With climate change projected to make urban flooding worse in the coming decades in Southeast Michigan, it is imperative to acknowledge and address these disparities in infrastructure and development.
What can we do? Meaningful mitigation strategies would help combat socioeconomic inequalities in the long run if they gain the necessary public and governmental support. While we’re still in the midst of aggregating and exploring data, we’ve identified some intermediary key opportunities in regions like Metro Detroit, where inequitable water management is plaguing countless households. The first key is in the approach. As we’ve explored, communities in
Center for Social Solutions Fall 2021 • Vol 1
Southeast Michigan and across the country are highly varied down to the household level in terms of risk, resources, and access. In fact, even census tract data is often too broad to assess where neighborhood level investment is needed most. Large scale water management is not suitable for cities with high socioeconomic disparity, especially when considering the historical and climate change factors that tend to widen those gaps even further. Once key areas of need are identified, investing in more flood resistant infrastructure and providing stable housing in lowincome neighborhoods can have beneficial effects in the long-run. Green stormwater infrastructure includes green or blue roofs, permeable or porous materials, and
the use of bioswales or rain gardens for infiltration. Some of these technologies are relatively cheap to install and maintain, and will certainly save money in the long-run in terms of flood prevention and mitigation. A “sponge city” is a method of flood management and ecological restoration already gaining popularity and traction in urban design and landscape architecture. Increased access to loans, aid, and national flood insurance policy in areas of need can also help reduce socioeconomic disparities in lowincome communities which often face barriers to these forms of support. ■
