People displaced by disasters like tornadoes and wildfires in the U.S. face significant challenges in recovery, with racial and ethnic minorities often disproportionately affected according to a new study. The research, led by Shiloh Deitz at the University of Colorado Denver, analyzed survey data from over 1,200 displaced individuals.
The findings show that while disasters can uproot anyone, socioeconomic factors and systemic inequities put some groups at higher risk of displacement and hamper their ability to recover. Black, Hispanic and Native American residents were overrepresented among the disaster-displaced compared to the general population.
Many of the displaced struggled to secure stable housing after the disaster. Over a third were still living in temporary accommodations like hotels or with family a year later. Affordable housing shortages in the impacted areas exacerbated the challenge of finding a new home.
The research highlights how disasters can worsen existing disparities. Those with fewer resources are more likely to live in vulnerable areas and dwellings in the first place. After being displaced, they face steeper hurdles to recovery.
The authors say the findings underscore the need for more equitable disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts that account for the outsize risks and challenges facing marginalized communities. Deitz hopes the research “gives a voice to people who have been displaced.”
See “The people displaced by tornadoes, wildfires and other disasters tell a story of vulnerability and recovery challenges in America” ( May 28 2024)
