Understanding multi-hazard risk for U.S. coastal cities

Coastal cities are threatened by a wide range of hazards, including sea-level rise, erosion, storm surges, flooding, and extreme weather events. In this study, we focus on understanding multi-hazard risk across a few coastal cities in the United States, considering the range of potential hazards, socioeconomic conditions, adaptive capabilities, and infrastructure vulnerability. We employ a Multi-Hazard Risk Index by analyzing in-situ ground observations, remotely sensed information, and re-analyzed datasets. We explore the interplay between hazards, exposure, and vulnerability. Across the selected twenty cities, our results show substantial variation in risk levels, ranging from 40 to 80. We notice that that Gulf Coast cities (New Orleans and Miami) experience higher sea-level risk trends, while West Coast cities (Los Angeles and San Francisco) show comparatively lower exposure. Northeastern Atlantic cities (New York and Jersey City) face heightened vulnerability, while Southeastern Atlantic cities, such as Charleston, show lower vulnerability, reflecting differences in susceptibility and adaptive capacity. These relative risk scores provide city planners and policymakers with important insights and a framework to assess their city’s risk levels and make informed decisions for targeted resilience strategies.