Ripple Effect: 2023 CIGLR Annual Magazine

Page 24

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


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