Natural Hazards and Residential Mobility: General Effects and Racially Unequal Outcomes in the United States

James R. Elliott, University of Oregon

Researchers still know relatively little about the influence of natural hazards on residential mobility in general and how this influence intersects with social inequalities to shape migratory patterns of racial groups across the United States. The main reason for this gap is that most studies focus on extreme events that while revealing offer a highly selective view of what is actually a larger and more pervasive set of migratory interactions with the natural world. To address this gap, the present study provides the first nationwide analysis of the influence of natural hazards on residential mobility. Results affirm that natural hazards occur regularly throughout the country. They also reveal that natural hazards generally increase residential mobility; that this increase is particularly noticeable among racial and ethnic minorities; and that subsequent resettlement tends to pull members of these groups to more hazardous places than white counterparts. Implications are discussed.