Prioritizing Vulnerable Communities
Climate hazards do not affect every household or community equally. Age, income, health, housing, occupation, geography, and access to transportation can affect a person's ability to prepare for and recover from extreme events.
Heat risk
Maine projects more days above 90°F by the 2050s. Older adults, people with chronic illness, outdoor workers, and people without reliable cooling can face greater health risk during extreme heat.
Flood and isolation risk
Flooding can cut transportation routes, damage drinking-water and wastewater systems, and isolate communities. Rural and coastal areas can have fewer alternate routes and longer travel distances to services.
Recovery capacity
Households with fewer financial resources can have more difficulty paying for evacuation, temporary housing, insurance deductibles, repairs, or resilience upgrades.