Identifier

160

Date

2019

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Major

Earth Sciences

Concentration

Geography

Committee Chair

Esra Ozdenerol

Abstract

Tornadoes are the deadliest type of natural disaster in Tennessee, and detailed analysis of tornado vulnerability in Tennessee is necessary to improve preparedness. This study defines tornado incidence as the likelihood of a particular location to experience tornadoes, and societal exposure as the ability of a particular community to cope with and recover from tornado disasters. Tornado incidence and societal exposure are combined to estimate overall tornado vulnerability across the state on a county-by-county basis. Tornado count data are utilized to estimate tornado incidence. Regression analysis indicates that out of a selection of social vulnerability indices from previous literature, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's SVI index best predicts tornado fatalities, so it is utilized to estimate societal exposure. The study found that tornado vulnerability generally decreases from southwest to northeast across the state with Hardeman, Haywood, Lake, and Lauderdale counties identified as most vulnerable.

Comments

Undergraduate Honor's Thesis

Library Comment

Honors thesis originally submitted to the Local University of Memphis Honor’s Thesis Repository.

Notes

Data is provided by the student.

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