DOI: 10.7280/d1rh7z
title: Los Angeles 100-year flood risk

description: Flood risks in the U.S. have historically been underestimated,
 particularly with respect to human well-being and within low-wealth and
 marginalized communities. Here, we characterize a fuller range of risks in
 Los Angeles, California, using a quantitative framework that intersects
 flood hazards from rainfall, streamflow, and storm tides with measures of
 exposure and vulnerability including ethnicity, race, and socioeconomic
 disadvantage. We find that between 197 and 974 thousand (K) people
 (median=425K), and between $36 and $108 billion (B) in property
 (median=$56B), are exposed to flooding greater than 30 cm within the
 100-year flood zone, risk levels far above federally defined floodplains
 and similar to the most damaging hurricanes in U.S. history. These risks
 are disproportionately higher for non-Hispanic Black and disadvantaged
 populations, burdening communities that may have greater challenges
 recovering and reinforcing socioeconomic inequities. Our framework creates
 opportunities for transparently and equitably reducing flood risks in
 urban areas.  The included dataset provides flood hazard and
 socio-economic data to perform parcel level flood risk assessment for Los
 Angeles, CA, USA. 
description: Several software codes are provided to support the analysis of
 flood risk across the LA Metro:  Matlab codes (.m
 files): These codes are to be opened in MathWorks
 Matlab software and include: 
 LAexposurecalcs.m (code to compute population and property value
 exposure to flood hazards)
 lorenz_socioeconomic.m (code to compute lorenz curves for
 socio-economic factors and flood hazards)
 lorenz_race_ethnicity.m (code to compute lorenz curves for
 race/ethnicity and flood hazards)
 municipal_hazard_NDI_FER.m (code to compute Flood Exposure
 Representativeness at the municipal level) cmocean.m
 & labelpoints.m (dependency codes for figure plotting)
 The Matlab codes are designed to be executed using
 one of the lafloodrisk_2020_p_d_s_XX.csv files at a time. Whereby XX
 indicates the 100 yr flood hazard percentile (5th, 50th, or 95th). To
 access the lafloodrisk_2020_p_d_s_XX.csv files first decompress the
 lafloodrisk_2020.zip file using compression software (e.g.
 7-Zip). Stata code (.do file): 
 California_NDI.do (calculates the NDI for each Census block
 group across California)  The above code
 is designed to be executed with the California_Reduced2019.dta data file
 containing 2019 5yr ACS variables for the state of California.
 Description of the variables included in the
 California_Reduced2019.dta file: 
 
 ACS_Code Description B01001_001E SEX BY AGE: Total: Total population B01002_001E MEDIAN AGE BY SEX: Total: Total population B09002_015E OWN CHILDREN UNDER 18 YEARS BY FAMILY TYPE AND AGE: In other families: Female householder, no husband present: Own children under 18 years B11001_002E HOUSEHOLD TYPE (INCLUDING LIVING ALONE): Family households: Households B11001_006E HOUSEHOLD TYPE (INCLUDING LIVING ALONE): Family households: Other family: Female householder, no husband present: Households B15003_001E EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT FOR THE POPULATION 25 YEARS AND OVER: Total: Population 25 years and over B15003_017E EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT FOR THE POPULATION 25 YEARS AND OVER: Regular high school diploma: Population 25 years and over B15003_018E EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT FOR THE POPULATION 25 YEARS AND OVER: GED or alternative credential: Population 25 years and over B15003_019E EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT FOR THE POPULATION 25 YEARS AND OVER: Some college, less than 1 year: Population 25 years and over B15003_020E EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT FOR THE POPULATION 25 YEARS AND OVER: Some college, 1 or more years, no degree: Population 25 years and over B15003_021E EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT FOR THE POPULATION 25 YEARS AND OVER: Associate's degree: Population 25 years and over B15011_001E SEX BY AGE BY FIELD OF BACHELOR'S DEGREE FOR FIRST MAJOR FOR THE POPULATION 25 YEARS AND OVER: Total: POPULATION 25 YEARS AND OVER WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER ATTAINMENT C16002_001E HOUSEHOLD LANGUAGE BY HOUSEHOLD LIMITED ENGLISH SPEAKING STATUS: Total: Households C16002_002E HOUSEHOLD LANGUAGE BY HOUSEHOLD LIMITED ENGLISH SPEAKING STATUS: English only: Households C17002_001E RATIO OF INCOME TO POVERTY LEVEL IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS: Total: Population for whom poverty status is determined C17002_002E RATIO OF INCOME TO POVERTY LEVEL IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS: Under .50: Population for whom poverty status is determined C17002_003E RATIO OF INCOME TO POVERTY LEVEL IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS: .50 to .99: Population for whom poverty status is determined C17002_004E RATIO OF INCOME TO POVERTY LEVEL IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS: 1.00 to 1.24: Population for whom poverty status is determined C17002_005E RATIO OF INCOME TO POVERTY LEVEL IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS: 1.25 to 1.49: Population for whom poverty status is determined C17002_006E RATIO OF INCOME TO POVERTY LEVEL IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS: 1.50 to 1.84: Population for whom poverty status is determined C17002_007E RATIO OF INCOME TO POVERTY LEVEL IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS: 1.85 to 1.99: Population for whom poverty status is determined B17010_001E POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES BY FAMILY TYPE BY PRESENCE