and recovery from compound natural hazards?; and (3) What stakeholders/collaborators are required for effective community engagement with communities on compound hazards? This study comprised three case studies in hazard-affected Australian communities, impacted by multiple hazards including fire, flood, cyclone, severe winds, water contamination, and COVID-19, concurrently or consecutively. Results show that engagement on compound hazards is challenged by a lack of definitional agreement, as well as the distinct nature of the complex communication environment when hazards are multiple, as distinct from single-hazard events.  A framework for best practices of community engagement for compound hazards, was created and will be presented in this paper presentation. The presentation will also discuss how findings from Australia might be applied elsewhere. 

Coastal Louisiana experiences significant economic losses from tropical cyclones, disproportionately impacting disadvantaged communities. Traditional resilience planning often overlooks the intersection of wind risk and social equity, leaving vulnerable populations at greater risk of damage and financial hardship. This research evaluates wind risk disparities and assesses the effectiveness of enhanced building code practices in mitigating structural damage and economic loss. The study addressed two key research questions: (1) How do economic impacts from wind events vary among socio-economic groups? (2) To what extent do existing and improved building codes reduce wind risk equitably? The study employed Monte Carlo simulations to estimate Expected Annual Structure Damage (EASD) and Expected Annual Damage in Dollars (EADD), integrating FEMA Hazus-MH loss functions with demographic and socioeconomic data. Environmental justice analyses identified disparities in risk exposure and mitigation benefits across income, race, and homeownership status. Preliminary findings reveal that lower-income and minority communities face greater wind risk exposure due to inadequate building conditions, and financial barriers to insurance and mitigation measures. Enhanced building codes significantly reduced structural damage, yet disparities persisted in access to these protective measures. This research provides evidence-based insights for policymakers and emergency planners to develop equitable hazard mitigation strategies. By incorporating social equity considerations into wind resilience planning, the study advocates for inclusive policies that prioritize vulnerable communities, ensuring fair distribution of resilience benefits and improved long-term recovery outcomes in  Louisiana’s coastal regions.

Climate change has increased the frequency, intensity, and cost of extreme weather events, particularly floods and hurricanes, requiring equitable mitigation strategies. Federal agencies in the United States, as the main source of funding for flood mitigation, have a critical responsibility to ensure that their programs address the disproportionate impacts of these disasters on populations. It is therefore crucial for federal programs to incorporate systematic equity in the mitigation program design, policies, and resource allocation. This ensures that stakeholders can access, understand, and benefit from these resources to enhance resilience against future hazards. However, there is no systematic assessment framework and application of how federal flood and hurricane mitigation assistance programs incorporate or ignore systematic equity through distributive, procedural, and recognitional dimensions. This study aimed to fill this gap by using the Annual Publication of Assistance Listings to identify federal flood and hurricane mitigation programs and developed a framework to evaluate how equity is reflected in the information provided within the assistance listings. The analysis showed that examples of procedural equity are more prevalent, while fewer programs highlight distributive or recognitional dimensions. The study also found variations in the extent to which programs incorporate or ignore systematic equity, mainly due to the type of assistance they provide and the level of detail included in the assistance listings. By highlighting equitable practices and critical equity gaps, this research provided practical insights for policymakers and practitioners to improve the design and implementation of federal assistance programs. 

Though there is an extensive and growing scholarship on hazard mitigation as a key component of community disaster resilience, gaps remain in our understanding of hazard mitigation plan (HMP) implementation at the municipal or county levels. The scholarship on policy implementation tells us that implementation is rarely considered in the design of policy, as the general assumption is that implementation naturally follows policy adoption, which in turn leads to implementation gaps. This place-based study looks at the implementation of multi-jurisdictional HMPs in coastal rural North Carolina counties to examine the changing forms of governance systems that remain an under-explored aspect of hazards mitigation planning and implementation. The study draws upon findings from content analysis of 20 multi-jurisdictional county-level HMPs and extensive in-depth interviews conducted with planners, emergency managers, and public officials in nine of the 20 coastal counties. Results show that while hazard mitigation planning, management, and implementation are decentralized to local governments, the decision-making authority and programs associated with the key tools, funding, and related regulations are centralized at the state or federal levels leading to a fractured and shifting landscape of hazard mitigation governance that create barriers to the implementation of HMPs. The current governance landscape comprises programs mismatched to local needs, implementation authority fragmented across jurisdictions, and uncertainty and lack of clarity regarding program guidelines. Local governments that have the resources to navigate this shifting and confusing landscape are better to build community resilience through HMP implementation.

Plastic, an offer of modernity, has become an essential part of everyday life. However, it presents a massive threat in altered forms, to publich health and the environment. Plastics not only pollute the surface environment, freshwater, and marine ecosystems, but toxic elements released from plastics can also contaminate groundwater, often considered “safe" drinking water. This probable risk is deeply rooted in the entire governance infrastructure of plastic waste, which could potentially lead to groundwater contamination. Thus, a state-sponsored “safe drinking water” initiative could contrarily produce a “risk society”. Informed by Beck’s “risk society” and based on literature review, ethnographic observations, interviews, and lived experience in a plastic-wrapped city of Dhaka, this research shed light on the complex interface of plastic, water, and public health, on the relevance of Beck‘s ‘risk society‘ to understand this complexity, and on replicating the idea of ‘risk society‘ in the case of Bangladesh. By examining the plastic–groundwater–waste management nexus, this study highlights and advocates for a new strategy of plastic governance in modern states.

This study employed a longitudinal approach to analyze housing recovery following Hurricane Sandy, utilizing survival analysis to assess the time required for property values to return to or exceed their pre-disaster appraised values. Lots’ appraised values before the hurricane and across multiple years post-disaster were extracted as proxies for damage severity and recovery progress. The recovery timeline was then linked to household and housing characteristics to determine their significance in long-term recovery. Results indicated that households with higher socioeconomic status and education levels, as well as those residing in older homes, tended to recover more slowly compared to their counterparts. These findings provide critical insights into the factors influencing long-term housing recovery, offering valuable guidance for disaster recovery planning and policymaking at various levels to enhance resilience and equitable recovery outcomes.

In past decades, wildfire events have become more extreme and impactful around the world. Current suppression-based techniques are failing to counter the growing number of severe wildfires. The concept of fire resilience has become increasingly relevant as society looks to understand and respond to recent wildfire events, moving away from fire suppression. In particular, the idea of a ‘fire resilient landscape’ is one that has been utilized to explore how society can coexist with wildfires. However, the concept of fire resilient landscapes has often been approached in silos, either from an environmental or social perspective; no integrated definition exists. Based on a synthesis of literature, and a survey of scientists and practitioners, this research defined a fire resilient landscape as “a socio-ecological system that accepts the presence of fire, whilst preventing significant losses through landscape management, community engagement and effective recovery.” This common definition can help guide policy surrounding fire resilient landscapes, and exemplify how such landscapes could be initiated in practice. The authors proposed five main themes of a fire resilient landscape: acceptance and use of fire, landscape management, community engagement, loss avoidance and recovery. The study exploreds the applicability of the proposed definition and themes in both Mediterranean and temperate Europe.

Transportation-insecure households are more likely to rely on public transit and, thus, face significant challenges during evacuations from fast-moving wildfires. These households, often low-income and historically under-researched, also face compounded risks after evacuation including extended exposure to toxic air while evacuating, and limited ability to adapt to bus service disruptions that may jeopardize access to healthcare and other essential destinations. This research explored the question of how transit riders evacuated during,and adapted their daily travel patterns after the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, given altered transit routes. In addition, the study examined how these travel patterns were associated with potential exposure to toxic air and self-reported health outcomes. To do so, the researchers surveyed Los Angeles County public transit riders through the TransitApp, and conducted semi-structured follow-up interviews. Preliminary results indicated that car-less households relied more heavily on walking and taking the train to evacuate, and took longer to evacuate than car-owning households. General health status and respiratory-related issues during and after the fires differed by race and gender. Respondents reported health-related symptoms while waiting for transit. Common health-protective measures included avoiding transit and wearing a mask. This research has important implications for how transportation agencies and emergency preparedness planners manage risks for transit-reliant and zero-vehicle households for climate-adaptive evacuation planning. 

The ongoing increase in extreme heat events has prompted various cities in the United States to introduce indoor maximum temperature regulations to protect vulnerable populations. However, without guidance and sufficient support, the cooling measures adopted to address these regulations may increase power outage risk and potentially leave vulnerable population without power. Active cooling strategies such as air conditioning provide quick relief from heat but can cause significant spikes in power demand. This surge strains power lines operating near capacity, increasing the likelihood of power shortages and cascading failures during heatwaves. As extreme heat events increase in frequency and severity, it is critical for decisionmakers to develop protection policies that are resilient to climate change, minimize the risk of grid failure, and align with climate goals. To this end, this project tested various cooling strategies including different types of active strategies in combination with passive ones over a range of plausible futures using a decision making under deep uncertainty framework.  The study examined the impacts of uncertain factors such as the severity of heat extremes, urban form, building insulation and albedo, and human behavior on measures of energy use, cost, and emissions. Results indicated that approaches that minimize the tradeoffs between various priorities and are robust to a wide range of futures. This research used Los Angeles (LA) County as a case study, although the methodology can be scaled to aid other cities facing similar challenges.

Hurricane Beryl has caused widespread devastation across the eastern Caribbean and Texas, resulting in significant loss of life and millions without power. The Texas government urged evacuations, but the return-entry process for evacuees remains a critical challenge. Social vulnerability (SV), defined by demographic and socioeconomic factors affecting communities‘ resilience to natural hazards, significantly influences human behaviors within the impacted area. SV has been characterized by the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), but SVI is static and annually updated. Therefore, it cannot capture the rapid changes in demographics and population movements during the disaster response phase. This research aims to develop a Dynamic Social Vulnerability Index (DSVI) that integrates the traditional SVI with real-time data on population density and movement provided by Meta and publicly available hospital location datasets. DSVI can dynamically assess SV in public health by analyzing population movement and hospital accessibility, focusing on Grenada, Saint Vincent, Grenadines, and Texas, affected by Hurricane Beryl. The results found that DSVI can identify the daily changes in social vulnerability compared to SVI. Specifically, highly vulnerable and secure areas are mixed in three major cities, San Antonio, Houston, and Corpus Christi, at the census tract level. The results demonstrate dynamic changes in social equity, considering hospital accessibility during and after Hurricane Beryl.

