1. Research Lead  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill coastalhazardscenter.org Planning for the Socially Vulnerable in Disaster Management Bennetta Robinson; DHS DIEM Intern (Summer 2011); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Philip Berke, PhD; Principal Investigator; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

2. Research Lead  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill coastalhazardscenter.org Research Questions To what extent do hazard plans account for socially vulnerable populations? To what extent do hazard plans account for socially vulnerable populations? To what extent do social vulnerability indices relate to the quality of the plans? To what extent do social vulnerability indices relate to the quality of the plans?

3. Research Lead  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill coastalhazardscenter.org Methods for Plan Quality and SoVI Assessment A plan quality score was tabulated according to the presence of plan quality principles and associated plan quality indicators A plan quality score was tabulated according to the presence of plan quality principles and associated plan quality indicators Data collected through the United States Census Bureau (2000) was used to derive a social vulnerability index based on the Susan Cutter SoVI model. Data collected through the United States Census Bureau (2000) was used to derive a social vulnerability index based on the Susan Cutter SoVI model. For each county, a PQ and a SoVI index score were calculated. For each county, a PQ and a SoVI index score were calculated.

4. Research Lead  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill coastalhazardscenter.org SoVI Model

5. Research Lead  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill coastalhazardscenter.org Findings Findings from the sample study area highlight that hazard mitigation plan do not account for inclusion of marginalized populations. Findings from the sample study area highlight that hazard mitigation plan do not account for inclusion of marginalized populations. The Pearson product-moment correlation (r) between SoVI scores and plan quality scores was -0.20. implying a weak relationship between the two variables. The Pearson product-moment correlation (r) between SoVI scores and plan quality scores was -0.20. implying a weak relationship between the two variables.

6. Research Lead  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill coastalhazardscenter.org Implications Implications FEMA should should develop specific guidelines on how to create direction-setting and action- oriented components of hazard mitigation plans that account for marginalized populations. FEMA should should develop specific guidelines on how to create direction-setting and action- oriented components of hazard mitigation plans that account for marginalized populations. Because the relationship between PQ and SoVI is weak, future research should examine other factors that might influence how well plans account for marginalized populations. Because the relationship between PQ and SoVI is weak, future research should examine other factors that might influence how well plans account for marginalized populations.