Here comes the rain: Assessing storm hazards vulnerability in Northeast Ohio

The frequency and intensity of coastal storm events in the Great Lakes region, USA is predicted to increase in the coming decades, exposing at-risk populations to potential hazards including flooding, erosion, and combined sewer overflows. In response, applied research is needed to identify communities that are most vulnerable to storm hazards, and to support municipal officials and local residents with building capacity for resilience. This study analyzes the storm hazards vulnerability of 42 communities that are located within the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD), including the city of Cleveland and its inner and outer ring suburbs. Communities are ranked against each other for vulnerability according to a social and environmental indicator, each of which is comprised of five variables that operationalize the sociodemographic and biophysical challenges facing local populations. The indicators are combined to produce a composite Storm Hazards Vulnerability Index (SHVI). Results suggest that the most environmentally vulnerable communities are not always home to the most socially vulnerable populations. Overall storm hazards vulnerability correlates more closely with the environmental indicator than the social, especially among the most vulnerable communities.