D IF F E R E N T I A L I M PAC T S O F
Storm Surge Flooding O N C OA S TA L C O M M U N I T I E S O F T H E G REAT LAK ES STORM SURGE FLOODING throughout the Great Lakes region has become more frequent in recent
mitigate the impacts of storm-
years, causing significant property damage to coastal homes and exacerbating public health issues
surge flooding. For example,
such as injuries, hypothermia, disease, undernutrition, mental health problems, and more. The adverse
Green Bay, Wisconsin and
impacts of flood exposure are amplified for socially vulnerable populations who disproportionately
Chicago, Illinois are in extreme
reside in flood-prone areas. Socially vulnerable populations include those with special needs, such
flood zones on Lake Michigan’s
as, but not limited to, people without vehicles, people with disabilities, older adults, low income
coast. Both areas have had up
households, and people with limited English proficiency. In order to improve flood resiliency, it is
to 30% of census tracts flood
essential to accurately identify both the flood hazard extent for Great Lakes coastal communities and
in the last 3 years, causing
the exposure of different socio-demographic groups to flooding. However, neither of these crucial factors
life-threatening situations for
have been comprehensively evaluated in relation to the Great Lakes region.
many.”
A research team led by
coastal communities, including
2018 to 2021 for all Great
“As we continue this research,
Assistant Research Scientist
populations who are already
Lakes,” said Hong. “But first,
our team is working to embed
Yi Hong, PhD (University
vulnerable due to social or
we focused on Lake Michigan
these results into a real-time
of Michigan, CIGLR) and
economic factors,” said Hong.
because all of the coastal
flood forecasting system,” said
collaborators Eric Anderson,
“Our team is looking more
regions are within the United
Hong. “This would help
PhD (Colorado School of
intentionally and specifically at
States, and at the time we did
reduce disparity and provide
Mines) and Sara Hughes,
the negative effects that Great
not have data (e.g., census
advanced flood warning to
PhD (University of Michigan,
Lakes coastal flooding has on
tracts, demographic data) for
socially vulnerable populations,
CIGLR) are using a coastal
vulnerable communities.”
Canadian coastal regions.
ultimately enhancing coastal
We looked at the relationship
management strategies for the
between the proportions of
Great Lakes region.”
flood model combined with a social vulnerability analysis to examine the differential impacts of storm-surge flooding on Great Lakes coastal communities. “Climate change and its associated effects such as rising water levels, warming water temperatures, more intense weather events, and coastal flooding disproportionately impact
22
From 2018 to 2021, the Great Lakes experienced a period of historically high water levels, pushing water further inland and raising concerns over more extreme storm-surge flooding of coastal communities. “Using a recently-developed hydrodynamic lake model, our team is working to simulate coastal flood extent from
flood-prone areas and key social vulnerability indicators at census tract scale.” Census tracts are subdivisions of counties for which the United States Census Bureau collects statistical data. “Our results highlighted specific census tracts and populations that need help and intervention to