Perceptions of Local Leaders Regarding Postdisaster Relocation of Residents in the Face of Rising Seas

Abstract

Despite the growing literature on sea level rise (SLR), the current understanding of how SLR risks influence postdisaster relocation remains limited. This paper addresses this knowledge gap by examining how local leaders (i.e., public officials and community leaders) perceive: (a) resident relocation decisions in a disaster-affected community that is also vulnerable to SLR; and (b) the role of SLR in residents’ relocation decisions. Based on the case of Monroe County, Florida, which was affected by Hurricane Irma in 2017, our findings suggest that local leaders perceive residents’ relocation decisions as being driven by predisaster challenges that were exacerbated by conditions in the aftermath of the hurricane—specifically: the lack of affordable housing, low wages, and high cost of living. Leaders believe that SLR-related risks have little/no direct influence on relocation decisions; instead, they suggest that the community’s focus is on the next storm and community members’ short-term needs.

Keywords:

• Relocation
• housing
• disaster recovery
• sea level rise
• Hurricane Irma

Acknowledgments

The findings and opinions reported are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the funding organizations or those who provided assistance during the study.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the University of Colorado’s Natural Hazards Center—Quick Response Grant Program [funded through the National Science Foundation, grant number CMMI1333610]; and Florida International University’s Graduate School—Doctoral Evidence Acquisition (DEA) Fellowship.

Notes on contributors

Omur Damla Kuru

Omur Damla Kuru is a PhD candidate in the Public Affairs Program at the Department of Public Policy and Administration at Florida International University, Miami, Florida. Her research interests include environmental policymaking, emergency management, resilience, and public participation.

N. Emel Ganapati

N. Emel Ganapati is the director of the Laboratory for Social Science Research at the Extreme Events Institute and an associate professor of public policy and administration at Florida International University. Her research interests include postdisaster recovery and resilience and citizen participation/community empowerment.

Matthew Marr

Matthew Marr is an associate professor of sociology in the Department of Global & Sociocultural Studies at Florida International University. His research focuses on homelessness in the United States and Japan, showing how urban marginality is shaped by social conditions operating at multiple levels—ranging from global to the individual.