OF RELATED CHILDREN UNDER 18 YEARS BY AGE OF RELATED CHILDREN: Total: Families B19001_001E HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2017 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS): Total: Households B19001_002E HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2017 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS): Less than $10,000: Households B19001_003E HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2017 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS): $10,000 to $14,999: Households B19001_004E HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2017 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS): $15,000 to $19,999: Households B19001_005E HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2017 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS): $20,000 to $24,999: Households B19001_006E HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2017 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS): $25,000 to $29,999: Households B19001_007E HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2017 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS): $30,000 to $34,999: Households B19001_008E HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2017 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS): $35,000 to $39,999: Households B19001_009E HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2017 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS): $40,000 to $44,999: Households B19001_010E HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2017 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS): $45,000 to $49,999: Households B19001_011E HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2017 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS): $50,000 to $59,999: Households B19001_016E HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2017 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS): $150,000 to $199,999: Households B19001_017E HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2017 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS): $200,000 or more: Households B19013_001E MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2017 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS): Median household income in the past 12 months (in 2017 inflation-adjusted dollars): Households B19051_001E EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS FOR HOUSEHOLDS: Total: Households B19057_001E PUBLIC ASSISTANCE INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS FOR HOUSEHOLDS: Total: Households B19057_002E PUBLIC ASSISTANCE INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS FOR HOUSEHOLDS: With public assistance income: Households B20002_001E MEDIAN EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2017 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) BY SEX FOR THE POPULATION 16 YEARS AND OVER WITH EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS: Total: Population 16 years and over with earnings B22010_001E RECEIPT OF FOOD STAMPS/SNAP IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS BY DISABILITY STATUS FOR HOUSEHOLDS: Total: Households B22010_002E RECEIPT OF FOOD STAMPS/SNAP IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS BY DISABILITY STATUS FOR HOUSEHOLDS: Household received Food Stamps/SNAP in the past 12 months: Households B23025_001E EMPLOYMENT STATUS FOR THE POPULATION 16 YEARS AND OVER: Total: Population 16 years and over B23025_002E EMPLOYMENT STATUS FOR THE POPULATION 16 YEARS AND OVER: In labor force: Population 16 years and over B23025_005E EMPLOYMENT STATUS FOR THE POPULATION 16 YEARS AND OVER: In labor force: Civilian labor force: Unemployed: Population 16 years and over C24010_001E SEX BY OCCUPATION FOR THE CIVILIAN EMPLOYED POPULATION 16 YEARS AND OVER: Total: Civilian employed population 16 years and over B25001_001E HOUSING UNITS: Total: Housing units B25003_001E TENURE: Total: Occupied housing units B25003_002E TENURE: Owner occupied: Occupied housing units B25003_003E TENURE: Renter occupied: Occupied housing units B25058_001E MEDIAN CONTRACT RENT (DOLLARS): Median contract rent: Renter-occupied housing units paying cash rent B25064_001E MEDIAN GROSS RENT (DOLLARS): Median gross rent: Renter-occupied housing units paying cash rent  B25071_001E MEDIAN GROSS RENT AS A PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (DOLLARS): Median gross rent as a percentage of household income: Renter-occupied housing units paying cash rent B25077_001E MEDIAN VALUE (DOLLARS): Median value (dollars): Owner-occupied housing units B27010_001E TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE BY AGE: Total: Civilian noninstitutionalized population B27010_007E TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE BY AGE: Under 19 years: With one type of health insurance coverage: With Medicaid/means-tested public coverage only: Civilian noninstitutionalized population B27010_013E TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE BY AGE: Under 19 years: With two or more types of health insurance coverage: With Medicare and Medicaid/means-tested public coverage: Civilian noninstitutionalized population B27010_017E TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE BY AGE: Under 19 years: No health insurance coverage: Civilian noninstitutionalized population B27010_023E TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE BY AGE: 19 to 34 years: With one type of health insurance coverage: With Medicaid/means-tested public coverage only: Civilian noninstitutionalized population B27010_029E TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE BY AGE: 19 to 34 years: With two or more types of health insurance coverage: With Medicare and Medicaid/means-tested