Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Sociology

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, yet the social consequences of climate change attributable impacts remain relatively underexplored. This dissertation examines whether flooding attributable to climate change was associated with distinct post-disaster recovery outcomes following Hurricane Harvey in Harris County, Texas. To explore this link, parcel-level flood model outputs are integrated with Harris County Appraisal District parcel data and OpenFEMA records on tract-level flood insurance policies and post-Harvey aid. Response variables are operationalized as change scores to capture differences between pre- and post-storm conditions and outcomes are measured over a five-year post-storm period. Across chapters, particular emphasis is placed on the moderating role of neighborhood median income to explore how these relationships diverge by economic context. The first empirical chapter analyzes how property values respond to climate change attributable flooding, evaluating whether such impacts are associated with replication or reconfiguration of pre-existing inequalities. The second chapter examines post-storm ownership transitions, assessing how attributable flooding shapes both the likelihood of property sale and the type of buyer across neighborhoods. The third chapter examines whether attributable flooding influences net participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, with additional analyses exploring specific mechanisms driving this change. Results demonstrate that climate change not only intensifies hazards but also reshapes recovery processes in ways that disproportionately burden vulnerable communities. These findings highlight the need for policy approaches that address both pre-existing inequalities and the distinct impacts of climate change to promote more equitable and stable recovery outcomes.

Date

5-12-2026

Committee Chair

Smiley, Kevin T.

LSU Acknowledgement

1

LSU Accessibility Acknowledgment

1

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