Social risk and vulnerability analysis for Bexar and Philadelphia counties

Social Risk and Vulnerability Analysis Comment by Babyliza: There's No Abstract

Vulnerability to hazards is affected by several factors, comprising age or income, the power of social networks, and neighborhood individualities. Social vulnerability takes into account the socioeconomic and demographic factors that influence the resilience of populations. The Sovi for Bexar County is 0.230416 whereas that for Philadelphia County is 3.418284. This indicates that Philadelphia County as a geographical expanse has a higher vulnerability and susceptibility to environmental and public health hazards. A key group that ought to be taken into consideration is one of people lacking insurance. This is a group that is severely impacted in the course of disasters and after disasters, and are not able to easily recover. Individuals that are not self-insured are generally excluded from these calculations.

Introduction

All expanses of the United States have experienced disasters, both natural and anthropogenic. The vulnerabilities that are precipitous to these disasters will cargo on taking place in the future. Vulnerability to hazards is affected by several factors, comprising age or income, the power of social networks, and neighborhood individualities. In alleviating and scheduling for emergencies, state, local, and clannish representatives have to identify socially vulnerable communities to provide those residents improved assistance over the course of a disaster. State-owned, resident, and ethnic agencies are most conversant regarding the individuals in their societies. The social vulnerability index is intended to assist them in their endeavors to guarantee the security and well-being of their residents (Flanagan et al., 2011). The constituents of the SVI can help state and local workforces apprehensive of all stages of the disaster cycle. The purpose of this research paper is to undertake a social risk and vulnerability analysis of both Bexar County and Philadelphia County.

Background

Bexar County is located towards south central Texas in the middle of the Plateau of Edwards towards the northwest and the Coastal Plains of Gulf towards the southeast. On the northeastern side of the expanse, the topography slants upward to the Edwards Plateau, while to the southeastern side of the expanse, it slants downhill to the Gulf Coastal Plains. The region's mildly undulating landscape is scattered with mesquite, oak trees, as well as, cacti, which flourish within the partially cloudy or clear skies that are present at around sixty percent of the time (San Antonio Office of Emergency Management, 2014). On the other hand, Philadelphia County is situated at the convergence of the Schuylkill River and Delaware River on the eastern boundary of Pennsylvania. To the west are the Appalachian Mountains whereas to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. In turn, this brings about a moderate climate as the two features eradicate the extremes of both hot and cold weather. Intermittently in the course of the summer months, the city ends up being overcome in ocean air that generates high humidity. Rainfall is equally uniformly disseminated all through the year, with maximum amounts in the course of the summer months, sometimes flooding the Schuylkill River. Snowfall is generally greater in the northerly located suburbs compared to the city, where snow every so often ends up in rain. High winds every now and then carry the day in the course of the winter months (City Data, 2016).

Demographics

The demographic representation of Bexar County is made up of two main ethnic groups, which are the Hispanic and Caucasian groups. The latter makes up 26.6% of the total population of the county whereas the Latino and Hispanic group makes up 63.2% of the total population. The rest of the total population encompasses minority populations (San Antonio Office of Emergency Management, 2014). On the other hand, the racial representation of Philadelphia county includes 45.3% White, 44.1% Black, 7.2% Asian, 13.6% Hispanic and Latino, and the rest of the population are from mixed races (United States Census Bureau, 2016).

The table below outlines the demographics of Bexar County and Philadelphia County.

People

Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

Bexar County, Texas

UNITED STATES

Population

Population estimates, July 1, 2015, (V2015)

1567442

1897753

3.21E+08

Population estimates base, April 1, 2010, (V2015)

1526006

1714774

3.09E+08

Population, percent change - April 1, 2010 (estimates base) to July 1, 2015, (V2015)

2.7

10.7

4.1

Population, Census, April 1, 2010

1526006

1714773

3.09E+08

Age and Sex

Persons under 5 years, percent, July 1, 2015, (V2015)

7.0

7.2

6.2

Persons under 5 years, percent, April 1, 2010

6.6

7.6

6.5

Persons under 18 years, percent, July 1, 2015, (V2015)

22.1

26.0

22.9

Persons under 18 years, percent, April 1, 2010

22.5

27.1

24.0

Persons 65 years and over, percent, July 1, 2015, (V2015)

12.7

11.5

14.9

Persons 65 years and over, percent, April 1, 2010

12.1

10.3

13.0

Female persons, percent, July 1, 2015, (V2015)

52.7

50.7

50.8

Female persons, percent, April 1, 2010

52.8

51.0

50.8

Race and Hispanic Origin

White alone, percent, July 1, 2015, (V2015) (a)

45.1

84.9

77.1

White alone, percent, April 1, 2010 (a)

41.0

72.9

72.4

Black or African-American alone, percent, July 1, 2015, (V2015) (a)

44.0

8.4

13.3

Black or African-American alone, percent, April 1, 2010 (a)

43.4

7.5

12.6

American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent, July 1, 2015, (V2015) (a)

0.8

1.2

1.2

American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent, April 1, 2010 (a)

0.5

0.8

0.9

Asian alone, percent, July 1, 2015, (V2015) (a)

7.4

3

5.6

Asian alone, percent, April 1, 2010 (a)

6.3

2.4

4.8

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent, July 1, 2015, (V2015) (a)

0.1

0.2

0.2

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent, April 1, 2010 (a)

Z

0.1

0.2

Two or More Races, percent, July 1, 2015, (V2015)

2.6

2.2

2.6

Two or More Races, percent, April 1, 2010

2.8

3.5

2.9

Hispanic or Latino, percent, July 1, 2015, (V2015) (b)

14

59.5

17.6

Hispanic or Latino, percent, April 1, 2010 (b)

12.3

58.7

16.3

White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent, July 1, 2015, (V2015)

35.4

28.7

61.6

White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent, April 1, 2010

36.9

30.3

63.7

Population Characteristics

Veterans, 2011-2015

66590

153129

20108332

Foreign born persons, percent, 2011-2015

12.7

13.1

13.2

Housing

Housing units, July 1, 2015, (V2015)

672588

684164

1.35E+08

Housing units, April 1, 2010

670171

662872

1.32E+08

Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2011-2015

52.6

58.5

63.9

Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2011-2015

145300

129400

178600

Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2011-2015

Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage, 2011-2015

Median gross rent, 2011-2015

Building permits, 2015

1182582

Families and Living Arrangements

Households, 2011-2015

581050

618831

1.17E+08

Persons per household, 2011-2015

2.59

2.90

2.64

Living in same house 1 year ago, percent of persons' age 1 year+, 2011-2015

85.8

81.3

85.1

Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons' age 5 years+, 2011-2015

22.1

40.8

21.0

Education

High school graduate or higher, percent of persons' age 25 years+, 2011-2015

82.0

83.3

86.7

Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons' age 25 years+, 2011-2015

25.4

26.7

29.8

Health

With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2011-2015

12.4

9.9

8.6

Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent

14.4

18.7

10.5

Economy

In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2011-2015

59.7

63.7

63.3

In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2011-2015

57.3

58.3

58.5

Total accommodation and food services sales, 2012 ($1,000) (c)

3551722

5006725

7.08E+08

Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2012 ($1,000) (c)

17972603

12143604

2.04E+09

Total manufacturers' shipments, 2012 ($1,000) (c)

19718568

14766148

5.7E+09

Total merchant wholesaler sales, 2012 ($1,000) (c)

13181887

D

5.21E+09

Total retail sales, 2012 ($1,000) (c)

12241299

26480589

4.22E+09

Total retail sales per capita, 2012 (c)

14829

13443

Transportation

Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2011-2015

32.5

24.5

25.9

Income and Poverty

Median household income (in 2015 dollars), 2011-2015

38253

51150

53889

Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2015 dollars), 2011-2015

22919

24735

28930

Persons in poverty, percent

25.4

15.6

13.5

Businesses

Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

Bexar County, Texas

UNITED STATES

Total employer establishments, 2014

27395

34489

7563085

Total employment, 2014

594334

688074

1.21E+08

Total annual payroll, 2014 ($1,000)

32447004

29659119

5.94E+09

Total employment, percent change, 2013-2014

2

1.8

2.4

Total nonemployer establishments, 2014

84805

127915

23836937

All firms, 2012

104439

147956

27626360

Men-owned firms, 2012

55745

79932

14844597

Women-owned firms, 2012

40906

55036

9878397

Minority-owned firms, 2012

48743

85682

7952386

Nonminority-owned firms, 2012

51842

57291

18987918

Veteran-owned firms, 2012

15655

2521682

Nonveteran-owned firms, 2012

92065

126374

24070685

Geography

Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

Bexar County, Texas

UNITED STATES

Population per square mile, 2010

11379.5

87.4

Land area in square miles, 2010

3531905

FIPS Code

"42101"

"48029"

"00"

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Social Vulnerability

Social vulnerability takes into account the socioeconomic and demographic factors that influence the resilience of populations. In accordance to research studies, it has been indicated that in disaster events, the socially vulnerable group of people have a greater likelihood of being adversely affected. This implies that they are less probably to recover and more likely to die. Efficiently considering social vulnerability diminishes both human anguish and the economic loss associated with providing social services and public help subsequent to a disaster (Flanagan et al., 2011).

