Vulnerability assessment is the process of identifying potential hazards associated with a particular locality and the determination of the threats to the natural environment, the community infrastructure, and socio-economic well being of the area. More information about the vulnerability assessment process can be found in the Community Vulnerability Assessment Tool (CVAT) developed by NOAA’s Coastal Services Center (CSC).

As coastal areas are particularly susceptible to hazards, it is important that communities have a good understanding of the relationship between coastal hazards and vulnerable factors.

To ease the process involved in conducting a vulnerability assessment, two decision support tools have been developed to aid users in assessing their risks. The tools, ArcGIS 8.x-based wizards, will step the user through the process of manipulating, calculating, and scoring hazard and demographic data. To download or learn more about these tools, please click here.

The CRA online mapping capabilities could be useful to coastal localities lacking geographic information system (GIS) technology. Other localities may opt to use the decision support tools to create vulnerability assessments with their own data. The atlas will also be beneficial to current and potential residents who would like to assess the vulnerability of their current or future homes.

Online assessments are complete for Alabama, Mississippi, Northeast Florida, the Florida Panhandle, South Florida, West Florida, Southeast Louisiana, Georgia, and Texas.

Alabama: Baldwin, Mobile

Northeast Florida: Baker, Brevard, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Orange, Osceola, Putnam, St. Johns, Seminole, Volusia

Florida Panhandle: Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington.

South Florida: Broward, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, St. Lucie.

West Florida: Charlotte, Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Sumter.

Georgia: Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Glynn, Liberty, McIntosh.

Southeast Louisiana: Ascension, Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Terrebonne.

Mississippi: Hancock, Harrison, Jackson.

Texas: Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Liberty, Matagorda, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Refugio.

The CRA will soon expand to Southwest Louisiana, Northwest Florida, as well as North and South Carolina.