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Ramsey County | Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan 18 floods can cause increases in utilities and other expenses that are not easily absorbed by low-income families. Additionally, low-income communities and communities of color are the most vulnerable to a rapidly changing climate. 2.4.1 SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS Socioeconomic status affects hazard vulnerability because lower-income populations often have limited access to resources, such as safe housing, insurance, and emergency services, making them less resilient to disasters. Additionally, they may face greater challenges in recovery, prolonging the impacts of hazards. • The percentage of residents living below the poverty line in Ramsey County is 12.9 %. • Unemployment rates stand at 4.6%, with certain areas of the county experiencing even higher levels of joblessness. • Household income in more vulnerable areas of the county is significantly lower than the countywide average, with 20.5% of countywide households reporting incomes of $35,000 or less. • Housing cost-burdened occupied units (30%+ of income spent on housing costs) equal approximately 26.4% of the available housing stock. • Data shows that educational attainment also plays a role, with 8.8% of residents over age 25 lacking a high school diploma. • In the metro area, 4 of every 5 Areas of Concentrated Poverty are also census tracts where at least half of residents are people of color. Areas with lower income, more poverty and unemployment, and fewer adults with high school diplomas have a higher vulnerability score. Areas of moderate to high vulnerability are found along and north of I- 94, Saint Paul’s East and West Sides, and in areas in Roseville and Mounds View. 2.4.2 HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION AND DISABILITY The U.S. Census defines four major categories of disabilities: • Sensory disabilities include blindness, deafness, or severe vision or hearing impairment. • Physical disabilities are long-lasting conditions that substantially limit one or more basic physical activities, such as walking, climbing stairs, reaching, lifting, or carrying things. • Self-care disabilities are conditions lasting six or more months that make it a challenge to dress, bathe, or move around inside the home. • Go-outside-the-home disabilities are conditions lasting six or more months that make it difficult for people to shop or to visit a doctor’s office by themselves. Household composition and disability affect hazard vulnerability as families with young children, elderly members, or individuals with disabilities may face greater difficulties in evacuating, accessing emergency information, and receiving appropriate care during disasters. These groups often require additional support and tailored resources to ensure safety and resilience.