Mapping Areas with Low Vehicle Access
This map shows census tracts in Houston, Texas, that have many households without access to a vehicle. These areas may need to be considered for evacuation assistance in case of a hurricane or other natural disaster.
When a hurricane threatens Houston, not everyone can evacuate the city easily. Many households do not have a car to leave in time. Without assistance, these people could remain trapped in high-risk areas.
I use ArcGIS Online, a great Esri platform that allows to visualize geographic information on a map. I added reliable demographic data from the U.S. Census that shows how many households in each area of Houston do not have access to a vehicle. By mapping this information, I was able to transform complex datasets into a clear and understandable picture of the situation. I then adjusts the map's appearance to highlight the neighborhoods in greatest need: places where the percentage of households without a car is very high.
By filtering the map to focus only on Houston, it's possible to reveal a small number of critical zones where residents will require priority assistance to evacuate quickly. These areas become priorities for emergency services. Once the analysis is complete, it's a valuable tool for decision making: where to deploy evacuation buses, where to set up pickup locations, and where to focus communication with residents. Data is no longer just rows of numbers—it becomes actionable information that can help save lives.
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