Rethinking Flood Vulnerability: Wealth Inequality and the Hidden Losses in Historically Underrepresented Communities

Yilei Yu, Rice University

Flooding is a multidimensional hazard causing beyond physical damage to long term socio-economic consequences. The measurement of hazard losses has been facing persistent challenges in capturing both direct costs, such as property damage, and indirect impacts, including displacement and economic stagnation. This dynamic places historically underrepresented communities at a disadvantage, with fewer resources for preparation and recovery. Wealth inequality heightens financial vulnerability, limiting access to protective measures, insurance, and capital for rebuilding efforts. These disparities are historically tied to racial inequalities, creating barriers for marginalized populations, who often reside in neighborhoods with limited economic resources and fewer planning options. This study integrates the Geographic Wealth Inequality Database (GEOWEALTH-US) and Spatial Hazard Events and Losses Database (SHELDUS) within a multi-scale analysis to assess flood-related losses at finer geographic scales, illustrating disparity patterns both between and within regions. This multi-scale spatial approach underscores the uneven distribution of flood hazards across Harris County in Texas, highlighting the importance of localized planning to address site-specific vulnerabilities. By examining hazard data and wealth indicators, the analysis shows how socio-economic disadvantages, infrastructure deficits, and environmental risk historically reinforced flood damage. Refining flood assessments with comprehensive datasets can better inform policy interventions, reducing cumulative flood losses and advancing environmental justice in vulnerable communities.

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 Presented in Session 47. Spaces of Marginalization