Identifying and Defining Vulnerable Communities in Eastern North Carolina

Integrating social science into forecast operations is essential for the National Weather Service
(NWS) to enhance community resilience and support its mission of protecting life, property, and
the economy. The Newport/Morehead City, NC, Weather Forecast Office (WFO) is addressing
this by leading an initiative to identify and define local weather-related and socioeconomic
vulnerabilities. Now in its third year, the project aims to create a county-by-county atlas and
maintain a database of vulnerable communities in eastern North Carolina to improve
impact-based decision-making. Key elements in completing this atlas include community
outreach through emergency preparedness events and forums, conducting interviews with
Emergency Managers, and collaborating with Warning Coordination Meteorologists. By
optimizing outreach and improving access to timely and actionable meteorological data in
vulnerable communities, this project aligns with the NWS' mission of creating a Weather-Ready
Nation.