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Community Vulnerability to Extreme Heat and Flooding: Case Studies

We demonstrate how communities can develop vulnerability indicators to inform decision-making for the extreme event of most interest to local partners through case studies in Phoenix, Arizona (desert conditions) and Waterbury, Connecticut (flood-prone industrial areas).

Although these studies were conducted in the United States, our approach can be adapted for other parts of the world where sites/waste facilities are located close to densely populated, urban areas.​

City of Phoenix/Maricopa County, AZ
(Extreme Heat)

The City of Phoenix has been facing worsening extreme heat and drought. The City needed to assess the current and future effects of rising temperatures and drier conditions on contaminated sites and nearby communities.

Maximum Summer Temperature

(Comparing Historical and End Century Periods)

Phoenix maps comparing maximum summer temperature (extreme heat) across historical and end-century time periods, extreme scenario (RCP 8.5)
Phoenix maps comparing maximum summer temperature (extreme heat) across historical and end-century time periods, extreme scenario (RCP 8.5)

Questions Our Indicators Aim to Inform: Examples for Extreme Heat

Graphic visualization providing examples of questions our community vulnerability indicators aim to inform

* Ignitable: Sensitive to high temperatures (heat waves, wildfire). Includes liquids with flash points below 60 °C, non-liquids that cause fire through specific conditions, ignitable compressed gases and oxidizers.

* Reactive: Unstable under normal conditions; reacts with water (floods), may give off toxic gases and may be capable of detonation or explosion under normal conditions or when heated.

​

Source: Sinha, P., Fry, M., Julius, S., Truesdale, R., Cajka, J., Eddy, M., Doraiswamy, P., Albright, R., Riemenschneider, J., Potzler, M., Lim, B., Richkus, J., & O’Neal, M. (2024). Building resilience to extreme weather events in Phoenix: Considering contaminated sites and disadvantaged communities. Climate Risk Management, 43, 100586. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2024.100586

Example Applications

  • Extreme heat mapping scenarios illustrate changes in temperature pattern

    • City presentations to the public; Discussions with city​

    • Used in the 2021 Phoenix Climate Action Plan.​​

  • Fate and transport indicators to be shared with city staff/emergency responders/Office of Homeland Security​

    • Illustrate increased needs, response times, development of additional emergency response resources​

  • Sensitivity indicators used for community engagement and to inform city leadership

    • Percent rental households was useful to the city to improve renters' access to programs​​

  • ​Shared with C40 cities and the CDP-ICLEI Track

  • Site/waste facility indicators to inform proposed redevelopment opportunities​

City of Waterbury, CT
(Flooding)

Flooding is one of the more common extreme events of concern in the City of Waterbury. Historical development patterns have resulted in population centers being located in areas with chronic flooding problems. In addition, industrial facilities with hazardous materials have historically been located along rivers in this region due to their need of water for processing and discharge.

Questions Our Indicators Aim to Inform: Example Maps for Flooding

Considering indicators in conjunction with each other provides a more complete picture!

Where could you see heavy precipitation events and how much? Where are the low-lying areas with higher flooding risk?

Maps representing where could you see heavy precipitation events and how much? Where are the low-lying areas with higher flooding risk?
Maps representing where could you see heavy precipitation events and how much? Where are the low-lying areas with higher flooding risk?

Which areas have hazardous waste  sites that may react with water? How much hazardous waste is present?

Maps representing which areas have hazardous waste sites that may react with water? How much hazardous waste is present?
Maps representing which areas have hazardous waste sites that may react with water? How much hazardous waste is present?

What would you miss if you looked at where sites are located vs. looking where the contaminants may flow?

Maps representing what would you miss if you looked at where sites are located vs. looking where the contaminants may flow?
Maps representing what would you miss if you looked at where sites are located vs. looking where the contaminants may flow?

Percent of households with a low ratio of income to poverty level income

( < 0.5, 0.5 – 1)

Maps representing percent of households with a low ratio of income to poverty level income ( < 0.5, 0.5 – 1)
Maps representing percent of households with a low ratio of income to poverty level income ( < 0.5, 0.5 – 1)

Sinha, P., Julius, S., Fry, M. Truesdale, R., Cajka, J., Eddy, M., Doraiswamy, P., & Womack, D. (2024). Assessing community vulnerability to extreme events in the presence of contaminated sites and waste management facilities: An indicator approach. Urban Climate, 53, 101800. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2023.101800

Community Vulnerability to Extreme Heat and Flooding: Case Studies

We demonstrate how communities can develop vulnerability indicators to inform decision-making for the extreme event of most interest to local partners through case studies in Phoenix, Arizona (desert conditions) and Waterbury, Connecticut (flood-prone industrial areas).

Although these studies were conducted in the United States, our approach can be adapted for other parts of the world where sites/waste facilities are located close to densely populated, urban areas.​

City of Phoenix/Maricopa County, AZ
(Extreme Heat)

The City of Phoenix has been facing worsening extreme heat and drought. The City needed to assess the current and future effects of rising temperatures and drier conditions on contaminated sites and nearby communities.

Maximum Summer Temperature

(Comparing Historical and End Century Periods)

Phoenix maps comparing maximum summer temperature (extreme heat) across historical and end-century time periods, extreme scenario (RCP 8.5)
Phoenix maps comparing maximum summer temperature (extreme heat) across historical and end-century time periods, extreme scenario (RCP 8.5)

Example Applications

​

  • Extreme heat mapping scenarios illustrate changes in temperature patterns

  • Fate and transport indicators to be shared with city staff/emergency responders/Office of Homeland Security

    • Illustrate increased needs, response times, development of additional emergency response resources

  • Sensitivity indicators used for community engagement and to inform city leadership

    • Percent rental households was useful to the city to improve renters' access to programs 

  • Shared with C40 cities and the CDP-ICLEI Track

  • Site/waste facility indicators to inform proposed redevelopment opportunities

City of Waterbury, CT
(Flooding)

Flooding is one of the more common extreme events of concern in the City of Waterbury. Historical development patterns have resulted in population centers being located in areas with chronic flooding problems. In addition, industrial facilities with hazardous materials have historically been located along rivers in this region due to their need of water for processing and discharge.

Questions Our Indicators Aim to Inform:

Example Maps for Flooding

Considering indicators in conjunction with each other provides a more complete picture!

Where could you see heavy precipitation events and how much? Where are the low-lying areas with higher flood risk?

Maps representing where could you see heavy precipitation events and how much? Where are the low-lying areas with higher flooding risk?
Maps representing where could you see heavy precipitation events and how much? Where are the low-lying areas with higher flooding risk?

Which areas have hazardous waste sites that may react with water? How much hazardous waste is present?

Maps representing which areas have hazardous waste sites that may react with water? How much hazardous waste is present?
Maps representing which areas have hazardous waste sites that may react with water? How much hazardous waste is present?

What would you miss if you looked at where sites are located vs. looking where the contaminants may flow?

Maps representing what would you miss if you looked at where sites are located vs. looking where the contaminants may flow?
Maps representing what would you miss if you looked at where sites are located vs. looking where the contaminants may flow?

Percent of households with a low ratio of income to poverty level income ( < 0.5, 0.5 – 1)

Maps representing percent of households with a low ratio of income to poverty level income ( < 0.5, 0.5 – 1)
Maps representing percent of households with a low ratio of income to poverty level income ( < 0.5, 0.5 – 1)
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