StoryMap project shines light on Pennsylvania’s vulnerable communities
The coronavirus pandemic revealed how vulnerable some communities are to significant physical, social, and economic upheaval. PennsylvaniaAgricultural Experiment Station researchers conducted a project to determine how policymakers and community groups can better address social and economic factors that make some populations more vulnerable to risk in the face of a crisis.
The researchers developed an online tool based on the ArcGIS StoryMap platform to help community leaders better understand and mitigate community vulnerabilities. They wanted to identify some of the social and economic factors that could make people more vulnerable to risk, and how these factors might affect their ability to recover from unexpected events. Interactive maps illustrate data related to conditions that existed before the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of 12 vulnerability risk factors, such as poverty, housing cost burden, lack of broadband internet access, poor healthcare coverage and food insecurity. Narrative text and discussion questions facilitate engagement and stimulate thought about how, why and where the pandemic and resulting disruptions could affect local populations.
Although this research grew out of the COVID-19 crisis, the project has a longer-range value. This research and tool will help citizens, civic groups, nonprofit organizations and the public and private sectors learn not only how to guide residents through the COVID-19 pandemic but also approaches to address chronic issues affecting various populations. It will also help to strengthen communities, leaving them more prepared to face challenges and recover from unexpected events in the future.
Link to full statement on website: http://landgrantimpacts.tamu.edu/impacts/show/6186