Abstract
Rural areas are uniquely vulnerable to a variety of hazards given their social and economic composition. Economic reliance on agriculture and natural resource extraction increases vulnerability to certain types of natural hazards such as drought, wildfires, and floods. Moreover, rural communities often lack adequate resources to prepare for and respond to disasters. Using data from the Texas Rural Survey, the U.S. Census, and the Spatial Hazards Events and Losses Database for the United States; this research explores questions related to risk perception, vulnerability to disaster, and perceptions of community efficacy in a rural context. Results indicate that rural Texans show greatest concern for drought, wildfires, tornadoes, and severe winter weather. However, perceptions of risk were not necessarily a reflection of historical or future risk or perceptions of community efficacy. This article concludes with comments on the relevance of these findings for community emergency preparedness planning and resilience in rural settings.
Recommended Citation
Prelog, Andrew, and Lee Miller. 2013. "Perceptions of Disaster Risk and Vulnerability in Rural Texas." Journal of Rural Social Sciences, 28(3): Article 1. Available at: https://egrove.olemiss.edu/jrss/vol28/iss3/1
Publication Date
12-31-2013