In September 2017, Puerto Rico was hit by the destructive Hurricane Maria. The infrastructural damages of the hurricanes leave residents without power, water, communication, and other utility services. The devastation led to a massive displacement of the people of Puerto Rico. This study assesses whether those who were displaced due to Hurricane Maria had more mental health problems than their counterparts or not. This study surveyed 507 Puerto Rican adults in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2019. Using logistic regression analyses, the study demonstrates the relationship between displacement and mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, among others) by controlling for socioeconomic factors, pre-disaster characteristics, and perceived risk. The study suggests that the mental health challenges are prominent among Hurricane Maria survivors, especially those who were displaced permanently. Based on these results, the researchers recommend local and federal government interventions to ratify plans to lessen post-disaster mental instability and facilitate access to mental health services in disaster-impacted communities. 

On December 9, 2023, a deadly tornado outbreak hit Middle Tennessee causing seven fatalities, 100 injuries, and damage to thousands of homes. This study used a  quick response survey  to understand how weather information and warnings, environmental cues, social, situational, and socioeconomic factors interacted to influence the quality of tornado preparedness and sheltering by different segments of the public. The authors collected a total of 823 surveys  from a convenience sample. National Weather Service social media and  a paid Qualtrics panel disseminated the surveys. The authors used Chi square and regression analysis to answer the following research questions: 1) What was the quality of preparedness and sheltering activities for vulnerable versus other population groups?; 2) What was the relative influence of different social, environmental, cognitive, demographic, or situational factors on preparedness and sheltering activities for vulnerable groups versus other population groups?; and 3) What are the implications of these findings for practice and policy? Results showed that 87% of respondents were aware of the possibility of severe weather beforehand. There were also observed differences in preparedness levels, especially amongst those ages 65 and above and those with incomes over $50,000 who were less prepared. Overall, 76% of respondents said they sheltered, though just 57% took “high quality” shelter. Of those who sheltered, 33% did so in under five minutes. Factors seen as most influential in sheltering decisions included storm intensity and proximity, receipt of a warning, and concern or fear for family/friends. Results can help practitioners improve emergency preparedness and response during tornado disasters.

While federal funding for flood mitigation has increased in recent years, the extent to which those funds are directed to those in greatest need is unclear.  Recent work in the national context has shown that at county and neighborhood scales, race and socioeconomic status predict the flow of funds for flood buyout and structure elevation projects. However, those studies have not clearly tied the distribution of funding to variance in flood exposure, nor have they examined those who apply but may not ultimately receive funding. This study constructed a first-of-its kind dataset to track who is flooded, who applied for mitigation funding, and who received funding over two decades in the state of North Carolina. This research compared the records of applications and funded mitigations to modeled reconstructions of flood exposure from 78 flood events between 1996 and 2020 and a suite of other micro-data characteristics at the property-scale. Findings suggest that application for federal flood mitigation assistance serves as a pinch point: relatively few flooded homeowners apply, but those who do are from less-white neighborhoods and more affordable homes relative to their neighbors. Continuing this trend from application, those who ultimately receive funding are in even less-white neighborhoods and in more-so affordable homes. However, repetitive flood exposure has minimal correlation with likelihood of application or funding receipt. Overall, the results imply that flooded residents in marginalized neighborhoods have been able to access federal funds to some extent, but funding may not reach all who need it in the state. 

The effectiveness of weather warnings, particularly for tornadoes, extends beyond the warning systems' technicalities. Key factors influencing response times include social and political determinants of health, demographic characteristics, and individuals' prior disaster experiences. This study reviewed existing literature on tornado warnings, drawing on emergent norm theory to address a critical gap in understanding human behavior during tornado warnings, specifically, the concept of "milling." Milling refers to the delay in seeking safety following a weather warning due to individuals' hesitation to confirm the warning's accuracy. To reduce milling delays, this conceptual paper suggested integrating the Biopsychosocial (BPS) Model—a comprehensive framework from social work that considers biological, psychological, and social factors. This people-centered approach encouraged a more holistic response, potentially decreasing milling time, and promoting quicker shelter-seeking behavior. Incorporating this model into current warning systems offered an innovative way to enhance public responsiveness to tornado warnings, potentially saving lives.

Rural resilience is a concept that spans the disciplines of vulnerability scholarship, hazards-risks-disasters (HRD) scholarship, urban planning, and rural development, among many others. Hundreds of peer-reviewed journal articles now directly address rural resilience, emphasizing how rural needs and challenges differ from urban and suburban areas. These articles study topics such as outmigration, hazard exposure, natural resources, economic sustainability, rapid development, and tourism. Following years of growing academic interest in rural resilience as a distinct field of study, there now exists a need to review the emerging literature for trends, key takeaways, and research gaps for future study. This paper conducts a systematic literature review of rural resilience research. Blending traditional and AI-driven approaches, this study synthesizes the findings of approximately 200 peer-reviewed journal articles that directly engage the concepts of rural resilience and rural community resilience. The authors overview the state of the field, key research themes for rural resilience, gaps in knowledge and future research needs, and how this literature review informs resilience practices, particularly in the western United States. The authors will also emphasize how resilience-building institutions can apply these findings to more effectively collaborate with rural communities moving forward.

In late February and early March of 2024, nearly 1.25 million acres of the rural Texas panhandle region were burned in a period of less than two weeks. The wildfires significantly disrupted healthcare operations and services, particularly for hospitals, assisted living facilities, and other healthcare institutions. Emergency management and healthcare officials and staff in rural communities were faced with making critical decisions to maintain healthcare services and operations. This presentation focuses on two research questions: 1) What are the organizational decision-making and behavioral processes to maintain institutional healthcare operations and services in communities affected by the wildfires? And, 2) How do these processes and relationships affect planning and implementation for healthcare entities and the local communities they serve? The study relied on semi-structured interviews with 18 officials and staff within emergency management and healthcare facilities in directly impacted communities, as well as secondary data (local plans, after-action reports, news media, and social media), and observational fieldwork. Initial findings focus on: 1) the relationship between emergency management and healthcare officials in the context of the disaster, 2) the influence of this relationship on decision-making to maintain continuity and access to healthcare services, such as decisions to evacuate or expand services to the community, and 3) the implications for adaptation and resilience in a context of increasing risk.

With the growing impacts of climate change on communities globally, the study of resilience is increasingly important to academics, practitioners, and policymakers alike. Central to resilience thinking in the context of hazards are the coping and adaptive strategies used by households during hazard-induced shocks. However, measuring resilience remains a challenge. Most efforts to measure resilience have used ‘objective‘ indicators, focused on observable socioeconomic variables such as household income and access to social safety nets. These objective approaches have suffered from difficulties in selecting indicators, being context-specific, and being based on external ‘expert‘ judgment and verification. From these critiques, the approach of subjective resilience has emerged, recognizing the relevance of people‘s own understanding of the factors affecting their ability to anticipate, buffer, and adapt to disturbance. Despite its clear potential, efforts to understand how people evaluate their own resilience to hazards is still emerging. This study drew from a survey of pastoralists in Northern Tanzania to explore resilience measurement. The survey included both objective and subjective approaches to measuring resilience, and, in doing so, it aimed to better understand how well objective indicators match those from subjective self-assessments, and if they might lead to different conclusions about levels of resilience. This study was one of the first to combine objective and subjective measures of resilience, contributing significantly to knowledge of how to more effectively measure resilience and how to interpret those measures for successful resilience-building efforts in policy-making, development, and humanitarian projects globally. 

To what extent have the updated 2021 Field Triage Trauma Guidelines (FTTG) been effectively implemented since their inception? Is there a history of implementing new trauma triage protocols or guidelines in the field? The authors conducted literature review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines that identified papers discussing, promoting, or implementing the FTTG. The authors searched for published journal articles and reports using the PubMed, SCOPUS, Clinical Key, and Google Scholar databases between May and July 2024. The results were uploaded to Covidence for abstract screening and full-text review. The literature search revealed 57 articles referencing updates to the 2021 Field Triage Trauma Guidelines. The findings varied widely, from basic citations of recent updates to detailed discussions on the revised triage criteria. Notably, the criteria related to vital signs and the professional judgment of EMS clinicians were frequently highlighted. These findings shed light on an important challenge facing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in the United States: the fragmentation of EMS systems, largely due to insufficient federal oversight of protocols. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been a staunch advocate for advancing the FTTG’s. By collaborating with the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH), the insights gained from this review will be instrumental in driving the development of future initiatives aimed at improving FTTG implementation. This, in turn, will enhance training and lead to better outcomes in emergency response efforts.

Bangladesh’s persistent ranking among the highest in the Climate Risk Index has positioned the country as a critical site for climate vulnerability research. This study moved beyond mere vulnerability assessments towards developing strategic climate actions. Collaborating with the Bangladesh Cotton Development Board, the team comprehensively analysed key stakeholders in the cotton production cycle, from pre-seedbed preparation to cotton consumption, focusing on both climatic and non-climatic vulnerabilities and capacities. Utilizing a participatory approach, this study co-developed an actionable climate adaptation plan. The proposed actions were categorized based on the feasibility of implementation, resource investment requirements, and potential for success. This study was conducted across five major cotton-growing districts in Bangladesh. It involved extensive fieldwork, including interviews with 60 cotton farmers, 12 input suppliers, five cotton scientists, one agrometeorologist, two agro-bankers, ten ginners, and other actors engaged in cotton production. Focus group discussions were also held with cotton farmers, and data collection efforts were further supported through fieldwork with the Cotton Development Board to validate findings. The study presented strategic recommendations that include formal climate risk assessments, the development of climate-resilient agronomic packages, and enhanced stakeholder collaboration. These recommendations align with national agricultural policies and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), strengthen cotton production against climate risks and extend resilience practices to other crops within Bangladesh. Furthermore, the study provided a scalable model for addressing climate vulnerabilities across various cropping systems, advocating for an integrated approach to agricultural planning and policy-making to safeguard sustainable livelihoods and food security in climate change. 

This study examined the intersection of extreme heat, mobility, and daily routines in the lives of unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness (PEH). As climate change intensifies, the increasing frequency and severity of extreme heat events pose significant health risks, particularly for PEH who rely on public spaces and transit systems to meet their basic needs. Utilizing qualitative research methods, including in-depth interviews with 41 unsheltered individuals in Broward County, this study explored the unique challenges they face in managing extreme heat, maintaining mobility, and structuring their day-to-day activities. The findings highlight the profound effects of heat on both physical and mental health, as well as the ways in which mobility constraints exacerbate these impacts. This research underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions, such as accessible cooling resources and flexible transit options, alongside more inclusive public policies that account for the lived realities of this vulnerable population.

