Hurricane Harvey: Analyzing the Amplification of Flood Impacts by Human Demographics

Hurricanes are one of few natural hazards that have ample warning time to prepare for future impacts. Strong winds, tornadoes, and flooding are environmental threats that can be brought upon by hurricanes. While strong winds and tornadoes are certainly impactful, flooding, induced either by storm surge or heavy rainfall, poses lingering consequences to affected communities weeks after the initial impact occurs. In the case of Hurricane Harvey, widespread excessive rainfall in Greater Houston dropped nearly all of Houston's annual rainfall over a three day period. Though warnings were placed into effect days before the landfall of this storm, individuals from diverse social and economic backgrounds interpreted hazard communication differently and prepared for Harvey in various ways. As a result, there was a disparity in flooding impacts across the Houston metro area.

A case study will be conducted on Hurricane Harvey to investigate how the regional demographics exacerbated the flood devastation. The results will aim to provide a more comprehensive look at what kinds of factors may lead to differences in human response towards natural disasters. This could be utilized in the future to adjust preparation and communication methods, which would better prepare more vulnerable communities amidst potential natural disasters to ensure a more equitable and inclusive meteorological enterprise.