Unveiling spatial inequalities: Exploring county-level disaster damages and social vulnerability on public disaster assistance in contiguous US

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119690
• Publication Date: 2023-12-03T06:47:10Z
• Authors: Yu Han; Haifeng Jia; Changqing Xu; Marija Bockarjova; Cees van Westen; Luigi Lombardo
• Keywords: Vulnerability; Social vulnerability

Understanding the dynamics between public disaster assistance, damages, and social vulnerability at county-level is crucial for designing effective mitigation strategies. This study utilized Local Bivariate Moran Index (LBMI) geographically weighted regression (GWR) models to examine spatial patterns relationships vulnerability, assistance in contiguous US counties from 2001 2021. LBMI results reveal that has predominantly been directed towards post-disaster recovery efforts, with a particular focus on coastal communities affected by major declared disasters. However, distributions of individual housing which are two primary sources do not adequately cover physically socially vulnerable communities. The distribution pre-disaster risk also falls short sufficiently covering Results further indicate complex interactions different categories natural disasters assistances. GWR model demonstrate variations predicting each category assistance. These findings need address disparities accessing US, advocate more equitable