Although there is a growing body of research examining public perceptions global climate change, little work has focused on the role place and proximity in shaping these perceptions. This study extends previous conceptual models explaining risk perception associated with change by adding spatial dimension. Specifically, Geographic Information Systems analytical techniques are used to map measure survey respondents' physical expected change. Using existing data, multiple measures...

Studies on the impacts of hurricanes, tropical storms, and tornados indicate that poor communities colour suffer disproportionately in human death injury.(2) Few quantitative studies have been conducted degree to which flood events affect socially vulnerable populations. We address this research void by analysing 832 countywide Texas from 1997-2001. Specifically, we examine whether geographic localities characterised high percentages populations experience significantly more casualties due...

Climate change is conventionally recognised as a large-scale issue resolved through regional or national policy initiatives. However, little research has been done to directly evaluate local climate action plans. This study examines 40 recently adopted plans in the US and analyses how well they recognise concepts of prepare for mitigation adaptation. The results indicate that have high level 'awareness', moderate 'analysis capabilities' change, relatively limited 'action approaches'...

Abstract Social factors influence the ability of coastal communities and their populations to anticipate, respond, resist, recover from disasters. Galveston, TX, offers aunique opportunity test efficacy social vulnerability mapping identify inequalities in ways that different parts community may react a disaster. We describe spatial patterns prior 2008's Hurricane Ike compare them outcomes related response, impact, recovery resources, early stages rebuilding. Households neighborhoods...

Building a community that is resilient to disasters has become one of the main goals disaster management. Communities are more often experience less impact from and reduced recovery periods afterwards. This study develops methodology for constructing set indicators measuring Community Disaster Resilience Index (CDRI) in terms human, social, economic, environmental, institutional factors. In this study, degree resilience natural was measured 229 local municipalities Korea, followed by an...

Abstract In addition to requiring that local governments plan for and manage urban development, state growth management laws require citizens be given an opportunity participate in the planning process. this article, we examine strengths weaknesses of citizen involvement mandates degree which related practices have resulted broader participation making. We show do indeed affect government attention choices planners make crafting programs resulting level public participation. Based on these...

Climate scientists note that the effects of climate change vary regionally. Citizen willingness to absorb costs adaptation and mitigation policies may correspond with these place-specific effects. Geographic information systems (GIS) analytic techniques are used map measure survey respondents' risk at various levels spatial resolution precision. Spatial data analyze multiple measures vulnerability along demographic, attitudinal, perception-based variables derived from a representative...

While theorists and practitioners consistently call for widespread participation in ecosystem management environmental planning general, few studies have empirically tested the assumption that community representation stakeholder during process will lead to stronger, more durable plans. This article examines impact of on strategies. It tests relationship between quality local plans associated with long-term ecological systems. Besides overall breadth groups involved planning, effects...

We examine the reasons why a US locality would voluntarily commit to Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) campaign. Using geographic information systems analytic techniques, we map and measure locality's vulnerability climate-change impacts at county level of spatial precision. analyze multiple measures vulnerability, including expected temperature change, extreme weather events, coastal proximity, as well economic variables, demographic civic-participation variables that constitute...

Democratic theory holds that active participation in governmental planning and decision making is critical to furthering the public interest. As a result, urban US arguably most extensive intensive world. Required by federal, state local laws, citizen involvement staple of plan making. However, as this paper shows, interest participating formulation hazard mitigation policies comprehensive plans low, despite mounting evidence perils life property from floods, hurricanes earthquakes. Using...

Abstract The lack of empirical studies measuring the efficacy plans and degree local plan implementation subsequent to adoption represents one greatest gaps in planning research. This article addresses need test effectiveness environmental by examining spatial pattern wetland development permits over a io-year period Florida. Specifically, our study compares original land use design comprehensive with activity. We identify significant clusters granted for evaluate those locations against...