This study focused on methodological perspectives, offering practical strategies for conducting safe and effective interviews with people experiencing homelessness (PEH) to gain valuable insights into their lived experiences. It provided researchers with tools for using interviews as an instrument in a naturalistic setting. The study began by introducing the Functional Equivalents for Methodological Reporting Framework. It then outlined the Methodological Guidelines for Interviewing PEH, emphasizing key aspects such as identifying the target population, preparation, data security, incentives, documentation, and building trust. This study highlighted the value of these strategies for capturing meaningful data and deep insights into the dimensions of homelessness. 

The United States faces significant challenges in managing natural disaster debris, which encompasses various materials, such as building materials and vegetation generated by disaster events. Despite significant investments in post-disaster recovery, little is known about the intricacies of disaster debris management, particularly how different social, ecological, and economic factors are prioritized in the decision-making process, and how those decisions impact residents and businesses. This research investigated the different socio-economic and environmental factors that may influence debris management decisions, and their impact on community recovery. It examined stakeholder and community perspectives and experiences regarding disaster debris management in Florida, USA after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The authors conducted 32 semi-structured interviews with contractors and local officials to identify hurricane debris management perspectives and challenges. Qualitative data analysis revealed several factors that inhibited effective disaster debris management including communication and collaboration across agencies and communities, health and environmental concerns, and perceived inequities in resource distribution and technological support. These findings contribute to other disaster debris management planning such as  the coastal communities of Oregon that could be impacted by a Cascadia Subduction zone earthquake and Tsunami. Finally, the authors provided insight into  how the interviews were incorporated into geospatial analysis and products that can informed disaster debris management planning for this region. 

Flooding is the most common and pervasive environmental hazard in the United States. Yet, most of our theories and tools for proper mitigation (lessening and avoidance) of flood risks are predicated on strong city-level governance. Despite a third of United States residents residing in “unincorporated areas,“ which lack city-level governance, we still have not identified the barriers they face in mitigating flood risk or developed tools specially designed for rural contexts. Instead, recent research shows how rural communities often adapt their mitigation plans from templates intended for large cities, leading to poor outcomes for their plans. Additionally, rural communities have seen greater decreases in hazard mitigation funding relative to urban areas. This project examined barriers to flood mitigation across four low-income, unincorporated communities of color in California‘s Bay Area following the 2023 Winter Storms, which brought widespread flooding to the region. This research interviewed local leaders and representatives across the four communities between 2023 and 2025 to uncover the major barriers unearthed through these storms, as communities sought to protect themselves from future floods. The research also goes a step further to identify possible solutions to remedy these barriers. In 2025, the study also conducted focus groups to determine the viability of these possible solutions. This presentation will cover both the barriers uncovered and the solutions moving forward. Findings pay particular attention to the added barriers facing low-income unincorporated communities.

This study analyzed global disaster resilience research to understand its geographical distribution and identify research hotspots and underrepresented regions. This study highlights regional disparities in resilience research and collaboration, contributing to the global discourse on marginalized areas. Using bibliometric analysis of Web of Science (WoS) data from 2010 to 2020, this study mapped disaster resilience research trends based on keyword analysis. To contextualize these findings, this study incorporated empirical disaster impact data from the Emergency Events Database maintained by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. A key innovation of this study is the Disaster Resilience Research Score (DRRS), a quantifiable metric assessing each country‘s contribution to disaster resilience research. The DRRS considers publications, citations, and institutional involvement, offering a comprehensive evaluation of global research activity. Study results highlight leading research nations, including the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy. In contrast, countries such as Ecuador, Algeria, Kenya, Cambodia, and Myanmar, despite their high vulnerability to hazards, exhibit limited research activity. Additionally, leading research nations primarily collaborate within their own networks, limiting knowledge exchange with underrepresented regions. This study underscored the importance of bridging gaps between resilience research hotspots and marginalized areas to foster a more inclusive, global response to climate change and hazards. Identifying these hot and cold spots can inform future research priorities and strengthen international collaborations for a more equitable and sustainable approach to disaster resilience. 

Climate change is increasing hazards and disasters, impacting food, energy, and water (FEW) systems. As a result, communities face failures in FEW, threatening their health and well-being. In areas with state neglect and poor disaster management, community leaders become first responders to FEW system risks. In this project the authors utilized community-based participatory research (CBPR) with leaders from Corcovada, a rural community in western Puerto Rico, to explore the interconnections among experiences of FEW insecurity and related health challenges amid rising hazards. Drawing on two-day workshops, engagement with leaders and observations in the community a thematic qualitative analysis showed that energy security is crucial for food and water security, influencing food preparation, nutrition, and water quality. Reliable energy access for medication storage and health equipment also raised community health concerns. In this research the authors found that collaborating with leaders through CBPR enhanced FEW security via capacity building, identifying local challenges for scalable solutions, and creating community-driven initiatives. The authors asserted that local leaders are essential in FEW policy and decision-making. Involving communities in FEW research deepens understanding of challenges post-hazards and supports crafting beneficial solutions. 

Social vulnerability (SV) links the relationship between socioeconomic characteristics and differences in how an individual or community prepares for, withstands, and recovers from hazardous events. The hazards and disaster research community often depends on composite indices to measure SV, which include various indicators designed to represent aspects of SV. Used across national, state, and local policy scales to determine consequence assessment and how decision makers equitably allocate limited resources, SV indices aim to reduce disparities. While there are a few established SV indices in the United States, namely the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry‘s (CDC/ATSDR) Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and the Social Vulnerability Index (SOVI), there has been a recent rise in custom-made SV indices. Our team‘s systematic literature review revealed that there is not yet a comprehensive list of choices made during the SVI construction process for custom-made indices with explicit assumptions and limitations made at each stage in the data science workflow. To address this gap, our research synthesizes key literature sources, experiences from researchers familiar with SVI construction, and semi-structured interviews with community partners to advance the scientific exploration of the linkage between SV and hazards. Our findings emphasize the need for SV index designers and users to understand the assumptions underlying SV indices and the importance of community engagement in validating locally focused custom social vulnerability indices.

Extreme weather events like wildfires threaten the southwestern United States due to its unique topography, vegetation, and community exposure to the wildland-urban interface (WUI). In high-risk zones of wildfire, rural and disadvantaged communities are usually the most susceptible to the wildfire impacts, and need more resources and recovery efforts. Efficient wildfire management and resource allocation policies thus play a pivotal role in enhancing resilience. However, state-level and local guidelines for wildfire management vary significantly across the United States, driven by wildfire exposure, demographics, and budgetary priorities. Although there is a growing literature on wildfire management, there are limited studies that compare wildfire resource allocation across states. This study investigated key sociodemographic drivers (e.g., educational attainment, income, rural communities) of post-wildfire resource allocation in California, Arizona, and Colorado to address this gap. The authors collected data on wildfire incidents and sociodemographic information  from multiple sources between 2015 and 2022. This data-driven study implementd a library of interpretable machine learning models to evaluate county-level social inequities in post-wildfire resource allocation across the states. Preliminary results in California highlighted that disadvantaged WUI communities (e.g., higher proportions of lower income, less education, disabled, elderly population) are disproportionately impacted by wildfires as opposed to their wealthier counterparts. In contrast, Arizona showed a targeted resource allocation plan to benefit WUI communities and minimize hazard mitigation expenses. The outcomes of this study provided more informed strategic decisions and policymaking for efficient wildfire management, enhancing community resilience. 

Households face unaccounted for burdens when wastewater treatment systems fail. The situation in the Alabama Black Belt is particularly concerning. Nearly 90% of onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS), such as septic systems, function poorly, leading to sewage runoff and backup into homes. Previous studies have addressed coping costs and actions in the Global South, yet little research has examined the Global North. This study aimed to determine (1) time, financial, and labor burdens and (2) health and emotional impacts of OWTS. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 residents of Hale County, Alabama. Invited residents were those with an on-site wastewater system and expressed interest in receiving a service extension to a newly constructed modular wastewater system. This allowed the authors to examine coping burdens before and after service extension. Nvivo was used for deductive and inductive coding. Results indicated that (1) residents devoted considerable time and out-of-pocket expense to cope with substandard wastewater systems, and (2) residents experienced worsened mental health due to poorly functioning systems. Policy implications of these findings are that households reliant on inadequate OWTS face multiple consequences. Centralized sewer systems are prioritized by state and Federal assistance programs; better targeting of OWTS could result in substantial quality of life improvements.

Social vulnerability is a complex, dynamic concept and phenomenon that can be useful for disaster planning and response. Social vulnerability indices represent a heuristic tool to identify places where several socioeconomic factors coincide to exacerbate disaster risks. Since 2006, these indices have relied on American Community Survey (ACS) data, which uses smaller sample sizes than the previous decennial census long-form data. Despite concerns about uncertainty in social vulnerability measures, no study has directly addressed how this uncertainty affects rankings and maps. This study quantifies uncertainty in the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), developed by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Using the 2020 SVI, this research applied a Monte Carlo model in RStudio at the census tract level for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region Four. The model incorporates margins of error (MoEs) from ACS data for 16 indicators to generate four themes and the overall SVI with corresponding MoEs. This process allows for further analysis using coefficients of variation to map uncertainty within the SVI. Additionally, the authors calculated the information entropy of census tract rankings across Monte Carlo simulations. This spatial analysis identifies regions where compounded uncertainties may limit the index‘s reliability as a decision-making tool. The findings are valuable for disaster planning, emergency response, and public health research, helping identify areas and populations at greater risk during and after disasters.

Despite significant progress in treating mental and physical health illnesses, malnutrition remains a significant challenge with serious impact on global public health. While everyone can be affected by malnutrition, children are the most vulnerable. A majority of malnourished children are concentrated in two regions: sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Much research has already focused on the social and economic factors of malnutrition. However, there remains much to uncover regarding the impact of environmental hazards (e.g., flooding) on malnutrition. This project studied the prevalence of malnutrition in flood-impacted areas of Bangladesh. This project utilizes multiple datasets including nationally representative children‘s data, and five-year flood data, to provide insights into the prevalence of malnutrition in the flood-impacted areas. Using a multi-level logistic regression, the findings indicate that two of three important indicators of malnutrition, stunting and wasting, are not associated with living in flood-impacted areas. However, the third indicator of malnutrition, underweight, shows higher levels in flood-impacted areas compared to areas not flood-impacted, controlling for various sociodemographic variables at individual and district levels. Implications center on  policies that could potentially mitigate the impact of flooding on malnutrition. Most importantly, for Bangladesh where malnutrition is already prevalent, identifying disaster-related risks for children allows government and NGOs to effectively address malnutrition in flood-impacted areas. 

