Hazard Mitigation Element Quality in Coastal Comprehensive Plans in a State with Strong Requirements for Hazard Mitigation Plan Elements

This dissertation examines the quality of hazard mitigation elements in a coastal, hazard prone state. I answer two questions. First, in a state with a strong mandate for hazard mitigation elements in comprehensive plans, does plan quality differ among county governments? Second, if such variation exists, what drives this variation? My research focuses primarily on Florida’s 35 coastal counties, which are all at risk for hurricane and flood hazards, and all fall under Florida’s mandate to have a comprehensive plan that includes a hazard mitigation element. Research methods included document review to rate the hazard mitigation elements of all 35 coastal county plans and subsequent analysis against demographic and hazard history factors. Following this, I conducted an electronic, nationwide survey of planning professionals and academics, informed by interviews of planning leaders in Florida counties. I found that hazard mitigation element quality varied widely among the 35 Florida coastal counties, but were close to a normal distribution. No plans were of exceptionally high quality. Overall, historical hazard effects did not correlate with hazard mitigation element quality, but some demographic variables that are associated with urban populations did. The variance in hazard mitigation element quality indicates that while state law may mandate, and even prescribe, hazard mitigation in local comprehensive plans, not all plans will result in equal, or even adequate, protection for people. Furthermore, the mixed correlations with demographic variables representing social and disaster vulnerability shows that, at least at the county level, vulnerability to hazards does not have a strong effect on hazard mitigation element quality. From a theory perspective, my research is significant because it compares assumptions about vulnerability based on hazard history and demographics to plan quality. The only vulnerability-related variables that appeared to correlate, and at that mildly so, with hazard mitigation element quality, were those typically representing more urban areas. In terms of the theory of Neo-Institutionalism and theories related to learning organizations, my research shows that planning departments appear to have set norms and rules of operating that preclude both significant public involvement and learning from prior hazard events.

Cultural identity in landscape architecture, renovation of Managua's lakeside

This thesis examines a design approach in landscape architecture in which cultural and historical values are reinterpreted in a contemporary urban environment. The site of this project is located in Managua's lakeside area, which was destroyed by hurricane Mitch in 1998. The lakeside area has been an attraction to Managua's residents because of its beautiful views and fresh breezes. The majority of Nicaragua's population is of indigenous descent; however, Managua's urban environment is predominantly of European influence. The pre-Columbian heritage of Nicaraguans is hidden in their cultural expressions, such as the names of places and religious rituals. This project provides a new lakeside area for Managua in which cultural identity in landscape architecture is represented in the use of the site and in a rescue of Managua's residents' pride in their pre-Columbian heritage. The lakeside renovation was planned using pre-Columbian design methodology and vocabulary to create a functional and environmentally sens~velandscape.

Four Essays of Environmental Risk-Mitigation

Expected damages of environmental risks depend both on their intensities and probabilities. There is very little control over probabilities of climate related disasters such as hurricanes. Therefore, researchers of social science are interested identifying preparation and mitigation measures that build human resilience to disasters and avoid serious loss. Conversely, environmental degradation, which is a process through which the natural environment is compromised in some way, has been accelerated by human activities. As scientists are finding effective ways on how to prevent and reduce pollution, the society often fails to adopt these effective preventive methods. Researchers of psychological and contextual characterization offer specific lessons for policy interventions that encourage human efforts to reduce pollution. This dissertation addresses four discussions of effective policy regimes encouraging pro-environmental preference in consumption and production, and promoting risk mitigation behavior in the face of natural hazards. The first essay describes how the speed of adoption of environment friendly technologies is driven largely by consumers’ preferences and their learning dynamics rather than producers’ choice. The second essay is an empirical analysis of a choice experiment to understand preferences for energy efficient investments. The empirical analysis suggests that subjects tend to increase energy efficient investment when they pay a pollution tax proportional to the total expenditure on energy consumption. However, investments in energy efficiency seem to be crowded out when subjects have the option to buy health insurance to cover pollution related health risks. In context of hurricane risk mitigation and in evidence of recently adopted My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) program by the State of Florida, the third essay shows that households with home insurance, prior experience with damages, and with a higher sense of vulnerability to be affected by hurricanes are more likely to allow home inspection to seek mitigation information. The fourth essay evaluates the impact of utility disruption on household well being based on the responses of a household-level phone survey in the wake of hurricane Wilma. Findings highlight the need for significant investment to enhance the capacity of rapid utility restoration after a hurricane event in the context of South Florida.

