Analyzing the Equity of Flood Resilience in Vermont Communities
Robtoy, Nat
Robtoy, Nat
Citations
Altmetric:
License
License
Abstract
Vermont communities have dealt with four devastating floods in the last few years. In the wake of these disasters, countless people have lost their homes, businesses, and some residents were injured or even lost their lives in these floods. Prior nationwide research has revealed that natural disasters tend to impact vulnerable individuals the most, especially minority and low-income populations. To examine the potential for such inequities in Vermont, this study explored the distribution of impacts from the Great Vermont Flood in July 2023 and another major event in December of the same year. Victims of these disasters were interviewed to gather information and ultimately examine which socioeconomic and demographic factors play a role in determining the impacts of a flood on an individual and their ability to recover. These impacts were broken down into seven categories of wellbeing that attempt to quantify the widespread, complex effects that natural disasters create. Binary logistic regression models for each facet of wellbeing were used to identify the most important factors in determining flood impacts and recovery. Results show home damage was the most common predictor of increased impacts as expected, but a variety of personal, vehicle, and housing characteristics also played a role. Most notably, those with inadequate vehicle access, low incomes, and renters were more likely to experience impacts to multiple facets of wellbeing. The results of this analysis will be passed on to community organizations and state and federal agencies to better inform flood preparedness and assistance measures.??
Description
Date
1/1/2026
Student Status
Senior (Graduating in 2026)
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type of presentation
Poster
Collections
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Citation
DOI
Advisor(s)
Department
Program/Major
Environmental Engineering
College/School
College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences
Organization
Research Category
Engineering