Communities have varying types and levels of climate vulnerability that can shape the way they experience the impacts of climate change. Integrating data on a social, economic, and biophysical factors that inform climate vulnerability into a single, geospatial tool can help form a more holistic picture of climate vulnerability that can better inform climate-related planning, policy, and resource allocation decisions. This presentation will describe a project undertaken by Eastern Research Group, Inc. (ERG) under contract to the Vermont Climate Action Office to develop an interactive, geospatial municipal vulnerability indicators (MVI) tool that can be used to help identify where Vermont communities are most vulnerable to climate change. ERG will describe the key methods used to develop the MVI that can easily be transferred to other geographies, including: engaging potential tool users and representatives from vulnerable populations in order to identify key factors of climate vulnerability, tool use considerations, and barriers to tool implementation; developing a tool framework and methods based on desired tool outcomes, available data, and budget and time constraints; and creation of a user-friendly tool that balances the needs of a range of user types. ERG will share the MVI developed through this project and close with lessons learned and opportunities for future work.

On April 26, 2024, the Arbor Day tornado, rated an EF-4, impacted Douglas and Washington counties in eastern Nebraska. Researchers conducted rapid needs assessments to collect perishable data on physical and mental well-being, preparedness, early warnings and communications, protective actions, and recovery resources at the household level in both counties. Further, the authors asked additional questions about individual mental health and well-being. In Washington County, 138 participants completed surveys  in a 2-stage, stratified cluster sample. In an online/telephonic stratified random sample, 150 participants completed surveys  in Douglas County. The tornado negatively impacted individual health and well-being, with roughly 17% of respondents in both counties reporting feeling down, depressed, or hopeless for at least several days in the two weeks prior to survey completion. Exacerbated allergies, worsening of pre-existing mental health conditions, poor sleep, agitated behavior, and concentration problems were prevalent in both counties. Almost all respondents knew the difference between watches and warnings, but less than 35% of households had emergency supply kits. Television was the most frequently utilized and preferred method of receiving emergency communications. These surveys assessed the immediate health impacts, and the results should inform longer-term public health action within the affected communities, especially for the promotion of resources and supports for mental health and well-being. Forthcoming one-year follow-up surveys will assess the longitudinal impacts of the tornado. 

In 2022, one in six United States households experienced food insecurity. This problem worsens during disasters, leading to severe health effects such as malnutrition, hunger, and cardiovascular or digestive issues. Many organizations working to combat food insecurity in disaster situations rely on partnerships to support affected communities. However, little research has been done on how these interorganizational collaborations operate, especially in addressing the complex nature of post-disaster food insecurity. Understanding the purpose of collaboration and the barriers organizations face is critical to improving future response efforts. This research explored these collaboration dynamics. It relied on 20 semi-structured interviews with representatives from coastal North Carolina food pantries, faith-based organizations, local governments, and coalition leaders. The study identified three key purposes of collaboration: identifying needs, coordinating resources, and building relationships during non-crisis periods. Findings reveal that organizations face challenges like inadequate communication channels, a lack of established connections, and competing interests, which all undermine their ability to effectively serve vulnerable populations. Despite these challenges, coalitions and alliances proved instrumental in overcoming some of these obstacles, fostering trust, and improving coordination. The results suggest that developing more structured, proactive networking during non-crisis times can strengthen collaboration efforts during disasters, enabling a more adaptable and efficient response to their unpredictable nature.

Wildfire-induced Critical Infrastructure System (CIS) disruptions significantly impact wildland-urban interface (WUI) households. Conventional metrics often miss day-to-day consequences, focusing more specifically on financial costs or service outages. This research assessed which household capabilities are disrupted, and their impact on health and well-being ,to inform a human-centered social burden metric through the Capability Approach lens. This metric can support wildfire resource management and policy-making for a risk-informed, human-centered emergency management system. Surveying 732 wildfire-impacted households in the Southwest U.S., this research measured disruptions to 13 capabilities, and their impact on health and well-being. Cooking food and accessing clean air were significantly and most broadly disrupted, while drinking water access and lighting homes were less affected. Additionally, results from a Bayes-Mallows model show the most significant health and well-being impacts from losing the ability to cook food, access clean air, food, and drinking water, and refrigerate food and medicine. These findings provide valuable data for developing a human-centered social burden metric, informing strategies to address household needs during wildfire-induced CIS disruptions, and contributing to more effective emergency management and resilience planning in WUI communities.

When homes are destroyed by wildfire, impacted households must decide whether to rebuild in the same location, relocate to a new site in the same community, or relocate to an entirely new community. Relatively few studies have examined the factors—tangible and intangible—that influence these household rebuilding and relocation decisions. This study explored residential decision-making with households (n=70) in four California counties that have lost a home to wildfire since 2015. Accordingly, this cross-sectional, recovery-centric dataset included accounts from survivors who are between two and seven years removed from their respective fire event. Photovoice, a participant-driven qualitative method emphasizing reflection, visuality, and situated knowledge, were used in data collection to elicit discussion of place attachments that may influence decisions to either stay and rebuild or to seek a new place of residence elsewhere. The analysis used a modified version of Schewel‘s (2019) aspiration-capability framework from migration theory to answer three related questions: 1) What factors do wildfire survivors consider in deciding to stay or relocate after losing their home? 2) How do these factors differ with respect to a household‘s ultimate mobility decision? 3) How do these factors differ with respect to time since the fire? Preliminary findings revealed a complex picture where capacities and aspirations to relocate are often intertwined. Place identity emerged as a key driver of residential location decision making. Additionally, nearly all residents questioned their ultimate residential adjustment decision, often for reasons related to future wildfire risk, coping ability, or economic stability.

The National Risk Index (NRI) provides a comprehensive assessment of community-level natural hazard risks, incorporating both hazard likelihood and social vulnerability. Concurrently, the historical practice of redlining, implemented by the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) in the 1930s, continues to influence urban segregation, socioeconomic disparities, and environmental inequities despite its prohibition in 1968. Existing research has largely overlooked the connection between historical redlining practices and contemporary vulnerability to natural disasters. Additionally, tools like the NRI may not fully capture the nuanced socioeconomic legacies of redlined neighborhoods, hindering the development of targeted resilience strategies. This research explored three key questions: How do natural hazard risks differ across neighborhoods with different historical redlining grades? How does historical redlining impact national risk, community risk factors, and expected annual loss? What strategies can planners and policymakers implement to enhance resilience in historically disadvantaged communities? The study integrated Federal Emergency Management Agency NRI data, HOLC Redlining Maps, and census data, employing nonparametric tests to compare risk scores across HOLC grades for 11 natural hazards. Researchers conducted spatial regression analyses to account for dependencies in the assessment of redlining’s impact on risk metrics. Findings reveal that historically redlined neighborhoods exhibit statistically significant higher natural hazard risk scores and community risk factors than areas with better grades, demonstrating redlining’s enduring legacy on environmental vulnerability. These results support practical interventions including targeted infrastructure upgrades in historically underserved communities, hazard-specific mitigation strategies calibrated to redlined areas’ unique risk profiles and increased green infrastructure to address historical environmental inequities.

The 2025 California wildfires have been among the most devastating in recent history, revealing critical vulnerabilities in infrastructure, emergency response coordination, and societal resilience. This crisis has also underscored challenges related to misinformation, social inequalities, and environmental justice while emphasizing the need for effective collaboration among government agencies, nonprofits, private sector entities, and community groups. These organizations function within boundary-spanning networks, where efficient knowledge sharing is essential for informed decision-making and effective response efforts. However, structural, cultural, technological, and relational barriers often impede the flow of critical information, reducing the overall effectiveness of these networks. This research investigated the factors that hinder knowledge sharing within wildfire emergency management networks and explores strategies to enhance collaboration. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, incorporating case study analysis, document review, and Social Network Analysis (SNA) using UCINET software to map emergency management networks, identify knowledge bottlenecks, and pinpoint coordination gaps. Grounded in Network Theory and Organizational Learning Theory, the research examined how network structures and adaptive capacity influence knowledge exchange. By adopting a SNA perspective, this study aimed to develop a framework to improve knowledge-sharing mechanisms in wildfire response efforts. The  findings sought to enhance emergency management strategies, strengthen interagency collaboration, and improve disaster resilience for future wildfire events.

Though Bangladesh is often labelled as “climate change ground zero,” the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) were never considered a significant climate change hotspot until heavy rainfall and consequent landslides in 2017. This shift in problem narrative overlooks an array of environmentally unsustainable ‘development‘ initiatives along with (il)legal deforestation. This research examined climate change trends and impacts on the lives and livelihoods of diverse local groups in CHT. By analysing changing patterns in meteorological data, and qualitative information on changes and challenges in everyday life and the livelihoods of local people, this research shows a shortfall of captured climate data on CHT to make a strong case for climate change. Yet, this study finds that the CHT region is exposed to a substantial threat of land degradation, flash floods, water scarcity, landslides, and other slow and quick onsets due to a combined effect of deforestation, neoliberalised development, and slight changes in temperature and precipitation patterns. This study calls for proactive measures to address climate change impacts by endorsing sustainable development strategies prioritizing environmental stewardship, social justice, and economic prosperity.

This work explores communicators‘ experiences through the lens of the Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication model to identify common experiences across the risk communication and crisis lifecycle. The research questions focus on the identification of strategies, barriers, and opportunities to strengthen smoke risk communication. The research team conducted 29 semi-structured interviews with 39 air quality communicators in the Pacific Northwest. The researchers used Dedoose qualitative software and predominantly conducted an inductive thematic analysis approach by initial open coding of the data into emergent codes based on the research questions, and then axial coding, where codes were examined and grouped together into more general thematic patterns in response to research questions. The process was iterative, with researchers meeting frequently to discuss the development of codes and themes. Communicators described using multiple strategies for reaching the public about issues related to smoke, including relying on networked practices, in-person outreach, and employing strategic message design and communication choices. Many participants did not discuss formal metrics or evaluation processes but described different anecdotes for measuring communication impact or effectiveness. Participants said they were limited by staff, funding, and overall capacity, but also acknowledged this was a common scenario for many individuals and organizations. Two other themes emerged throughout the conversations: information and communication-based issues, and a wide range of risk perceptions and knowledge bases. Lastly, participants described opportunities for communication planning and design, followed by ideas of how to better work with the medical community.

