The social-ecological resilience of transport mobility networks: Lessons from Hurricanes Juan and Igor

In recent years, record-breaking hurricanes made landfall in Newfoundland (Igor 2010) and Nova Scotia (Juan 2003). In recognition of the hurricanes’ severity, the names ‘Juan’ and ‘Igor’ were retired by the World Meteorological Organization. Specific to mobility, road, marine, air, and rail networks experienced severe damage, disrupting numerous systems, including emergency services, commercial operations, and personal transport. These impacts brought daily life to a standstill. Taken-for-granted practices became concerted efforts, and the human relationship with the surrounding environment was disrupted. In some cases, alternate transport mobility networks (i.e. helicopters, off-road vehicles, boats, and simply people carrying other people) emerged, while in other cases immobility emerged as the best or only option. In my doctoral research, I explore both short-term coping mechanisms and longer-term policy implications of these two hurricanes in terms of mobility. Specifically, I ask: How do disruptions to transport mobility networks caused by hurricanes highlight areas of social-ecological resilience and vulnerability?