2016 UAA Annual Conference

Historically the Texas Valley region has faced more convergence of natural disasters and a higher concentration of vulnerable population than in any other part of the United States. By focusing on this region, this study evaluates the location and distribution of mobile neighborhoods and parks to its vicinity in pursuance of generating accurate demand forecasts and address demand variability utilizing demand modeling in evacuation. This region has particular characteristics, mostly elucidated by the regional vocation. Gibson et at. (2006) show the place strong economic and cultural heritage, established by educational assets and a rapidly growing of bi-literate workforce. A parallel between the development stage of the cities in this region and other settlements across the United States, as American company towns, tries to framework important sociological factors not yet presumed in hazard investigations, such as the privatization of the urban space and peri-urbanisation. The enlightenment of these factors has potential to headline modern public protocols and increase the natural disasters evacuation compliance and successful rate. Complementary, this study observes the demography of the mobile neighborhoods and mobile parks residents, which helps in the analysis of social and organizational structures behind the urban and suburban geography, one that will impact straight in the region disaster alertness, preparedness, and mobility, at individual and county management levels. This paper suggests a different approach when overlooking the "facilitators and barriers" for employing this technique in mandatory evacuations. The importance of this study lays in new boundaries for future evacuation research and development of decision making models, simultaneously raising questions about contemporary sociological characteristics nurtured by mobile neighborhoods and mobile parks in low density and high poverty rate cities.