Climate Change Adaptation Case Study: Benefit-Cost Analysis of Coastal Flooding Hazard Mitigation

The damage Hurricane Sandy caused had far-reaching repercussions up and down the East Coast of the United States. Vast coastal flooding accompanied the storm, inundating homes, businesses, and utility and emergency facilities. Since the storm, projects to mitigate similar future floods have been scrutinized. Such projects not only need to keep out floodwaters but also be designed to withstand the effect that climate change might have on rising sea levels and increased flood risk. In this study, we develop an economic model to assess the costs and benefits of a berm (sea wall) to mitigate the effects of flooding from a large storm. We account for the lifecycle costs of the project, which include those for the upfront construction of the berm, ongoing maintenance, land acquisition, and wetland and recreation zone construction. Benefits of the project include avoided fatalities, avoided residential and commercial damages, avoided utility and municipal damages, recreational and health benefits, avoided debris removal expenses, and avoided loss of function of key transportation and commercial infrastructure located in the area. Our estimate of the beneficial effects of the berm includes ecosystem services from wetlands and health benefits to the surrounding community from a park and nature system constructed along the berm. To account for the effects of climate change and verify that the project will maintain its effectiveness over the long term, we allow the risk of flooding to increase over time. Over our 50-year time horizon, we double the risk of 100- and 500-year flood events to account for the effects of sea level rise on coastal flooding. Based on the economic analysis, the project is highly cost beneficial over its 50-year timeframe. This analysis demonstrates that climate change adaptation investments can be cost beneficial even though they mitigate the impacts of low-probability, high-consequence events.

Executive order no. 2016-38

This executive order by Governor Nikki R. Haley rescinds the evacuation provisions for Georgetown and Horry counties as set forth in Executive Order 2016-32.

Executive order no. 2016-37

This executive order by Governor Nikki R. Haley rescinds the evacuation provisions for Beaufort and Jasper counties as set forth in Executive Orders 2016-31 and 2016-33, effective at 6:30 PM, October 9, 2016.

Executive order no. 2016-26

This executive order by Governor Nikki R. Haley declares that a State of Emergency exists in South Carolina. She directs that the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan be placed into effect and directs that all prudent preparations be taken at the individual, local, and state levels to protect against the possible effects of Hurricane Matthew.

Executive order no. 2016-27

This executive order by Governor Nikki R. Haley order a mandatory evacuation of all healthcare facilities, licensed by the Department of Health and Environmental Control and located in the designated evacuation zones in certain lowcountry counties.

Executive order no. 2016-29

This executive order by Governor Nikki R. Haley declares schools and government offices to be closed in certain counties beginning Wednesday, October 5, 2016 in order to support evacuation operations and mass transportation of the public with critical transportation needs due to Hurricane Matthew..

Executive order no. 2016-30

This executive order by Governor Nikki R. Haley orders a mandatory evacuation of all healthcare facilities, licensed by the Department of Health and Environmental Control and located in the designated evacuation zones in certain counties due to Hurricane Matthew.

Executive order no. 2016-31

This executive order by Governor Nikki R. Haley has declared a State of Emergency and orders an evacuation of all persons located in certain coastal counties due to Hurricane Matthew.

Executive order no. 2016-32

This executive order by Governor Nikki R. Haley orders an evacuation of all persons located in the specified Evacuation Zone A in Georgetown and Horry counties with the exception of those critical or emergency response personnel due to Hurricane Matthew and directs that specified units of the South Carolina National Guard, at the discretion of the AdJutant General in consultation with the Director of the Emergency Preparedness Division may remain on duty to assist civil authorities in these counties.

Executive order no. 2016-33

This executive order by Governor Nikki R. Haley order an evacuation of all persons located in the specified Evacuation Zone B in Colleton and Jasper counties with the exception of those critical or emergency response personnel and directs that specified units of the South Carolina National Guard, at the discretion of the Adjutant General in consultation with the Director of the Emergency Preparedness Division, may remain on duty to assist civil authorities in these counties.

Executive order no. 2016-34

This executive order by Governor Nikki R. Haley rescinds the evacuation provisions for Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton and Dorchester counties as set forth in Executive Orders 2016-31 and 2016-33, effective at 10 AM, October 9, 2016.

Executive order no. 2016-35

This executive order by Governor Nikki R. Haley rescinds the medical evacuation order for Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, and Dorchester counties, effective at 3 PM, October 9, 2016.