Featured Research
Find out if a hazardous polluter near you is flood-prone here. The flooding of Coastal Industrial Communities presents serious challenges for the short- and long-term environmental health and safety of nearby residents. In this featured research we review those challenges and provide an interactive map for assessing site-specific risks in and around your neighborhood.
According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, 60% of the most polluted parcels in the country, also known as Superfund sites, are at risk of climate-related events, including flooding, that can spread toxic substances into nearby areas. Research by CFAR scientists indicates this accounting is just the tip of the iceberg, especially in coastal industrial centers where the use and production of hazardous chemicals remain active, often near historically marginalized communities with significant shares of children, elderly, and people with disabilities. CFAR brings together convergent research teams to address these unique challenges, including the understudied impact of coastal hazards on industrial infrastructure and nearby residents. Thegoal is to inform, support, and cultivate pathways to adaptive resilience in these locales in ways that empower communities and promote more effective, just transitions away from future risks and vulnerabilities.
Relevant publications:
Marlow, Thomas, James R. Elliott, and Scott Frickel. 2022. “Future Flooding Increases Unequal Exposure Risks to Relic Industrial Pollution.” Environmental
Research Letters Vol. 17: 1-10. Available online.
Bernier, Carl, Sabarethinam Kameshwar, James R. Elliott, Jamie E. Padgett, Philip B. Bedient. 2019. “Mitigation Strategies to Protect Petrochemical Infrastructure and Nearby Communities during Storm Surge.” Natural Hazards Review 19(4): 1-18. Available online.
Thomas, Katherine A., James R. Elliott, and Sergio Chávez. 2018. “Community Perceptions of Industrial Risks Before and After a Toxic Flood: The Case of Houston and Hurricane Harvey.” Sociological Spectrum 38(6): 371-386. Available online.