Risk Mitigation for the Vulnerable Segment of a Population under Short-Notice Disasters Using Autonomous Vehicles

Document Type

Poster

Date of Original Version

3-27-2026

Abstract

With the deployment of autonomous vehicles, new opportunities exist to mitigate risks for the vulnerable. Vulnerable is an individual or group whose characteristics or assets induce susceptibility to the negative impacts of hazards. Vulnerable segments of a population include the elderly, very young, individuals with mobility challenges, language or communication barriers, institutionalized populations, migrants, and tourists. This study examines the reduction in risk posed by extreme events to vulnerable populations under short notice. It compares the traditional evacuation strategy with an alternative that enacts an early wave of sheltering for the vulnerable transported using autonomous vehicles. As the general population prepares to evacuate by securing properties, autonomous vehicles can already proactively transport the vulnerable population segments to shelters. Social science validates this strategy, evidencing the predisposition of households with vulnerable members to evacuate early. Thus, the proposed phased-evacuation strategy aligns with the actual behavior of the vulnerable. Using the Aquidneck Island, Rhode Island, as a case study, this research quantifies its hazard exposure and its vulnerable population extent through a risk assessment. Historical storms from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Storm Events Database characterize the exposure, while U.S. Census data, complemented by targeted surveys, determines vulnerability specifics and extent. The research aims to assess the risk reduction from phasing the evacuation and prioritizing the vulnerable. Effective risk mitigation requires not only transportation planning but also active public-private partnerships to address the specific vulnerabilities faced.

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