Social Vulnerability Mapping for the Southeast U.S.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Susan L. Cutter

This project examined the relationship between social vulnerability and four climate-change related hazards (flooding, hurricane winds, drought, and sea level rise) for the US Southeast. The purpose of the project was to identify the geographic patterns of the likely spatial impacts of climate variability—past, present, future—for county, state, and regional geographies. The identification of such patterns provides a scientifically-based mechanism that can assist Oxfam’s US Regional Office (USRO) in assessments of programmatic needs and opportunities within the region (defined as the 13 states stretching from Virginia to Texas).

The project provides the evidentiary basis for developing targeted strategic initiatives for disaster risk reduction including preparedness for response and recovery, and longer-term adaptation in those most vulnerable and highly impacted areas. The project provides a new approach to regional assessments of climate change by presenting an empirically-based and geographically referenced assessment of social vulnerability to climate variability hazards through a series of maps and tabular information.