Project Overview
Determining what portions of the population are socially vulnerable is helpful to the city and county in order to plan for natural disasters like tornadoes. Data was collected from the ACS 5-year estimates of 2016, City of Starkville Ordinances, City of Starkville Comprehensive Plan, Oktibbeha County Codes, FEMA “Taking Shelter from the Storms,” and Mississippi State University Preparedness Plan in order to understand the current state of disaster planning in Oktibbeha County. The Social Vulnerability Index was used to identify what portions of the population in Oktibbeha County are socially vulnerable to natural disasters but specifically tornadoes. By identifying the vulnerable populations in the communities in Oktibbeha County, government officials can better plan and prepare the community for tornadoes. My findings suggest that Oktibbeha County is highly vulnerable to tornadoes, but not every census tract is equally vulnerable. The lack of disaster planning policies in Oktibbeha County put the vulnerable residences at a greater risk due to the lack of resources available. This paper examines the socioeconomic trends alongside with planning practices in order to make recommendation on how to protect those residents who are vulnerable to tornadoes in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi.
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