Climate Disasters and the Inherent Disparity of Recovery Efforts

Author: Bennett Weitz

Field of Study: Social Sciences

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program

Faculty Mentors: Matthew Cole

Easel: 74

Timeslot: Midday

Abstract: Over the past twenty years, there has been a dramatic increase in climate-related disasters, including, but not limited to, heatwaves, hurricanes, and flooding. Climate change has exacerbated the severity of many events, such as Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, and the 2025 California wildfires. This article will examine the disparity in recovery efforts, the significantly worse impact on less privileged communities, and the permanent damage caused by climate disasters. Additionally, this paper will analyze meteorological and economic data to highlight the significant differences in recovery efforts, the intersection of climate science and climate justice, and how geographic locations influence the speed at which populations can recover from climate disasters. The duration of recovery efforts and studies of economic damages will be compared to emphasize the reality that vulnerable, less fortunate populations suffer the worst from the effects of climate change.