As destructive wildfires increase, affected communities are increasingly considering wildfire mitigation strategies to decrease their exposure and sensitivity. Implementing mitigation efforts, including defensible space maintenance and home hardening, requires extensive coordination between multiple levels of government, community organizations, and residents. However, these entities have differing resource capabilities and constraints, and they are motivated by different incentive structures. Although efforts to publicly subsidize costly mitigation efforts could decrease community exposure, they raise questions about who and what should be protected, and whether public entities should pay for improvements that benefit individual property owners. Few studies have investigated how implementers (i.e., government and community leaders) and homeowners understand their respective responsibilities for mitigating wildfire, or how expectations around public versus private costs and benefits differ. This paper draws upon interviews from two studies, one focused on mitigation implementers (n=18) and another with homeowners who lost their homes to wildfire (n=37) from two adjacent California counties that differ in affluence and capacity. Our analysis uses a grounded theory approach to answer three related questions: 1) What expectations exist regarding responsibility for bearing mitigation costs? 2) How are benefits of mitigation characterized? And, 3) How do these understandings differ between implementers and homeowners? Preliminary findings highlight the disconnect between implementers and homeowners in delineating governmental (public) and individual (private) responsibility for wildfire mitigation. Understanding how perceptions of responsibility differ can help align implementer and homeowner mitigation efforts, ensuring that benefits of mitigation efforts support community-wide adaptation to wildfire.

This study explored how wildland fire characteristics, incident response, and community composition collectively shape local community reactions and outcomes. In this initial phase, the authors leveraged daily incident reporting, remote sensing, and census tract-level data to categorize large, complex wildfires into distinct fire archetypes. These archetypes provided a valuable framework for examining wildfire in relation to communities directly at threat. The authors discussed preliminary findings regarding fire archetypes including an outline to the approach for integrating these archetypes into research-grade wildfire datasets. Further, the authors identified future steps in research including the development of real-time analytics for monitoring community-level reactions and organized responses to high-priority wildfires at the national level. By improving the ability to predict and detect disproportionate community distress or significant mobilization efforts, this research aimed to strengthen coordination among federal, state, and local partners.

There are over 24,000 miles of levees in the United States (USA). The Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, USA alone has over 180 miles of levees. Many of these levees are reaching the end of their design life and are locally owned and operated by small, rural communities. This creates significant financial and logistical challenges for levee maintenance, upgrades, and management of increasingly uncertain risks associated with changing weather patterns. Local governments and levee managers must be able to effectively engage their communities in dialogues about the value of flood protection and levee decision making. This study presented new, model-driven, realistic animated 3D visualizations being developed as communication tools to better support Pennsylvania levee communities’ communication needs and to support levee safety. These visualizations applied methods developed for ocean coasts and estuaries to riverine flooding. The development of these visualizations will potentially expand communication tools in riverine contexts, and ultimately allow for better representation of compound flooding where rivers and estuaries meet.

Academic interest in the intersection of environmental justice (EJ), climate justice (CJ), and coastal hazards, such as flooding and erosion, increased in recent years due to political mandates and increased risks. This study comprised a systematic literature review on EJ, CJ, and coastal hazards worldwide. Overall, a majority of the papers reviewed determined that the most vulnerable populations are also the most at risk to coastal hazards. However, there was a dearth of information on the historical causes of this phenomenon. Our research poses the question: Can you write about environmental justice without writing about justice? The study present recommendations for coastal hazards researchers, Federal science agencies, and boundary organizations working on the intersection of justice and coastal hazards to remedy the gaps in the literature.

During major disaster events, social media serves as a critical platform for user interactions, real-time updates, resource coordination, and public awareness. However, the rapid spread of misinformation presents significant challenges, complicating crisis communication and response efforts. To address this, a structured framework inspired by the classification principles of the Periodic Table of Elements is proposed for systematically categorizing social media users based on their engagement behaviors. The proposed Stakeholder Engagement Periodic Table classifies users into Bot and Non-Bot categories, with Non-Bot users further subcategorized as Individuals, Agencies, and Non-Profits. These groups were analyzed across multiple dimensions, including sentiment analysis, discussion topics, temporal activity patterns, network interactions, and information switching behaviors. By leveraging advanced natural language processing, network science, and census data, this study analyzed geotagged posts from disaster-related discussions on X in Oklahoma over a three-year period (2020–2022). Additionally, periodic tables generated from multi-year social media data were compared to examine trends over time and the consistency of stakeholder behavior each year. The way the development of periodic table in chemical science has evolved from Lavoisier’s classification to Moseley‘s atomic number-based arrangement, it has revolutionized our understanding of elements and their interactions. Thus, the proposed framework provides a novel approach for policymakers and emergency responders to enhance stakeholder engagement strategies, improve information accuracy, and optimize disaster response coordination.

Oklahoma is a disaster-prone state with multifaceted risks from natural disasters. Understanding the risk perceptions of at-risk communities is critical to an efficient response and the overall recovery efforts. Examining the interplay between community-level risk factors and residents‘ demographic characteristics can enhance our understanding of public risk perceptions in the face of multiple natural hazards. As such, this study used statewide household survey data and a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) framework to explore the interrelationships between residents’ present risk perceptions, prior experiences, and future risk perceptions in Oklahoma. Sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents were incorporated into the modeling framework to identify statistically significant factors influencing household risk perceptions. Results show the highest risk perceptions toward tornadoes and floods. People who have experienced natural hazards in the past are much more likely to presently feel at-risk. Past experiences most severely impact how at-risk people feel at a given time. Past experiences also shape how people think about future risks, and they influence future risk perceptions even more than present risk perceptions. Gender and home location have the biggest impact on how they perceive risk. The findings show that men tend to feel less at-risk than women. Additionally, as people get older, their sense of risk increases. Such findings can shape targeted strategies to address specific vulnerabilities, making disaster management efforts more effective and adaptive to the needs of local populations.

Studies examining post-disaster recovery and resilience through community-based participatory action research methods, especially in U.S. territories, remain scarce in the interdisciplinary disaster literature. This study addressed these gaps in the literature by utilizing photovoice, one such methodology that captures the lived experiences. This study recruited 24 community members as photovoice participants from the municipalities of Comerio and Loiza in Puerto Rico. Participants were provided  training on the photovoice technique, followed by participants discussing their photographs, identifying key challenges, and discussing alternatives to address these challenges. The participants also showcased their photos through exhibits in their communities in addition to exhibits in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Miami, Florida. 

This study was based on the content analysis of 56 photographs from Comerio and Loiza. Its results are the following: (1) physical vulnerability and disaster impacts were the most prominent themes within the photographic collection; (2) the participants prioritized mitigation actions over recovery actions; and (3) a majority of the proposed actions were seen as being in the purview of the government. These findings indicate that disaster affected communities are critically aware of their risk exposure and vulnerability, and take a long-range perspective to recovery, and into resilience. More importantly, they expect the government to lead this process to greater disaster resilience. This study offers powerful insights on the lived realities of those affected by disasters to policymakers and a roadmap for building community resilience that is informed not by theory, but by the community itself. 

The National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) at Columbia University’s Columbia Climate School has released a new dataset and map application containing climate change-informed projections for four natural hazards in the United States. Using the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) for climate change scenarios, this data set includes mid-century hazard projections for Wildfires, and mid- and end-century hazard projections for tropical cyclones, tornadoes, and sea level rise. These projections include novel data such as the Tornado Environment Index (TEI), post-processing of newly developed and released data for wildfire from the United States Forest Service (USFS), tropical cyclone wind fields from the Columbia Hazard model--a statistical-dynamical downscaling model--and the combination of two National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration datasets for sea level rise inundation estimates. These data are intended to support enhanced community preparedness and planning for emergency management, public health, the private sector, individuals and households, and academics who would like to employ pre-processed data for multivariate and contextual analyses in prospective climate scenarios.

The Adaptive and Resilient Infrastructures driven by Social Equity (ARISE) project is developing computational decision-support tools for assisting communities in resilience planning. A stochastic heterofunctional graph is used for modeling physical, social, and economic functionalities in a community. A key research question has been on establishing how different functionalities contribute to a community‘s well-being and standard of living, given each community‘s uniqueness. To capture a community‘s characteristics, the ARISE team used seven community capitals, namely, built, social, cultural, human, natural, political, financial, as a framework for organizing community assets, and working with five partner counties in Kansas to gain depth, context, and detail through community engaged research.  

A key engagement approach has been hosting community studios, where representatives from the county participate in a structured half-day session. During the studios, participants list, categorize, and rate assets in their community that build equity and resilience. The findings from these studios provided quantitative relationships in the model, including capturing similarities and differences across geographies.

The ARISE team formulated household surveys that established pair-wise rankings of functionality values, based on the community characteristics. The collection of pair-wise rankings is processed into a total order of functionality values, that is based solely on the perception of the communities‘ members, reflecting a bottom-up sense of fairness. Finally, outcomes can be used to inform operational and investment decision making. This presentation will share the methodology, comparative findings from the studios, and preview how the community data are integrated into the computational tools.

Floods are the most common and impactful weather-based natural hazard, costing many lives and billions of dollars in damages. Studies predict there will be a 26.4% increase in US-based flood risk by 2050. The ever-changing nature of floods and the costs they can have on life, well-being, and property necessitate effective flood communication, yet we need to know more about how communication tools are used by communities. This project assesses how local community organizations receive, share, and use flood warning communication, including how they perceive those messages. The study investigated how flood information is disseminated through local communities using the IDEA (Internationalization, Dissemination, Explanation, Action) model and answers the following research questions: (1) How do local organizations receive, share, and use flood warning communication in anticipation of a flooding event?and (2) What are local organizations‘ perceptions of flood warning communication? The researched used a mixed-methods triangulation approach to collect and analyze data and then conducted a thematic analysis across our audience segments to identify common trends in the data and to create maps of previously unmeasured communication pathways for each location we studied. For example, findings demonstrate that participants across audience segments generally trust information they receive from NOAA and that email, phone calls, and alerts are some of the most common channels for flood communication. These findings offer a better understanding of how communities use flood information and communication tools for decision-making.

As wildfires increasingly devastate communities in the Pacific Northwest, the recovery experiences of Latine(/x/o) populations remain under-examined in research. This study applied the Community Capitals Framework to assess wildfire recovery among two Latine communities in Oregon and Washington affected by wildfire in the last 4-10 years, identifying strengths and barriers across various capitals (i.e. political/organizational, financial, human, social, natural, built, and cultural). By centering community strengths alongside systemic barriers, this research provided insights to foster culturally responsive and equitable recovery efforts for historically marginalized populations. Findings indicated that cultural and social capital were the biggest strengths, while political/organizational capital was one of the biggest obstacles. Cultural capital challenges, including systemic racism and inadequate community support infrastructure, contrasted with strengths in shared identity, cultural events, and cross-cultural solidarity. Organizational and bureaucratic obstacles hindered recovery, while grassroots organizing played a crucial role in navigating these challenges. Significant individual barriers included mental health struggles and pre-existing health sensitivities , yet mental fortitude and informal local leadership emerged as key strengths. Social capital—particularly strong family and friend networks—facilitated immediate and long-term recovery efforts. The study also discussed community capital in wildfire recovery settings and how Inatural hazard practitioners and researchers can integrate this approach in their work. This approach has implications for equitable disaster recovery policy development, risk communication strategies, and resilience-building initiatives. 

