Repeated hurricanes reveal risks and opportunities for social-ecological resilience to flooding and water quality problems

Hurricanes that damage lives and property can also impact pollutant sources and trigger poor water quality. Yet, these water quality impacts that affect both human and natural communities are difficult to quantify. We developed an operational remote sensing-based hurricane flood extent mapping method, examined potential water quality implications of two “500-year” hurricanes in 2016 and 2018, and identified options to increase social-ecological resilience in North Carolina.

The results of this research suggest that current hazard mapping is inadequate for resilience planning; increased storm frequency and intensity necessitate modification of design standards, land-use policies, and infrastructure operation. Implementation of interventions, authors suggest, can be guided by a greater understanding of social-ecological vulnerabilities within hazard and exposure areas.