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. 2016 May 17;13(5):507.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph13050507.

Unequal Recovery? Federal Resource Distribution after a Midwest Flood Disaster

Cristina E Muñoz  1 , Eric Tate  2
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Free PMC article

Unequal Recovery? Federal Resource Distribution after a Midwest Flood Disaster

Cristina E Muñoz et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .
Free PMC article

Abstract

Following severe flooding in 2008, three Iowa communities acquired over 1000 damaged properties to support disaster recovery and mitigation. This research applies a distributive justice framework to analyze the distribution of disaster recovery funds for property acquisition. Two research questions drive the analysis: (1) how does recovery vary by acquisition funding source; and (2) what is the relationship between recovery and vulnerable populations? Through spatial econometric modeling, relative recovery is compared between two federal programs that funded the acquisitions, and across socially vulnerable populations. The results indicate both distributive and temporal inequalities in the allocation of federal recovery funds. In particular, Latino and elderly populations were associated with lower recovery rates. Recommendations for future research in flood recovery and acquisitions are provided.

Keywords: buyouts; environmental justice; property acquisition; social vulnerability.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Spatial distribution of residential property acquisitions by city: (a) Cedar Rapids; (b) Downtown, Palo; (c) Parkview Terrace, Iowa City.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Histogram for RRR values.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Spatial distribution of RRR values by city: (a) Cedar Rapids; (b) Downtown, Palo; (c) Parkview Terrance, Iowa City.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

    1. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Midwest Floods of 2008 in Iowa and Wisconsin. FEMA; Washington, DC, USA: 2009.
    1. Mutel C.F. A Watershed Year Anatomy of the Iowa Floods of 2008. University of Iowa Press; Iowa City, IA, USA: 2010.
    1. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Rebuilding for a More Sustainable Future: An Operational Framework. FEMA; Washington, DC, USA: 2000.
    1. Chizewer D.M., Tarlock A.D. New challenges for urban areas facing flood risks. Fordham Urban Law J. 2012;40:1739–1792.
    1. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) HMGP Closed Property Acquisitions Projects. FEMA; Washington, DC, USA: 2016.

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