Disaster Risks and Resilience Across the Southeast: Insights from Atlanta Fed Survey

What barriers limit community preparedness and recovery to weather-related disasters? In early 2023, we published a Partners Update on the potential financial stability and inclusion implications of climate-related risks and disasters and the particular vulnerabilities faced by low- and moderate-income residents of the Southeast. As a follow up, we recently surveyed stakeholders to identify barriers to disaster resilience, informing our priorities in promoting economic mobility and resilience within Atlanta Fed's Sixth District.

The Southeast is at disproportionate risk for weather-related disasters. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, the US experienced 28 separate billion-dollar disaster events in 2023¹ and Sixth District states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee) have consistently breached billion-dollar thresholds since the 1960s, with the most significant spikes in the 1990s and 2000s (figure 1). Historically, high-impact weather-related disasters include events such as Florida's Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and Louisiana's Hurricane Katrina in 2005 (figure 2).

Figure 1: Disaster-Related Property Damage Estimates and FEMA Disaster Declarations from 1960-2019 in the Atlanta Fed's Sixth District

Source: Spatial Hazard Events and Losses Database for the United States² and authors' calculations in 2021 Consumer Price Index adjusted dollars; FEMA Disaster Declarations³ and authors' calculations.

Figure 2: Disaster-Related Property Damage Estimates from 1960-2019 in the Atlanta Fed's Sixth District by State

Source: Spatial Hazard Events and Losses Database for the United States⁴ and authors' calculations in 2021 Consumer Price Index adjusted dollars.

To gain a deeper understanding of the specific challenges faced by low-income communities and communities of color in the Southeast, we conducted a survey and a series of interviews with disaster resilience professionals and representatives of both community development organizations and organizations focused on community resilience. We received 143 survey responses and interviewed 20 individuals. These participants provided valuable insights into the unique vulnerabilities marginalized communities face due to weather disasters.

Key Findings:

• Present and Looming Impacts: A significant majority (82 percent) of survey respondents indicated that the low-income communities and communities of color they serve are already experiencing the effects of more frequent and intense weather events. A small percentage reported there is no present threat but anticipate the impacts to materialize within five years (15 percent), in six or more years (one percent), or reported no foreseen impact (one percent).
• Most Impactful Weather Events: Hurricanes and tropical storms were ranked as the most impactful weather events on low-income communities and communities of color and the organizations serving them in the Southeast. Following closely in the rankings were flooding, extreme heat, storm surge, and tornadoes.
• Multifaceted Approach to Risk Management: The survey highlighted the diverse roles various organizations play in managing weather-related risks. Eighty-six percent of survey respondents indicated some level of involvement in the disaster management process. Organizations reported engaging in activities across all four phases of disaster management-preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery-as outlined in the FEMA National Disaster Recovery Framework (2016). Specifically, 60 percent of respondents reporting engaging in preparedness activities, 45 percent responding that their organizations fulfill a mitigation role, 45 percent operating in a short-term response capacity, and 50 percent working towards long-term recovery.
• Perceived Organizational Preparedness: A majority of respondents (62 percent) strongly agreed that they understand how weather-related disaster affect their organizations, though a significant gap exists between understanding and preparedness. Only 24 percent of respondents strongly agreed to feeling well-prepared to address the impacts of weather on their organization's work.

For further discussion about weather-related disaster risks and their impact on low-income communities and communities of color in the Southeast, including more information about survey respondents and interviewees; the top factors contributing to weather risks in their communities and local economies; the top factors limiting resilience to weather-related disasters; and the most impactful weather-related risks impacting southeastern economies and communities, see our full paper, "Risk and Resilience: How Weather-Related Disasters Impact Economically Marginalized Communities."

By Dontá Council, CED adviser and Grace Meagher, senior CED research analyst. The views expressed here are the authors' and not necessarily those of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta or the Federal Reserve System. Any remaining errors are the authors' responsibility.

¹ National Centers for Environmental Information, retrieved July 18, 2024, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/state-summary/US.

² University of Arizona, Spatial Hazard Events and Losses Database for the United States, retrieved November 1, 2023, https://cemhs.asu.edu/sheldus.

³ Federal Emergency Management Agency, Disaster Declarations, retrieved February 7, 2024), https://www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations.

⁴ University of Arizona, Spatial Hazard Events and Losses Database for the United States, retrieved November 1, 2023, https://cemhs.asu.edu/sheldus.

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