The Social Vulnerability Index is a relative metric that offers a portrait of an expanse's comparative social vulnerability to an assortment of hazards. The index is generated by combining socio-economic variables via a procedure called principal components analysis. The variables used to form the index were chosen on the basis of wide-ranging disaster and social science research (Dunning and Durden, 2013). The following table illustrates Social Vulnerability Index (Sovi) at the county level for Bexar and Philadelphia counties. The two elements presented in the illustration are:

1. Sovi Score 06-10: The score using the latest version of Sovi based on data from the U.S. Census' most recent American Community Survey.

2. National Percentile (06-10): Where the county's Sovi Score 06-10 ranks in comparison with the rest of the nation (Hazards and Vulnerability Research Institute, 2013).

ID

State

County

SoVI Score (06-10)

Nat'l Percentile (06-10)

Texas

Bexar County

0.230416

56.82%

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia County

3.418284

91.06%

The Sovi for Bexar County is 0.230416 whereas that for Philadelphia County is 3.418284. This indicates that Philadelphia County as a geographical expanse has a higher vulnerability and susceptibility to environmental and public health hazards.

Historical events can correspond to this particular statistic. A good example is Hurricane Agnes that took place in 1972. The magnitude of this particular hurricane broke records in the United States at the time. The colossal tempest wrought right across the panhandle of the State of Florida and up the east coast to destroy the northeast, an expanse that usually can be deemed relatively safe from cyclone period. The State of Pennsylvania where Philadelphia County is situated faced the worst form of devastation compared to any other state in the United States, with hammering rainstorm and dramatic inundating from the Susquehanna and Lackawanna Rivers. In the end, this resulted in over 220,000 people being displaced from their homes (Christi, 2015).

Describe the correlation between environmental and socioeconomic risk and vulnerability for the Bexar County and Philadelphia County Comment by babyliza: This question not answered; it's different from the on e below.

There is an intricate relationship between environmental risk, social vulnerability and poverty. As aforementioned, the Sovi of Philadelphia County is greater compared to that of Bexar County. This aspect can be linked to environmental risk in the region. A major environmental risk in Philadelphia County is floods. A correlation with socioeconomic risks in this county is that households with lower income and lesser accessibility to productive natural assets experience greater exposure to the risk of flooding. Incongruence in income and asset distribution amongst individuals in the community moreover have a tendency to be greater at greater risk exposure levels, pointing toward the aspect that individually vulnerable households are also mutually more vulnerable (Brouwer et al., 2007). The same case can be linked to Bexar County with respect to drought. Households that have lesser income are more susceptible and run a greater exposure to the risk of drought. Another correlation that is seen between environmental risk and social vulnerability between the two counties is population levels, and the number of women, children and aged individuals in such populaces. Bexar County and Philadelphia County face several environmental risks such as drought, flooding, tornadoes and hurricanes amongst others. Having a higher population implies that more individuals are susceptive and are in greater exposure to such risks. In addition, in times of emergencies and disasters, the aged populace, women and children are more vulnerable (Brouwer et al., 2007).

Identify and describe the environmental risks for disaster for each county

In order to prepare and plan for the emergencies that might have an influence on Bexar and Philadelphia Counties, it is imperative to comprehend and take into account the prospective hazards, their history of activities, and the susceptibility of the community to these hazards.

Bexar County

Drought

Drought is a common incidence in nearly all climatic expanses, comprising regions of either high or low average rainfall. A drought takes place when the region obtains an amount of precipitation that is lesser than anticipated over a long-drawn-out period, typically a season or more in length. The whole Bexar County is vulnerable to the drought hazard. The projected reappearance rate of drought, centered on historic occurrences in Bexar County is deemed high. The illustration below delineates an example of drought situations obtained from the Drought Monitor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It delineates drought circumstance for the State of Texas, which encompasses Bexar County.

Extreme Heat

Situations of extreme heat are delineated as midsummer temperatures that are considerably hotter and more humid than normal for a certain expanse at that particular period of the year. In particular, humid or sultry circumstances, which contribute to the uneasiness of high temperatures, take place when high atmospheric force ruses smoky, soggy air proximate to the ground. Exceedingly dry and hot circumstances can aggravate dust gales and low visibility. Droughts come about when a lengthy period goes along devoid considerable rainfall. Heat wave in conjunction to drought bring about an extremely hazardous state. The Bexar County expanse has a clammy subtropical climate, signified by humid solstices, where temperatures average the 90 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) level. The mixture of high temperatures combined with humidity gives rise to heat waves or epochs of severe heat, presenting a substantial threat to the welfare and well-being of citizens and animals (San Antonio Office of Emergency Management, 2014).

