The “Natural Disaster Resilience” dashboard is an interactive tool developed by Kenneth B. Medlock III, Miaomiao Rimmer, and Elsie Hung at the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Special thanks to Bruno Sousa at the Center for Research Computing for providing technical support.

This tool allows the user to visualize changes in urban tracts and population density from 1950 to the present and see how those changes overlay with hurricanes and tropical storms, tornadoes, floods, and wildfires. Users can explore different temporal combinations of demographics and disasters to compare impacts over time. To enhance context, users can also overlay energy infrastructure layers, offering a more holistic view of vulnerability and exposure.

Although the overall frequency and intensity of natural disasters have not increased significantly, rapid population growth and urban expansion in areas that are historically prone to natural disasters have amplified the financial and social impacts of natural disasters over time. This provides compelling evidence of a need for policy and regulation that prioritizes infrastructure resilience. It also allows a better understanding of why adaptive measures are needed in regions that are still growing rapidly, such as the US Gulf Coast.