Sociology
The Social Stratification of Disaster Vulnerability and Resilience
Quick fact
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, low-income and Black residents were disproportionately likely to die or be displaced, while wealthier and white residents had more resources to evacuate and rebuild. This pattern repeats worldwide: disaster risk is not random but socially stratified.
Why this is interesting
You might think disasters are great equalizers—everyone gets hit the same. But when the floodwaters rise, who is most likely to be left behind?