Ecological Disaster of Suburban Living

In developed countries, movement of people from cities to more suburban locations represents a long-term demographic trend among the middle and upper income.

Migration Of Urban Into Suburban Living

Though there are also recent demographic statistics to suggest a movement back to downtowns, the larger shift to suburban living remains. What many are not aware of is their high exposure to ecological disasters at suburban living.

As communities continue to expand outward from the city core, the effects of sprawl has resulted in settlement patterns into hazardous areas that were once farmland, forested lands or open space. Scenic areas that are frequently known as high hazard areas are also becoming popular. Specific examples include barrier islands, coastal property, rivers and streams, steep sloped areas and woodlands.

Migration Of Rural Into Suburban Living

In less developed countries, suburban living are exposed to yet another kind of ecological disasters. Not only are they exposed to earthquake, hurricane and flood, many suburbia is doomed to be crushed under their own waste debris. The ground-levels of both heavy metals and ozone pollution can be stunningly high in many suburbs.

While suburban residents’ exposures to ecological disaster are much higher, they are also the least prepared due to their social and political conditions. People with rural lifestyle are always prepared for emergencies as it is part of rural living. Rapid urbanization and migration are changing what were truly rural 20 years ago to suburban. Many residents are now expecting to be taken care of as their understanding and their respond to disasters are no longer the same.