Honors Theses and Capstones

Date Completed

Spring 2026

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between flood-induced building damage and social vulnerability in coastal New Hampshire, with a focus on communities increasingly affected by sea-level rise, storm surge, and high tide events. Using a dataset of 2,528 single-family homes, the analysis integrates flood depth maps (coastal, pluvial, and fluvial), building-level damage estimates, and a housing-burden-based metric to assess how physical and social factors interact to shape flood impacts. Results show that flood depth is the primary driver of building damage, with the most severe impacts concentrated in coastal areas experiencing deeper inundation. However, when buildings are grouped by vulnerability, higher housing burden is associated with greater average damage and a higher likelihood of extreme losses. While this relationship is not strictly linear, the findings indicate that socially vulnerable populations are disproportionately exposed to severe outcomes, particularly where high flood exposure and vulnerability overlap. The study highlights the importance of integrating physical hazard data with social vulnerability indicators to better identify at-risk communities and support more equitable and effective flood risk management and planning strategies.

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

First Advisor

Fei Han

College or School

CEPS

Department or Program

Civil Engineering

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

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