Development, Vulnerability, and Disasters in the West Coast of Puerto Rico

Download or read book Development, Vulnerability, and Disasters in the West Coast of Puerto Rico written by Jenniffer Marie Santos-Hernandez and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 73 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Our findings show a slight reduction in social vulnerability from 1990 to 2000. With the exception of the municipality of Anasco, we observed a reduction in most vulnerability indicators including poverty, low education, lack of access to a vehicle, and in the proportion of children. However, we also observed an increase in the proportion of the population that is 65 years and over, those with disabilities, female-headed households with children under 18 years of age, and in the population living in renter occupied housing units. In addition, contrary to a decline in unemployment rates for Puerto Rico, the Western region experienced a very modest increase in the proportion of unemployed individuals at the block group level. These findings present important challenges in terms of vulnerability to disasters. While it is imperative to continue seeking solutions to Puerto Rico's persistent economic problems, this research suggests the need to develop emergency preparedness and response plans that go beyond the capitalist market economy and attend to the needs of a changing population with relatively high levels of vulnerability. This thesis was supported by the University of Puerto Rico Sea Grant College Program and the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for the Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA).