Social vulnerability and migration in the wake of disaster: The case of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-17-2008

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between place-based social vulnerability and post-disaster migration in the U.S. Gulf Coast region following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Using county-level data from the U.S. Census Bureau, we develop a regional index of social vulnerability and examine how its various dimensions are related to migration patterns in the wake of the storms. Our results show that places characterized by greater proportions of disadvantaged populations, housing damage, and, to a lesser degree, more densely built environments were significantly more likely to experience outmigration following the hurricanes. Our results also show that these relationships were not spatially random, but rather exhibited significant geographic clustering. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of these findings for future research and public policy. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2008.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Population and Environment

First Page

271

Last Page

291

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