Mobile Home Residents and Hurricane Vulnerability in South Florida: Research Gaps and Challenges

Abstract

In South Florida there are several social and logistical challenges to surveying and advocating for mobile home residents regarding vulnerability to natural hazards such as sea level rise and hurricanes. These residents have consequently been understudied despite historically exhibiting higher vulnerability and lower resilience. This exploratory study uses a social-ecological framework to highlight individual-, community-, and institutional-level challenges and research gaps encountered when working with mobile home residents. These observations represent a longer-term opportunity to further refine our understanding of natural hazard vulnerability, build increased resilience among vulnerable populations, and improve health equity in South Florida and beyond.

Keywords

Disaster preparedness / Mobile homes / Social-ecological model / Vulnerability

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