Mapping Flooding and Storm Surge Vulnerability across Sunset Park (Brooklyn, NY) and Documenting Affected Chemical Source Points and Civilian Sector Risks

摘要

Vulnerability to coastal storm surges and flooding is greatly influenced by ambient sea levels and storm strength - where climate change projections suggest that hurricanes can begin happening more often, and could take place any time in New York City. Areas endangered under different degrees of flooding and storm surge were modeled yielding maps documenting which chemical source points and civilian sites would be affected by these potential impacts. Considering the security status of chemical sources and the potential vulnerabilities for industrial and civilian sites, the study derived six groups of chemical sources, and multiple sites per chemical. Building on previous research developed by the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance's (NYC-EJA) Waterfront Justice Project, this presentation will describe the methodology designed by the partnership Grassroots Research to Action in Sunset Park (GRASP) along with the maps and diagrams that have resulted from this study. In addition, this presentation will discuss the challenges and lessons learned from the implementation of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) along with community-based participatory research methodologies, the use of "traditional" and "non-traditional" data sources, in an inter-disciplinary collaboration between community organizers, urban planners and public health experts.