In 2014, the Carlton Complex wildfire devastated Okanogan County, Washington, burning over 200,000 acres and destroying 353 homes. This was followed the next year by the Okanogan Complex fire, impacting over 300,000 acres and destroying 120 homes. Additional destructive wildfires have occurred throughout the county over the last ten years. During this timeframe, the county has also experienced dramatic demographic and cultural shifts related to moving from a primarily remote rural agricultural community to an outdoor recreation destination. However, these demographic and economic changes, as well as recovery from wildfires, have followed different trajectories in various regions across the county leading to uneven adoption of long-term wildfire adaptation strategies and access to economic opportunities. This study used data from 55 in-depth interviews with wildfire survivors, long-term recovery groups and community-based organizations that represent a wide range of socioeconomic, cultural, and recovery lived experiences from long-time residents, second homeowners, Tribal members, ranchers, and others. The authors employed the community capitals framework and provided key insights regarding how resource or capital strengths and deficits ranging from natural, social, cultural, and political influence how diverse “communities within communities“ in Okanogan County are persisting, adapting, and in some cases, transforming, their relationship with wildfires and negotiating a resilience space within larger socioecological systems. Based on these findings the authors provided recommendations for natural hazard practitioners and future directions for researchers.  Based on our findings, we will provide recommendations for natural hazard practitioners and future directions for researchers.

Urban greening is widely used in United States cities to enhance thermal comfort, biodiversity, and community well-being. Given the numerous benefits of trees, many cities have adopted ambitious tree planting initiatives. However, research shows that these efforts may have unintended social consequences, such as green gentrification or reinforcing historical patterns of disinvestment. While urban tree canopy expansion is a key focus, there remains limited understanding of where investments occur and the factors influencing these decisions. This study examined Phoenix, Arizona — the fastest-warming and fastest-growing city in the United States— as a case study. Like many cities, Phoenix has a tree canopy goal but faces constraints due to limited available planting spaces. The city is bound to specific areas, known as Landscape Maintenance Areas (LMAs), where it owns the land and can plant vegetation or add shade. These LMAs are unevenly distributed, potentially mirroring broader racial and socioeconomic disparities. This pattern has sparked conversations in the community where members have raised concerns about ensuring tree planting efforts prioritize historically marginalized neighborhoods. In response to city officials’ research needs, this study analyzed the spatial distribution of LMAs to identify factors such as historical housing policies and urban development patterns) that shape the LMA locations and, consequently, tree canopy investments. Preliminary findings indicate that higher-income areas have a greater percentage of LMA tree canopy coverage, and areas with higher percentages of minority populations have lower tree canopy in LMAs. Understanding these patterns can inform more equitable strategies, ensuring that investments are equitably distributed.

There is relatively little research addressing emergency supply kit (ESK) ownership immediately after a disaster strikes to help determine their overall effectiveness. The goal of this study was to determine the efficacy and public health impact of ESKs among the population affected by Hurricane Ian. Following Hurricane Ian‘s landfall, a cross-sectional survey was conducted between October and December 2022. The sampling frame included 5,000 households among evacuation Zone B in five Florida counties. Address-Based Sampling was used with options to complete the survey online or in paper form. Descriptive analyses were conducted to examine distributions of demographic characteristics, having an ESK, items in a household ESK, and items most needed. A total of 1,342 respondents completed the survey (~29%). The majority had heard of an ESK prior to the survey (87.3%) and 60.3% had an ESK at the time of Hurricane Ian. The top item that was in household ESKs and deemed most helpful was stored water at 93.2% and 64.4%, respectively. When asked about items that were needed from their ESK during or immediately after the storm, stored water was needed the most (62.9%). Roughly half (54.2%) of respondents had a member of their household leave home within 72 hours of impact for at least one item. These data serve as a foundation for understanding the landscape of ESK ownership, most used, and most needed items immediately after a hurricane‘s impact. ESK item lists can be modified in hurricane-prone areas to prioritize the most essential items.

Worldwide the annual number of reported disasters has nearly doubled in the past two decades driven by climate-related events and increased vulnerability from urbanization and population growth. Despite this rise, gaps remain in funding, implementation, and the integration of equity and justice in disaster management. Vulnerable communities face heightened risks due to systemic inequalities. Disasters stem from interactions between natural, technological, and human systems, necessitating expertise from diverse fields such as engineering, social sciences, public health, and emergency management. Understanding the root causes of disasters is crucial for mitigation and response efforts. Team science excels in addressing complex, multi-sectoral problems by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthening disaster research and applied solutions. This research addresseed an underexplored area and research gap in Science of Team Science literature, examining the challenges and best practices of applying team science in post-disaster settings. To accomplish this, the analysis identified and evaluated best practices and implementation challenges in team science through a multi-disciplinary meta-aggregation literature review. A case study of a multi-institutional project in Puerto Rico after Hurricanes Irma and Maria critically examined the applicability and limitations of team science in post-disaster research. The resulting findings provide a set of guidelines for teams to assess and refine their collaborative practices in team science. 

This study explored community resilience to cyclones and storm surges in Bangladesh, aiming to enhance resilience strategies in the United States. Coastal communities in Bangladesh, long accustomed to the challenges of severe cyclones, have developed resilience through a blend of both traditional knowledge and adaptation strategies. The authors explored community resilience in coastal Bangladesh, conceptualizing it through the subjective experiences of local actors, with a focus on their cultural practices and historical context. Following a participatory mixed-method approach, the research identified seven key community resilience attributes—namely, ‘knowledge, skills, and learning’; values and beliefs; ‘people-place connection’;‘ social networks and support’; ‘active institutions’; and ‘self-organization’. Findings indicated that these attributes behaved interactively rather than independently, proving essential for both rapid recovery and transformation toward new economic and livelihood pathways. While the functionality of these resilience attributes varied according to the economic base, occupations, and specific vulnerability contexts of different communities, these indicators provided valuable frameworks. Similarly, the authors explored community resilience attributes in the flood and hurricane-prone areas in Vermont, USA to evaluate their role in fostering resilience within different contexts. Despite differences in socioeconomic conditions and disaster governance structure between Bangladesh and the USA, the resilience and adaptive strategies developed in Bangladesh may offer valuable insights for building resilient communities in the face of changing climate. Integrating learning from Bangladesh into the USA resilience framework could help communities better prepare for, respond to, and recover from extreme weather events.

How does proximity to a disaster shape perceptions of disaster risk and support for disaster risk reduction (DRR) policies in the aftermath of that event?  Even more fundamentally, how should researchers think about (and measure) the concept of “proximity“? Understanding the factors that drive public support for DRR is crucial for designing and implementing effective DRR policies.  Disasters themselves are “potential focusing events,” drawing attention to the issue and creating opportunities for new approaches.  This study analyzed public opinion in Mexico after 2023‘s Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 storm that caused at least 52 fatalities and an estimated US$12-16 billion in damage. Using unique longitudinal public opinion data collected by the researchers before and after the hurricane, the study employed a “difference-in-differences event study” design to assess changes in public support for DRR policies and, specifically, isolate the causal impact of proximity to the disaster. This study also unpacked what disaster researchers mean by “proximity,” testing two different concepts in our causal analysis: (1) the influence of physical proximity to the disaster, and (2) the influence of social proximity, and of different information sources—e.g. whether individuals learned about and were exposed to the event through personal communications, social media networks, or mass media.  By examining these causal mechanisms over time, the study assessed how risk perceptions are formed, how they shape immediate and longer-term support for DRR policies, and how these relationships evolve in the weeks and months following a disaster. 

This study examined how socioeconomic and political factors influenced community participation in the Federal Emergency Management Agency‘s  Community Rating System (CRS), specific to environmental justice concerns and patterns of social vulnerability across Florida communities. Despite the CRS program’s purpose to incentivize flood mitigation activities through insurance discounts, the participation of communities remains low. The research questions addressed which factors were associated with CRS participation, and how these patterns reflected existing social inequities and inequities in community resilience. Using Census data and historical CRS records, this research employed statistical modeling to identify the community characteristics that are associated with both initial participation and advancement through the program‘s tiered incentive system. The analysis accounted for how cities and counties may participate independently while considering potential geographic clustering of participating communities. Using an environmental justice lens, the analysis uncovered how governmental disaster preparedness programs may unintentionally reproduce and exacerbate existing social inequities and inequalities. The findings aimed to inform stakeholders to enhance the equity in voluntary flood resilience incentives as climate change worsens flood risk and impacts on socially vulnerable populations.  

This study challenged conventional assumptions about urban resilience by revealing how city size and administrative-political hierarchy influenced psychological patterns that affected tsunami response and preparedness in coastal communities. A comprehensive survey of 1,951 households across the tsunami inundation area of 10 coastal cities utilized eight validated psychological scales, uncovered distinct psychological patterns through k-means cluster analysis. The findings revealed an unexpected advantage in smaller cities (under 100,000 inhabitants), which demonstrated stronger psychological resilience to tsunami compared to their larger counterparts. These smaller communities exhibited higher scores in social norms, risk perception, objective knowledge, and neighborhood interaction. However, they also showed stronger home attachment, potentially complicating evacuation processes. In contrast, larger cities (over 100,000 inhabitants), including regional capitals and metropolitan areas, displayed lower resilience indicators but weaker home attachment, potentially facilitating evacuation. Linear regression analysis identified city type, personal social norms, risk perception, and neighborhood interaction as significant predictors of evacuation intention (Adj. R2=.125). Notably, in smaller cities, risk perception emerged as the sole predictor of evacuation intention (Adj. R2=.010; p-value ≤.083). These empirical findings not only suggested the need to reconsider traditional urban resilience frameworks but also provided a robust scientific basis for developing differentiated approaches in urban planning and public policy-making, tailored to the specific type of settlement. This nuanced understanding offers crucial insights for enhancing disaster risk reduction strategies in diverse coastal urban contexts, while challenging current paradigms of coastal development and urban growth in favor of more resilience-oriented planning approaches.

