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Abstract
Research reveals that disasters are disproportionately debilitating for marginalized social groups. Numerous studies have examined racial/ethnic dimensions of disaster vulnerability, but few have focused on Hispanic immigrants. More research on Hispanic immigrants is needed, since they constitute a major component of the Hispanic population—the largest and fastest‐growing minority group in the U.S.—and because they experience distinctive cultural and immigration status disadvantages. We examine the flood/hurricane vulnerabilities of Hispanic immigrants in comparison to U.S.–born Hispanics and non‐Hispanic whites. Using mixed methods to analyze data from 429 surveys and 31 interviews with residents living in flood zones, we examine differences in self‐protective action, risk perception, and hazard knowledge between the three groups in Houston and Miami. Hispanic immigrants exhibited lower levels of self‐protection and hazard knowledge, and higher perceptions of risk, which reflects their heightened vulnerability. Risk‐reduction programs should target the particular vulnerabilities of Hispanic immigrants, and future studies should examine their vulnerabilities in other contexts.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Jayajit Chakraborty for feedback on an earlier iteration of this work. We also recognize Maricarmen Hernandez, Jose Castaneda, Sofia De Anda, and Dorian Payan for their assistance with conducting the interviews. The project described was supported by Award Number CMMI‐1129984 from the National Science Foundation. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official view of the National Science Foundation.