Extreme heat is a far-reaching occurrence and hazard, which ought to be taken into account with regard to large geographic expanses. Despite the fact that there have been recordings of injuries or deaths, owing to extreme heat at various localities all over the Bexar County area, there is no precise geographic range that's prone to the severe heat hazard. Bexar County as a whole is vulnerable to the extreme heat hazard. For instance, as pointed out by San Antonio Office of Emergency Management (2014), Bexar County had an average of 14 days of extreme heat for every year in the decade between 2000 and 2009. In addition, the projected rate of recurrence of extreme heat, on the basis of past incidences in Bexar County is deemed to be high.

Extreme Wind

Wind is the level of air motion beyond a certain point, starting with changes in air pressures. Pressure, that is greater at one region than another, gives rise to a force pushing from the high to the low pressure. When the difference in pressures is greater, then a stringer force comes about and vice versa. Extreme winds are over and over again related to severe gales, comprising severe tempests, tropical hurricanes, and tornadoes. Characteristically, Bexar County is not directly impacted by unrelenting tropical storm winds, particularly hurricane strength. Tropical storms obtain their power and severity from the heat and humidity of the water mass they go through, and as a result, winds naturally dispel severe thunderstorm levels when they get to inland societies. All the same, there have been occurrences of resilient, tropical-strength winds generating high intensities of destruction in the Bexar County area. Thus, it can be deemed to be at similar risk for extreme winds. The projected rate of recurrence of extreme wind, centered on past instances in Bexar County is deemed moderate. Statistics indicate that every year, there have been about three days in which the strength of wind has surpassed 58 miles per hour (San Antonio Office of Emergency Management, 2014).

Philadelphia County

Tornadoes

A tornado is delineated as a vehement windstorm categorized by a meandering, funnel-fashioned cloud spreading out to the earth. Tornadoes are most repeatedly caused by rainstorm activity when cool, dry air interconnects and supersedes a stratum of warm, moist air pushing the warm air to rise hastily. The destruction produced by a tornado is owing to the high wind speed and wind-blown wreckages. Statistics indicate that tornado wind speeds usually vary between 40 miles to an excess of 300 miles per hour (MPH) (National Weather Service, 2014). The most vicious tornadoes have revolving winds of 250 miles per hour or greater and have capacities of generating high level of annihilation. In the United States, every year, there is an average of more than 800 tornadoes, which have amounted to an average of 1,500 injured people and 80 deaths (San Antonio Office of Emergency Management, 2014).

In accordance to USA.com (2016), the tornado index of Philadelphia County is greater than that of Pennsylvania State as a whole and also the United States in general. In particular, the tornado index of the county is 146.81 whereas that of the state stands at 109.77 and that of the nation as a whole stands at 136.45. This indicates that Philadelphia County is substantially susceptible to tornadoes.

Floods

Out of all the natural environmental hazards that take place in the United States, flooding takes place the most. Statistics indicate that no less than 90%age of disasters in the United States involve floods. In particular, floods can be delineated as the half-done or wide-ranging inundation of customarily dry terrestrial expanses from lakes, rivers and streams flooding overland, or the infrequent and fast amassing or runoff of stream waters, or the abrupt downfall of shoreline land (San Antonio Office of Emergency Management, 2014). In general, they are owing to the extreme precipitation. Philadelphia County is largely susceptible to flooding, owing to the proximity of Schuylkill River. Taking into account past occurrences, the county has experienced historical floods that got to 11 feet. Philadelphia County has experienced a total amount of 65 floods from 1769 up until the present moment (National Weather Service, 2014).

Socioeconomic Risks and Sovi Data Comment by babyliza: These socioeconomic factors not discussed: occupation, education, income, race.

Socioeconomic risks are imperative element with respect to susceptibility to disasters and emergencies. In particular, population growth and distribution, particularly increased population density and urbanization, increases susceptibility to disasters. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2016), the total population of Bexar County is estimated to be proximate to 1.9 million whereas that of Philadelphia County is approximated to be about 1.6 million. The population growth rate of Bexar County has been indicated to be greater compared to Philadelphia County. Another socioeconomic risk to take into consideration is the age and sex representation in both regions. Statistics indicate that in Bexar County, 10.3% of the population is aged 65 years and above. Persons aged 5 years and below make up 7.6% of the population. Lastly, the female population in the county represents 51%. On the other hand, as for Philadelphia County, 7% of the population is made up of persons below the age of 5 years. 12.7% of the population in the county is made up of individuals aged 65 years and above. On the other hand, the female population in the region makes up 52.8%. It is imperative to note that in times of emergencies and disasters, the aged populace, women and children are more vulnerable. Taking these statistics into consideration, it can be indicated that Philadelphia County has a greater susceptibility index compared to Bexar County (U.S. Census Bureau, 2016).