College students face cost, scheduling, and travel barriers to reproductive and abortion care, especially since many university campuses do not offer on-campus abortion services. This is particularly the case for students that are first-generation, racially marginalized, economically disadvantaged, immigrants, and/or young parents. The inability for college students to access these resources can lead to delayed care and impact academic performance and financial security. Additionally, college students are vulnerable to disasters as they are young, typically not financially independent, and often live in dormitories and/or away from their families and other support systems. Depending on where they grew up, college students may also not be familiar with local hazards and how to prepare or respond to disasters in the region where they go to school. However, how disasters affect college students‘ reproductive health access, behaviors, and aspirations is unclear. This study used a web survey to understand how disasters affect U.S. college students‘ (aged 18-23) access to reproductive health resources, their reproductive health behaviors, and their family planning aspirations. This study used a diverse pool of participants, including those that are a part of marginalized racial and ethnic groups, women of color, pregnant, low-income, immigrants/international, parents, and who speak English as a second language. The survey was available in Spanish to ensure accessibility. The knowledge gained during this study improved understanding of the experiences of diverse college students during and after disasters regarding their access to reproductive health resources and their family planning aspirations.

This study surveyed (N = 638) and interviewed (N = 8) residents of Auckland, New Zealand, in 2023 to explore whether seismic risk perceptions were influenced by either spatial comparisons or hazard salience. Comparisons to other areas of higher risk typically supresses mitigation and preparation behaviour. People may perceive less risk from earthquakes and be less inclined to take preparation actions if there are other, more salient hazards in their environment, either through cues (e.g., visible volcanic cones) or through recent experience (e.g., the severe weather events of early 2023). Survey respondents rated earthquakes highest for frequency of thought, likelihood, and severity of impact, while volcanoes were ranked the lowest across all three factors. However, volcanoes were the most  cited hazard by our interview participants and earthquakes the least. Further, little evidence was found of spatial comparisons in the survey but interview analysis showed that spatial comparisons can have either a negative or a positive influence on earthquake risk perception depending on the individual. The role of relative hazard may therefore be individual and context dependent. The 2023 severe weather events allowed this study to employ a natural experiment design in the survey to test the role of hazard comparisons. Participants who were negatively affected by the weather events rated earthquakes significantly lower across all three factors (frequency of thought, likelihood, and impact severity) compared to those who were not affected. Overall, these results show the importance of considering the influence of multi-hazard contexts on risk perception. 

For the past three years, an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Florida has worked with residents of Cedar Key, as part of two science co-production grants, to develop design concepts for nature-based coastal infrastructure (NBCI). As part of the engaged research process, the study evaluated community responses to NBCI along a green-gray spectrum, with an emphasis on envisioning a resilient future that harmonizes with evolving environmental and social dynamics. The results highlighted community preferences for green infrastructure, which participants favored for its ecological benefits and aesthetic value. The data revealed an inclination towards community stewardship and advocacy for NBCI, suggesting that a shift towards more participatory approaches in resilience planning is timely. A community-centered process allowed the team to encourage local visions of the future to emerge in Cedar Key, with the plan needing to adapt through multiple hurricane events during the research, with the research team playing their part in response and recovery. A community co-designed approach to sustainable coastal management reflects the workshop‘s focus on looking back at past successes and reimagining future possibilities. Reflecting on historical data and current trends, while working iteratively with local residents to design the future, this study advocated for a proactive stance in policy-making that incorporates a community-led vision into resilience planning. By embracing these insights, we can better navigate the complexities of future coastal challenges, ensuring that our strategies are not only effective but also supported by those they aim to protect.

Accurate modeling of the complex and unique interaction between the electricity distribution systems and wildfires is crucial for mitigating their devastating consequences. This study developed an optimization framework for designing strategic wildfire prevention policies that involved preemptive practices, such as electricity infrastructure hardening and public safety power shutoffs. Unlike existing studies that consider the pre- and post-wildfire event decisions separately, this study’s approach captured in a unified framework the interaction between the preemptive strategic actions, the wildfire propagation, and the post-event operational decisions, such as the microgrid formation and the electricity distribution policies. To identify resilient strategies, this study proposed a worst-case-analysis approach that leveraged a tri-level interdiction model focused on mitigating the worst possible disruption an uncontrolled wildfire can cause. To demonstrate the benefits of the framework, this study conducted a case study based on the IEEE 14 bus and IEEE 30 bus systems, testing their performance under the proposed prevention policies for different initial settings and risk scenarios. This study observed that hardening strategies are fundamental for minimizing the unserved demand and the detrimental effect on the electricity infrastructure inflicted by wildfires. Furthermore, study results provided evidence that public safety power shutoffs are particularly beneficial in scenarios where the hardening budget is low. Similarly, study findings noted that microgrids formed around distributed generators significantly improve the resiliency of electricity distribution systems in post-disaster scenarios. 

Using data from the Marshall Fire Unified Research Survey—a longitudinal household survey administered to residents of the Marshall Fire-affected areas of Colorado at three time points over two years—this research examined whether “climate gentrification” is an emerging issue in Boulder County. Climate gentrification is when the effects of climate change lead to wealthier residents displacing lower income or multigenerational residents from a community. The study evaluated this emerging issue through experiences and outcomes of homeowners seeking to rebuild their homes. A complete home rebuild or extensive remediation is costly, administratively burdensome, and may require access to secondary housing for over two years. Examining how the financial and social-emotional demands of reconstruction/remediation may drive changes in the composition of homeowners, as well as how homes themselves may change during reconstruction, this analysis offers important insight into whether signals of gentrification are present in Boulder County as a result of the Marshall fire. This analysis focused on homeowners because a home is often an individual or family’s most important asset, and other major needs in the life course—such as future elder care and providing resources to future generations—largely hinge on wealth accumulation through homeownership in the United States. If natural disasters make attainment of these assets less feasible for much of the existing population, it may also lead to further economic and social homogenization in affected communities, driving up housing costs for renters and homeowners alike, and causing a ripple effect of displacement and gentrification in neighboring communities.

This RAPID research initiated an in-depth exploration of time-poverty and time-use during hurricane preparedness, particularly targeting areas affected by the consecutive hurricanes Helene and Milton, in Florida. The back-to-back events underline the critical need for data collection, focusing on compounded stress and time demands resulting from the need for ongoing adjustments to daily routines. At the core of this investigation is the hypothesis that time-poverty represents a significant yet under-acknowledged social vulnerability, restricting the necessary discretionary time and flexibility for effective disaster preparedness. Through a geographically targeted survey, this study aimed to understand how individual characteristics, especially those related to time-poverty, influence time-use and pressure levels during preparations. Both employment roles and family responsibilities were investigated. This research is pivotal in enhancing the precision of disaster response strategies by tailoring them to the nuanced needs of diverse communities, thereby improving institutional management and emergency response effectiveness. Findings  contribute to refining America‘s Alert and Warning Infrastructure, ensuring that warning systems and policies are responsive to the varied capabilities of populations to manage impending threats. The urgency of this research, prompted by the perishable nature of the data post-Hurricanes Helene and Milton, positions it as a critical, time-sensitive endeavor that yields actionable insights for future disaster preparedness.

The human and economic costs of urban flooding are escalating globally due to increased urbanization and climate change. Aging stormwater infrastructure designed for past environments, and hydrological connectivity across large regions, leave urban settings vulnerable to flooding. Where flood management and planning depend on people working across organizations and jurisdictions, mismatches in the social and cultural contexts of the institutions responsible for decision-making can limit coordination and execution of infrastructure resilience planning and thus the impact of extreme flood events. This study examined how decision makers in metropolitan southwest Michigan build the resilience of interconnected civil and military infrastructure to extreme flooding, thereby safeguarding human health and safety, minimizing impacts to property, and maintaining research and mission capacity. Drawing on interviews and ethnographic research with decisionmakers from government, military, and nonprofit organizations (n=37), the study outlined social, cultural, and ecological factors affecting decision-making. It shows how these factors affect cross-jurisdictional cooperation in the management of infrastructure for and during extreme flood events. The results emphasize the importance of fostering connectivity among decision makers working across cultures and jurisdictions in metropolitan settings prone to extreme flooding, and outline ways to do so. The significance of building capacity for complex adaptive-systems resilience through improving collaboration across jurisdictions is reduced by impact of extreme flooding on infrastructure and improved national security and quality of life in cities.

Over the last decade, the use of visual methods, such as photo elicitation and PhotoVoice, has grown exponentially in studying community recovery efforts. While both scholars and practitioners acknowledge that visual methods can be a flexible, creative, and community-based means of data collection, implementation can be difficult and pose various ethical and cultural challenges. Drawing from data collected following the 2023 Maui fires, which included 31 interviews and 23 photos, this study explored the  adaption of photo-elicitation and PhotoVoice methods to account for cultural differences between the researchers and participants and the ways that we overcame implementation challenges in the field. Ethical issues encountered included establishing ways to acknowledge participants‘ individual stages of recovery and the need to establish guidelines for visually portraying impacted areas. Cultural issues that were encountered included a preference by participants for storytelling over visual storytelling and the research team’s cultural backgrounds impacting access to various populations. Showing examples from the final gallery, the study displayed the ways that the research team overcame these challenges. One example was to lean into narrative storytelling and incorporate ‘talk story‘—a native Hawaiian practice for slowing down to tell stories. Overall, study examples highlighted the importance of reflexivity and flexibility when implementing visual methodologies to study fire recovery efforts.

When COVID-19 devastated older-adult-specific organizations (long-term care homes and retirement homes), most public attention was driven toward the older-adult residents rather than their service providers, such as personal support workers. Some of these personal support workers are over the age of 55 and above and the pandemic grouped them in two categories: (1) a vulnerable and marginalized group who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and (2) essential healthcare workers who are tirelessly working on the frontline. Since the current disaster-driven research, practice, and policy have predominately focused on generalized assumptions of older-adults as a vulnerable, passive, and dependent group rather than recognizing their diversity, expertise, assets, and experiences, this study aims to identify their contributions from the perspective of older-adult personal support work (OAPSW). This qualitative study conducted in-depth interviews, inviting 15 OAPSWs from the Greater Toronto area, Canada. There were three major types of contributions of these OAPSWs within the individual-work-family triangulation that this study uncovered. At the individual level, OAPSWs protected physical health, mental health, and overall well-being for themselves and others. At the workplace level, OAPSWs reduced the spread of coronavirus in the workplace environment, managed their clients‘ challenging behaviors and supported their mental health, and provided mutual support for their co-workers. At the family level, OAPSWs were committed to protecting their nuclear families and supporting extended families. The outcomes inform the older-adult research, practice, policy, and public discourse by enhancing the appreciation of older-adults diverse strengths and promoting their engagement and contributions in disaster settings.

