Living on the Front Line: Community and Government Responses to Sea Level Rise in U.S. Vulnerable Communities

Authors

Omur D. Kuru, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Major/Program

Public Affairs

First Advisor's Name

N. Emel Ganapati

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Milena Neshkova

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Third Advisor's Name

Sukumar Ganapati

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Fourth Advisor's Name

Jayantha Obeysekera

Fourth Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Keywords

Sea level rise, SLR, adaptation, Florida, disaster recovery, relocation, housing, Hurricane Irma

Date of Defense

11-8-2022

Abstract

Sea level rise (SLR) has been a growing concern across the globe. Although coastal hazards have raised attention to coastal risks in the U.S., the response to galloping risks associated with SLR is still in its infancy. This research aims to provide a theoretical foundation and empirical analysis of the factors that affect vulnerable communities’ responses to SLR-related risks in the U.S. It analyzes SLR preparedness in three contexts: 1) the literature context (i.e., a systematic review of interdisciplinary literature (n=31) on governments' responses to SLR in the U.S.), 2) the community context (i.e. post-disaster relocations), and 3)the government context (i.e., policies addressing SLR).

This dissertation explores the community’s and government’s responses to stresses (i.e. slow-onset hazards) and shocks (i.e., rapid-onset hazards) based on a case study conducted in Monroe, County, Florida, during the post-Hurricane Irma period. The case study data includes semi-structured individual interviews (n=23) and focus group interviews (n=5) with local leaders, participant observations (e.g., church meetings), and secondary source reviews (e.g., local plans). The data were analyzed through thematic content analysis using Nvivo and Excel software.

This dissertation’s contribution to the literature is four-fold. First, the study fills a gap in environmental policymaking literature by examining SLR policymaking that has been overlooked. Second, it links environmental policymaking literature with emergency management literature by analyzing the link between stresses and shocks. Third, it examines disaster recovery, the least understood phase in emergency management literature. Fourth, it contributes to environmental policymaking and planning literature by exploring both communities’ and governments’ responses to SLR.

The findings revealed that community relocations were mainly influenced by pre-disaster challenges that were exacerbated by the disaster. SLR had little to no impact on the residents' relocations as it was perceived as an invisible, future threat. The government’s responses were hindered by problem-related and community-related challenges as well as institutional limitations. Policymakers may seek to address SLR in the recovery period, immediately after the recovery needs are met and before the shared memory of the disaster fades. Local governments need financial and political support, as well as technical assistance, from upper levels of government.

Identifier

FIDC010874

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9544-651X

Previously Published In

Kuru, O. D., Ganapati, N. E., & Marr, M. (2022). Perceptions of Local Leaders Regarding Postdisaster Relocation of Residents in the Face of Rising Seas. Housing Policy Debate, 1-22.

Recommended Citation

Kuru, Omur D., "Living on the Front Line: Community and Government Responses to Sea Level Rise in U.S. Vulnerable Communities" (2022). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 5204.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/5204