When Hurricane Harvey made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane near Rockport, Texas, on August 25, 2017, we knew there would be massive winds and torrential rains. But none of us understood, and will probably not understand for some time, the full extent of the impact of this natural disaster in communities throughout the Gulf Coast region—from Texas to Louisiana. What we do know is that with a record fifty-two inches of rainfall in parts of the region, the flooding has had devastating effects.

We hope the mapping tool and findings from research about the most vulnerable populations affected by Hurricane Harvey can inform discussions and decisions being made regarding the long-term priorities of rebuilding efforts in Texas.

As we conferred with colleagues in philanthropy across the country, we understood there's a critical data gap. It's difficult for groups wanting to help to truly understand the extent of damage through the affected communities and the short-term and long-term challenges facing the most vulnerable populations affected by this disaster—that is, people who are elderly, low-income, renting a place to live, and/or the undocumented.

Using a geographic information system (GIS) mapping file from the FEMA website, we have created a user-friendly, interactive map that shows the extent of property damage throughout the affected region.

Read the full article by Greg K. Porter