Research examining the quality of local planning often treats problems as isolated incidents occurring in public decision making. Comprehensive plans and policy statements are evolving instruments, undergoing continual revisions. This article examines degree to which changes over an eight-year period with respect natural hazards mitigation. Jurisdictions Florida Washington were sampled 1991 1999 determine extent their plans’ hazard mitigation components changed identify factors driving...

Environmental and human health issues associated with outdoor air pollution, such as ozone, sulfur dioxide, other pollutants in metropolitan regions, are an area of growing concern for both policy officials the general public. Increasing attention from news media, new data, public debate over effectiveness clean regulations have raised importance quality consciousness. While perceptions been studied thoroughly dating back to 1960s, little empirical research has conducted explain spatial...

Climate change and mitigation policies adopted by a locality indelibly impact urban form, landscape, economy. The Cities for Protection (CCP) has become dominant movement organizing the localities to proactively address climate change. This study examines metropolitan area commitment CCP. Geographic information systems (GIS) statistical techniques are used analyze metros on dimensions of risk, stress, civic capacity. “Climate risk” measures metro area's coastal proximity, ecosystem...

Floods continue to inflict the most damage upon human communities among all natural hazards in United States. Because localized flooding tends be spatially repetitive over time, local decisionmakers often have an opportunity learn from previous events and make proactive policy adjustments reduce adverse effects of a subsequent storm. Despite importance understanding degree which jurisdictions flood risks under what circumstances, little if any empirical, longitudinal research has been...

Abstract The rising economic cost of floods in the United States cannot be explained solely by monetary inflation or growth coastal populations. Damaging flood events are also influenced way society plans for and physically develops its communities, influencing where structures impervious surfaces concentrated how hydrological systems altered. We analyze 383 nonhurricane Florida counties between 1997 2001 to isolate planning decisions their effects on built environment affect property damage...

Floods continue to pose the greatest threat property and safety of human communities among all natural hazards in United States. This study examines relationship between built environment flood impacts Texas, which consistently sustains most damage from flooding any other state country. Specifically, we calculate resulting 423 events 1997 2001 at county level. We identify effect several measures, including wetland alteration, impervious surface, dams on reported while controlling for...

Landscape-level shifts in plant species distribution and abundance can fundamentally change the ecology of an ecosystem. Such are occurring within mangrove-marsh ecotones, where over last few decades, relatively mild winters have led to mangrove expansion into areas previously occupied by salt marsh plants. On Texas (USA) coast western Gulf Mexico, most cases been documented specific bays or watersheds. Based on this body small-scale work broader global patterns expansion, we hypothesized...

Short-term disaster assistance is an important component of federal response in the United States, providing over $63 billion from 2007 to 2016. Though programs are designed facilitate return basic living conditions, ambiguity surrounds their relationship with socially vulnerable populations who most likely require external aid. This study explores spatial and statistical association between short-term social vulnerability across contiguous US. Analysis using bivariate Local Indicators...

Characteristics of the built environment and overall local-level land use patterns are increasingly being attributed to greater surface runoff, flooding resulting economic losses from flood events. Specific configurations impervious surfaces cover may be as important determining a community's risk baseline environmental conditions. This study addresses this issue by statistically examining impacts adjacent (LULC) on damage recorded parcels within coastal watershed in southeast Texas. We...

The 100-year floodplain is the traditional indicator of flood risk and area in which specific mitigation requirements are required to occur United States. However, recent studies have indicated that there a growing disconnect between location actual losses. As result, strong need understand what undermining efficacy generate more accurate depiction risk. been few examine characteristics insured claims occurring outside how advanced hydrologic models may improve delineation. This study...

Abstract. Pre-disaster planning and mitigation necessitate detailed spatial information about flood hazards their associated risks. In the US, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) provides important areas subject to flooding during 1 % riverine or coastal event. The binary nature of hazard maps obscures distribution property risk inside SFHA residual outside SFHA, which can undermine efforts. Machine learning techniques provide an alternative approach...