Global warming is leading to increased frequency and severity of storms that are associated with flooding, increasing the risk to urban, coastal populations. This study examined perceptions of the relationship between severe storms, sea level rise, climate change and ecological barriers by a vulnerable environmental justice population in New Jersey. Patients using New Jersey’s Federally Qualified Health Centers were interviewed after Hurricane [Superstorm] Sandy because it is essential to understand the perceptions of uninsured, underinsured, and economically challenged people to better develop a resiliency strategy for the most vulnerable people. Patients (N = 355) using 6 centers were interviewed using a structured interview form. Patients were interviewed in the order they entered the reception area, in either English or Spanish. Respondents were asked to rate their agreement with environmental statements. Respondents 1) agreed with experts that “severe storms were due to climate change”, “storms will come more often”, and that “flooding was due to sea level rise”, 2) did not agree as strongly that “climate change was due to human activity”, 3) were neutral for statements that “Sandy damages were due to loss of dunes or salt marshes”. 4) did not differ as a function of ethnic/racial categories, and 5) showed few gender differences. It is imperative that the public understand that climate change and sea level rise are occurring so that they support community programs (and funding) to prepare for increased frequency of storms and coastal flooding. The lack of high ratings for the role of dunes and marshes in preventing flooding indicates a lack of understanding that ecological structures protect coasts, and suggests a lack of support for management actions to restore dunes as part of a coastal preparedness strategy. Perceptions that do not support a public policy of coastal zone management to protect coastlines can lead to increased flooding, extensive property damages, and injuries or loss of life.

中文翻译：

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新泽西州桑迪飓风过后三年对严重风暴、气候变化、生态结构和复原力的看法。


全球变暖导致与洪水相关的风暴的频率和严重程度增加，增加了城市和沿海人口的风险。这项研究考察了新泽西州弱势环境正义人群对严重风暴、海平面上升、气候变化和生态障碍之间关系的看法。在飓风[超级风暴]桑迪之后，对使用新泽西州联邦合格健康中心的患者进行了采访，因为了解未参保、参保不足和经济困难人群的看法对于更好地为最弱势群体制定弹性策略至关重要。使用结构化访谈形式对使用 6 个中心的患者 ( N = 355) 进行访谈。患者按照进入接待区的顺序接受采访，可以使用英语或西班牙语。受访者被要求评价他们对环境声明的同意程度。受访者 1) 同意专家的观点，即“严重风暴是由于气候变化造成的”、“风暴将会更加频繁地发生”以及“洪水是由于海平面上升造成的”，2) 不太同意“气候变化是由于气候变化造成的”人类活动”，3）对于“桑迪损害是由于沙丘或盐沼的消失”的陈述持中立态度。 4) 没有因民族/种族类别而存在差异，并且 5) 显示出很少的性别差异。公众必须了解气候变化和海平面上升正在发生，以便他们支持社区计划（和资金），为风暴和沿海洪水频率增加做好准备。 对沙丘和沼泽在防止洪水方面的作用缺乏高度评价，表明人们对生态结构保护海岸缺乏了解，并表明缺乏对恢复沙丘的管理行动的支持，作为海岸防备战略的一部分。不支持保护海岸线的沿海地区管理公共政策的看法可能会导致洪水增加、广泛的财产损失以及伤害或生命损失。