Tropical cyclones and their associated surge are major threats to the Gulf Coast of Texas. Mitigation of impact when conditions warrant evacuation requires extensive planning to develop prioritized zones to avoid exceeding evacuation route carrying capacity and resulting traffic gridlock. Zone planning begins with storm surge models provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to identify areas and populations at physical risk. Based upon estimates of persons, households, and vehicles in areas of potential impact, zone boundaries are drafted through a collaborative process by the research team then reviewed and modified by local stakeholders and experts in community meetings. Important consideration is given to designing zones to facilitate orderly evacuations which work within the limits of available routes of egress. Further, zone limits are ideally delineated by recognizable boundaries easily described in radio communications. The Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center (HRRC) has developed such zones for the entirety of the Texas Coast. In this presentation, steps to draft and review these zones are described. 

This study explores rural residents’ wildfire risk perceptions and evacuation decision-making during the 2024 spring Texas wildfires. Through an online survey, the authors collected data from 318 rural Texas Panhandle residents about how they received and processed fire alerts and warnings and the factors that affected their evacuation decision-making and behaviors. Four major findings were identified. First, rural residents demonstrated a medium level of perceived knowledge about wildfires, but their levels of wildfire preparedness during the 2024 wildfires outbreak were low. Therefore, disaster preparedness programs are needed to better prepare rural residents for furture wildfire disasters. Second, three factors significantly positively predicted people‘s evacuation intentions: age, risk perceptions, and exposure to disaster information during the 2024 wildfires. Third, the top three media channels people used to learn about wildfire information were television, social media apps, and personal networks. Finally, rural residents perceived two media channels to be the most credible in disaster communication: social media apps and governmental alerts. Thus, findings suggest that disaster management specialists and agencies make best use of the media channels that people trust in future disasters.

Agricultural infrastructure on small farms, including metal buildings, grain bins, and center pivot irrigation systems, is often overlooked in discussions of natural hazard impacts. However, damage to these structures can significantly disrupt farm operations and local economies. This study examines the resilience of small farms after natural hazards by analyzing both the vulnerability and functionality recovery of two critical agricultural structures, namely center pivot irrigation systems and poultry houses, considering hurricane events. The study area selected was northern Florida, where Hurricane Idalia (2023) and Hurricane Helene (2024) caused widespread damage to farms and agricultural structures. Damage and recovery of agricultural structures were assessed using post-event aerial imagery. By evaluating failure rates and damage patterns for both types of structures after the events, fragility functions relating the probability of damage to windspeed were developed. Results emphasize the relatively low windspeeds at which damage to agricultural structures is likely to occur, as well as construction variables that are linked to higher probabilities of damage. Furthermore, results of the recovery analysis indicate that approximately 63% of center pivots irrigators and 32% of poultry houses damaged in Hurricane Idalia (2023) were repaired within one year but were subsequently damaged again in Hurricane Helene (2024). This study contributes to the knowledge of disaster resilience in agriculture and provides recommendations for future research directions aimed at safeguarding the agricultural sector and enhancing community resilience.

Hurricane Ida (2021) exemplified how climate change exacerbates disasters for marginalized communities, yet gaps persist in aligning scientific evidence with stakeholder priorities. This study investigated how Gulf Coast residents, policymakers, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) perceive the role of human-induced climate change in disaster impacts and how these perceptions intersect or clash with attribution science. Drawing on environmental justice theory and intersectionality, the study employed semi-structured interviews (n=130) and comparative discourse analysis across South Louisiana to interrogate disparities in risk narratives and their policy implications. Funding for this project was provided by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Early Career Innovators program.

Preliminary findings suggested stark divides in the perceptions of climate attribution. Marginalized and disproportionately impacted communities often view disasters as direct consequences of climate change. Institutional actors prioritize short-term, institutional mandates and corporate influence over holistic climate action. These misalignments hinder cohesive disaster management and equitable policy responses. Data collection across stakeholder groups enables comparative analysis of how attribution science informs—or fails to inform—decision-making frameworks. The study aimed to bridge gaps between scientific evidence, public understanding, and governance by advocating for inclusive communication strategies that integrate climate justice principles. By aligning attribution science with stakeholder priorities, the research sought to foster resilience-building practices that address both immediate risks and long-term climate adaptation. Results offer actionable insights for policymakers, scientists, and community leaders to collaboratively address inequities exacerbated by climate-driven disasters.

Cancer remains a leading cause of death in the United States, with environmental pollution recognized as a significant risk factor. Previous studies suggest that social vulnerability and discriminatory urban policies such as historic redlining may impact cancer outcomes. However, current research presents mixed results and has not fully established how related factors simultaneously correlate with cancer outcomes. To address this gap, this research employed a structural equation model (SEM) based on two hypotheses: (1) social vulnerability relates to industrial pollution risk and cancer hospital utilization, and (2) redlining is linked to cancer hospital utilization through increased social vulnerability and industrial pollution. The study examines four 2020 ZIP Code tabulation area-level variables : industrial pollution risk, cancer hospital utilization, social vulnerability, and redlining for Texas. Results confirm significant relationships between social vulnerability and cancer hospital utilization, with industrial pollution risk serving as a positive mediator. A total effects analysis reveals that redlining is significantly related to cancer hospital utilization, considering the effects with social vulnerability and industrial pollution risk. These findings demonstrate how historical urban policies continue to shape contemporary health disparities by perpetuating social vulnerability. Understanding these pathways can inform targeted interventions to address environmental justice issues and reduce health inequities in communities with histories of structural discrimination.

Communities across California are increasingly threatened by wildfires as populations grow in an expanding wildland-urban interface, and with almost unending wildfire seasons that result in severe social wildfire impacts annually..ButHowever, wildfires remain a relatively under-researched social disaster type. Socioeconomic factors play a crucial role in determining how expected annual losses from wildfire impact people living in fire prone areas. This study integrateds the sociological approach to risk andsocial vulnerability, and employeds spatial econometric analysis to examine the interrelations of socioeconomic indicators and wildfire-related losses at the census-tract level. Using expected loss to wildfire data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency‘s National Risk Index, and social characteristics data from U.S. Census Bureau‘s 5-year American Community Survey, this research modeleddirect and spillover effects of economic, educational, and housing characteristics on total expected annual loss and its three components—agricultural, buildings, and population-equivalents. Findings indicated that lower-income communities, areas with higher unemployment, and tracts with lower rates of health insurance coverage experienced disproportionate impacts to wildfire-related losses. Conversely, census tracts with higher educational attainment and median household income exhibited reduced vulnerability. The study exposed significant spatial dependence in wildfire loss patterns, highlighting the importance of incorporating socioeconomic dimensions within and between census tracts into regional wildfire risk management and policy. By disaggregating indicators of social vulnerability into distinct variables that spatially analyzeintersections of social vulnerability and disaster impact, this research contributed to environmental justice discourse and offered insights for equitable resilience-building strategies in wildfire-prone regions. 

This study investigated human decision-making and the role of infrastructure during the rapid and devastating Maui wildfire, which was fueled by a hurricane in August 2023. The study is driven by three key factors: Maui‘s significant tourist population, which may react differently to warnings and evacuation instructions; the failure to activate any of the island‘s 80 warning sirens; and widespread cell and power outages that severely limited access to official alerts. This study surveyed 660 survivors after the event at the temporary shelters to understand how residents receive, communicate, and respond to the threat. The questionnaire obtained information about respondents‘ warning receipt, risk perception,  protective actions, evacuation time and logistics, and their expectations about warning receipt and their response to future wildfires. The results show that while only 5% received warnings from authorities due to power and signal outages, many participants displayed remarkable resourcefulness in determining evacuation routes, destinations, modes of transport, and preparation. However, only 16% of people have a family emergency plan and 20% of respondents took more than 30 minutes to prepare for the evacuation indicates the gaps in preparedness level. While 75% of respondents evacuated by their vehicles, 13% of them evacuated by foot. 12% went to a public shelter, 25% went to a public place, 27% went to a relative‘s house, and 26% went to a friend‘s house. The wildfire experience significantly influenced residents‘ risk perception, preparedness, and information-seeking behaviors. These findings provide valuable insights for improving disaster preparedness, response, and mitigation strategies. 

Local flood hazard policies are a partnership between the federal, state, and local governments in the United States. The National Flood Insurance Program provides flood insurance to communities and, in turn, requires local actions in reducing flood risk. The design and enforcement of flood policies depend on regulatory flood maps. Ample evidence has documented the limitations of these maps. Few have studied how local governments use flood maps, the barriers they face, and flood map features most valuable to local communities.

This project answers four questions: (1) what flood information is needed for local flood policies? (2) how much of this information is available? (3) what are the flood hazard designation uncertainties faced by local policymakers? (4) what are the watershed and community characteristics associated with these uncertainties? To address these questions, this study employed a data-driven spatiotemporal approach. Researchers compiled datasets consisting of flood hazard maps, records of map amendments, geomorphological and hydrological characteristics, and sociodemographic data for Virginia counties. The study first analyzed the availability of flood boundary and elevation information, and examined the underlying factors associated with the observed flood information (in)availability. Researchers then analyzed the temporal and spatial patterns of flood map amendments. Finally, the study identified watershed and community characteristics that predict hotspots of flood map uncertainties. The findings provide insights into future directions of flood mapping for local flood policies and offer local officials guidance about identifying floodplains prone to conflicts with property owners.

Earthquakes pose threats to the regional economy by disrupting business operations and triggering cascading effects due to systemic and sectoral interconnectedness. The resulting physical damages and macroeconomic changes affect household consumption and well-being, which disproportionately impacts vulnerable households. Previous socioeconomic impact assessments primarily rely on single-scenario analyses, which fail to capture the inherent uncertainty and variability of seismic risk. This study advanced the quantification of statewide macroeconomic impacts and household-level changes in well-being by implementing a probabilistic seismic risk assessment framework that accounted for a broad set of potential earthquake events and their likelihood. Using California as a case study, the authors conducted13,000 Monte Carlo simulations of potential future earthquake scenarios, followed by simulations of direct damage, post-earthquake multiregional multisectoral economic activities and household consumption changes throughout the recovery, considering income, savings, access to insurance, and other socioeconomic variables. The authors estimated key risk metrics, including annual exceedance rate and average annual values, for economic and well-being losses at multiple scales -- state-wide, subregional, sectoral, and household levels.  Furthermore, the authors used the model results to examine the relationship between direct and indirect losses, exploring the role of regional and sectoral interdependencies in amplifying or mitigating economic disruptions. The results were disaggregated by socioeconomic and demographic groups to understand their perceived seismic risk. By integrating probabilistic seismic hazard analysis with economic and social impact assessment, this study enhanced the understanding of earthquake-induced risks for informing disaster resilience and provides new tools for assessing statewide risk reduction initiatives and policies.