A Multiscalar Measure of Social Vulnerability for the United States

Keywords: Social Vulnerability, Neighborhood Characterization, Synthetic Population, Census
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Monday
Session Start / End Time: 2/28/2022 03:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/28/2022 05:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 13

Abstract

Social vulnerability indices (SVIs) are used to anticipate impacts to individuals (people, households) exposed to environmental and technological hazards, yet widely applied indices are not directly constructed from individual-level data. This research develops a multiscalar index of community vulnerability for the United States that integrates properties of individual and community risk, thereby producing metrics that account for both individual and collective concerns in emergencies and disasters. The Individual-Oriented Social Vulnerability Index (IOSVI) is constructed from indicator variables derived from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) area-level SVI. CDC SVI indicator variables are adapted to the individual level via the American Community Survey’s Public-Use Microdata Sample (PUMS). An individual vulnerability index (IVI) is then scored on the PUMS, and population synthesis is used to match individuals to community resolution (census block groups, tracts). Finally, area-level social vulnerability (SVI) is scored based on the cumulative distribution of synthetic individuals ranked by IVI. To demonstrate the IOSVI’s utility as an organizational tool for understanding coupled individual and social vulnerability, a case study of Washington, DC is developed. The social makeup of high-SVI block groups in DC is examined with respect to social segments organized about the IVI, revealing key differences in the characteristics of community risk factors.