2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
5/22/2019 | 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM | FLOOD PROTECTION ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN THE COAST OF PUERTO RICO: ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN EXTREME WEATHER, FLOOD HAZARD MITIGATION AND GASTROINTESTINAL ILLNESS | 150 DEF
FLOOD PROTECTION ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN THE COAST OF PUERTO RICO: ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN EXTREME WEATHER, FLOOD HAZARD MITIGATION AND GASTROINTESTINAL ILLNESS
Floods are becoming increasingly important due to the projected intensification of extreme weather events. The impacts of flooding go beyond damages to infrastructure, it also affects human health. During floods, discharge of sewage into streets, farms, and waterbodies increases human exposure to fecal contaminants causing gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses. A potential strategy for protection during weather hazards is the use of natural infrastructure and flood protection ecosystem services. Here we explore the relationship between extreme rainfall, flood protection ecosystem services, and Medicare claims for gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses in the coast of Puerto Rico. Our results show that flood impact varies inversely with flood protection ecosystem services, particularly due to the presence of karst soils. The protective effect of karst soils in mitigating flood impact, is lost when there is a high percentage of people living in flood prone areas. Our results support the linkage between extreme weather events, flood damages and GI illnesses, and suggests a potential buffering role of ecosystem services that promote rainfall infiltration. The relevance of these ecosystem services, however, is affected by planning decisions such as residential development in flood prone areas.
- Environmental Regulation
- Landscape
- Mitigation
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Presenters/Authors
Rebeca de Jesus Crespo
(), Louisiana State University, rdejesuscrespo1@lsu.edu;
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