public coverage: Civilian noninstitutionalized population B27010_033E TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE BY AGE: 19 to 34 years: No health insurance coverage: Civilian noninstitutionalized population B27010_039E TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE BY AGE: 35 to 64 years: With one type of health insurance coverage: With Medicaid/means-tested public coverage only: Civilian noninstitutionalized population B27010_046E TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE BY AGE: 35 to 64 years: With two or more types of health insurance coverage: With Medicare and Medicaid/means-tested public coverage: Civilian noninstitutionalized population B27010_050E TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE BY AGE: 35 to 64 years: No health insurance coverage: Civilian noninstitutionalized population B27010_063E TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE BY AGE: 65 years and over: With two or more types of health insurance coverage: With Medicare and Medicaid/means-tested public coverage: Civilian noninstitutionalized population B27010_066E TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE BY AGE: 65 years and over: No health insurance coverage: Civilian noninstitutionalized population B99051_001E ALLOCATION OF CITIZENSHIP STATUS: Total: Total population B99051_005E ALLOCATION OF CITIZENSHIP STATUS: Foreign born: Total population B19301_001E PER CAPITA INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2017 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS): Per capita income in the past 12 months (in 2017 inflation-adjusted dollars): Total population B20002_001E MEDIAN EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2017 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) BY SEX FOR THE POPULATION 16 YEARS AND OVER WITH EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS: Total: Population 16 years and over with earnings B01001_002E SEX BY AGE: Male: Total population B01001_003E SEX BY AGE: Male: Under 5 years: Total population B01001_004E SEX BY AGE: Male: 5 to 9 years: Total population B01001_005E SEX BY AGE: Male: 10 to 14 years: Total population B01001_006E SEX BY AGE: Male: 15 to 17 years: Total population B01001_007E SEX BY AGE: Male: 18 and 19 years: Total population B01001_008E SEX BY AGE: Male: 20 years: Total population   B01001_009E SEX BY AGE: Male: 21 years: Total population   B01001_010E SEX BY AGE: Male: 22 to 24 years: Total population B01001_011E SEX BY AGE: Male: 25 to 29 years: Total population B01001_012E SEX BY AGE: Male: 30 to 34 years: Total population B01001_013E SEX BY AGE: Male: 35 to 39 years: Total population B01001_014E SEX BY AGE: Male: 40 to 44 years: Total population B01001_015E SEX BY AGE: Male: 45 to 49 years: Total population B01001_016E SEX BY AGE: Male: 50 to 54 years: Total population B01001_017E SEX BY AGE: Male: 55 to 59 years: Total population B01001_018E SEX BY AGE: Male: 60 and 61 years: Total population B01001_019E SEX BY AGE: Male: 62 to 64 years: Total population B01001_020E SEX BY AGE: Male: 65 and 66 years: Total population B01001_021E SEX BY AGE: Male: 67 to 69 years: Total population B01001_022E SEX BY AGE: Male: 70 to 74 years: Total population B01001_023E SEX BY AGE: Male: 75 to 79 years: Total population B01001_024E SEX BY AGE: Male: 80 to 84 years: Total population B01001_025E SEX BY AGE: Male: 85 years and over: Total population B01001_026E SEX BY AGE: Female: Total population B01001_027E SEX BY AGE: Female: Under 5 years: Total population B01001_028E SEX BY AGE: Female: 5 to 9 years: Total population B01001_029E SEX BY AGE: Female: 10 to 14 years: Total population B01001_030E SEX BY AGE: Female: 15 to 17 years: Total population B01001_031E SEX BY AGE: Female: 18 and 19 years: Total population B01001_032E SEX BY AGE: Female: 20 years: Total population B01001_033E SEX BY AGE: Female: 21 years: Total population B01001_034E SEX BY AGE: Female: 22 to 24 years: Total population B01001_035E SEX BY AGE: Female: 25 to 29 years: Total population B01001_036E SEX BY AGE: Female: 30 to 34 years: Total population B01001_037E SEX BY AGE: Female: 35 to 39 years: Total population B01001_038E SEX BY AGE: Female: 40 to 44 years: Total population B01001_039E SEX BY AGE: Female: 45 to 49 years: Total population B01001_040E SEX BY AGE: Female: 50 to 54 years: Total population B01001_041E SEX BY AGE: Female: 55 to 59 years: Total population B01001_042E SEX BY AGE: Female: 60 and 61 years: Total population B01001_043E SEX BY AGE: Female: 62 to 64 years: Total population B01001_044E SEX BY AGE: Female: 65 and 66 years: Total population B01001_045E SEX BY AGE: Female: 67 to 69 years: Total population B01001_046E SEX BY AGE: Female: 70 to 74 years: Total population B01001_047E SEX BY AGE: Female: 75 to 79 years: Total population B01001_048E SEX BY AGE: Female: 80 to 84 years: Total population B01001_049E SEX BY AGE: Female: 85 years and over: Total population B01003_001E TOTAL POPULATION: Total: Total population B01002_001E RACE: Total: Total population B02001_002E RACE: White alone: Total population B02001_003E RACE: Black or African American alone: Total population  B02001_004E RACE: American Indian and Alaska Native alone: Total population B02001_005E RACE: Asian alone: Total population B02001_006E RACE: Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: Total population B02001_007E RACE: Some other race alone: Total population B02001_008E RACE: Two or more races: Total population B02001_009E RACE: Two or more races: Two races including Some other race: Total population  B02001_010E RACE: Two or more races: Two races excluding Some other race, and three or more races: Total population B02008_001E WHITE ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH ONE OR MORE OTHER RACES: Total: White alone or in combination with one or more other races B02009_001E BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH ONE OR MORE OTHER RACES: Total: Black or African American alone or in combination with one or more other races  B02010_001E AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH ONE OR MORE OTHER RACES: Total: People who are American Indian or Alaska Native alone or in combination with one or more other races B02011_001E ASIAN ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH ONE OR MORE OTHER RACES: Total: Asian alone or in combination with one or more other races B02012_001E NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDER ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH ONE OR MORE OTHER RACES: Total: Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone or in combination with one or more other races B02013_001E SOME OTHER RACE ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH ONE OR MORE OTHER RACES: Total: Some other race alone or in combination with one or more other races B03002_001E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Total: Total population B03002_002E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Not Hispanic or Latino: Total population B03002_003E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Not Hispanic or Latino: White alone: Total population B03002_004E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Not Hispanic or Latino: Black or African American alone: Total population B03002_005E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Not Hispanic or Latino: American Indian and Alaska Native alone: Total population B03002_006E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Not Hispanic or Latino: Asian alone: Total population B03002_007E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Not Hispanic or Latino: Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: Total population B03002_008E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Not Hispanic or Latino: Some other race alone: Total population B03002_009E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Not Hispanic or Latino: Two or more races: Total population B03002_010E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Not Hispanic or Latino: Two or more races: Two races including Some other race: Total population B03002_011E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Not Hispanic or Latino: Two or more races: Two races excluding Some other race, and three or more races: Total population B03002_012E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Hispanic or Latino: Total population B03002_013E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Hispanic or Latino: White alone: Total population B03002_014E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Hispanic or Latino: Black or African American alone: Total population B03002_015E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Hispanic or Latino: American Indian and Alaska Native alone: Total population B03002_016E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Hispanic or Latino: Asian alone: Total population B03002_017E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Hispanic or Latino: Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: Total population B03002_018E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Hispanic or Latino: Some other race alone: Total population B03002_019E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Hispanic or Latino: Two or more races: Total population B03002_020E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Hispanic or Latino: Two or more races: Two races including Some other race: Total population B03002_021E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE: Hispanic or Latino: Two or more races: Two races excluding Some other race, and three or more races: Total population B03003_001E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN: Total: Total population B03003_003E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN: Not Hispanic or Latino: Total population B03003_003E HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN: Hispanic or Latino: Total population Description of the variables included in the lafloodrisk_2020_p_d_s_XX.csv files: ID Parcel ID APN Assessor Parcel Number TRACT_ID Census Tract GeoID BLKGRP_ID Census Blockgroup GeoID TaxRateCity Parcel Tax City UseType Parcel Land Use LotSizeSquareFeet Parcel Area (sq ft) TotalAssessedValue Assessor Total Assessed Value C100yrMEAN Mean 100yr Flood Depth - Composite (meters) P100yrMEAN Mean 100yr Flood Depth - Precipitation (meters) Q100yrMEAN Mean 100yr Flood Depth - Streamflow (meters) T100yrMEAN Mean 100yr Flood Depth - Tide (meters) FEMA_ZONE FEMA Special Flood Hazard Zone Code FEMA_SUBTITLE FEMA Special Flood Hazard Zone Description FEMA_SFHA FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area True/False POP2020 Census 2020 Total Blockgroup Population POP20_SQMI Census 2020 Blockgroup Population Density WHITE Census 2020 Blockgroup White Population BLACK Census 2020 Blockgroup Black Population AMERI_ES Census 2020 Blockgroup American Indian or Alaska native Population ASIAN Census 2020 Blockgroup Asian Population HAWN_PI Census 2020 Blockgroup Native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander  Population HISPANIC Census 2020 Blockgroup Hispanic Population OTHER Census 2020 Blockgroup Other Population MULT_RACE Census 2020 Blockgroup Multi-Race Population MEDINC ACS 5-yr 2019 Blockgroup Median Income SVI Tract CDC Social Vulnerability Index Normalized SOVI Tract University of South Carolina Social Vulnerability Index Normalized NDI Block Group Neighborhood Disadvantage Index Normalized