A member of the population’s “resiliency”, or ability to respond to and recover from the impacts of flooding, differs greatly depending on a variety of factors including income, financial and social capacity, age, mobility, cultural and linguistic isolation and constraints, local public support systems, physical and psychological challenges, and other factors. These factors can reduce resiliency and create vulnerability for individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities. The most vulnerable populations are particularly at risk and will have a more difficult time recovering from the impacts of flooding. Their vulnerability creates community-wide vulnerability. Recognizing the challenges that these populations face is the first step to improving watershed resiliency and reducing the impact of flooding on individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities, including those that are least able to recover.

Through the Iowa Watershed Approach, the UWR WMA and their partners are working with the Resiliency Team from the University of Iowa to better understand resiliency issues in the UWR Watershed and identify ways to reduce the impact of flooding on the most vulnerable UWR Watershed residents.

Vulnerable Populations in the Upper Wapsipinicon River Watershed

The Iowa Flood Center analysed socially vulnerable populations in all of the Iowa Watershed Approach watersheds, including the UWR Watershed. The Social Vulnerability Maps identify areas with high social vulnerability, which correlates with low resilience to disasters particularly flood disasters. The social vulnerability data combines a percentage of 12 indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau including; African American, language barrier, renters, unemployed, poverty, children, elderly, Hispanic, low education, female-headed households, disables, and no vehicle access.

Social Vulnerability of Census Tracts

Top Three Indicators for Social Vulnerability by Census Tract

The table below is correlated with the map and shows the top three indicators for social vulnerability for each Census Tract in the UWR Watershed. To explore more about social vulnerability in the UWR Watershed and other Iowa Watershed Approach watersheds explore the Iowa Watershed Information System

Census Tract County Social Vulnerability Rating Total Population 1st Indicator 2nd Indicator 3rd Indicator
805 Fayette High 3709 % Hispanic or Latino % Female Head of Household % No High School Diploma
703 Jones High 4787 % Black or African American % Unemployed % Renter
704 Chickasaw High-Medium 3786 % Disabled % No High School Diploma % Renter
9505 Buchanan High-Medium 3943 % Female Head of Household % No Vehicle Access % Hispanic or Latino
804 Fayette High-Medium 2658 % Disabled % Hispanic or Latino % Renter
802 Fayette High-Medium 3303 % Poverty % Unemployed % Limited English
9501 Buchanan High-Medium 2466 % Children % Unemployed % Poverty
9502 Buchanan Medium 3682 % No Vehicle Access % Children % No High School Diploma
5601 Mitchell Medium 3506 % Limited English % No High School Diploma % Children
704 Jones Medium 4712 % Disabled % Female Head of Household % Unemployed
401 Chickasaw Medium 3170 % Limited English % Hispanic or Latino % No High School Diploma
47 Bremer Medium 2232 % Age 65 or Older % Disabled % Children
807 Fayette Medium 3154 % Children % No High School Diploma % Age 65 or Older
9603 Howard Medium 2842 % No High School Diploma % No Vehicle Access % Children
104 Linn Medium 2722 % Limited English % Unemployed % Children
703 Chickasaw Medium 2802 % Female Head of Household % Children % Age 65 or Older
701 Jones Medium 4180 % Female Head of Household % Children % Hispanic or Latino
101 Linn Medium 3084 % Children % Unemployed % Renter
44 Bremer Medium 2898 % Age 65 or Older % Hispanic or Latino % Female Head of Household
27 Black Hawk Medium 3980 % Disabled % No High School Diploma % Unemployed
9504 Buchanan Medium 2809 % Limited English % Age 65 or Older % No Vehicle Access
103 Linn Medium 3809 % Children % Female Head of Household % Unemployed
4801 Floyd Medium 3024 % Limited English % Children % No High School Diploma
702 Chickasaw Low-Medium 2406 % Disabled % Unemployed % Age 65 or Older
9504 Delaware Low-Medium 5225 % Unemployed % Children % No High School Diploma
9503 Buchanan Low-Medium 3614 % Unemployed % Children % Female Head of Household
45 Bremer Low-Medium 2679 % Unemployed % Hispanic or Latino % Limited English
9506 Buchanan Low-Medium 4517 % Children % Age 65 or Older % Renter
28 Black Hawk Low-Medium 3224 % Children % Female Head of Household % Hispanic or Latino
43 Bremer Low-Medium 1683 % Children % Hispanic or Latino % Age 65 or Older
803 Fayette Low-Medium 2449 % Children % Unemployed % Age 65 or Older
102 Linn Low-Medium 4440 % Children % Unemployed % No Vehicle Access