Perceptions of Community Resilience

The report finds that residents in underserved Maryland neighborhoods perceive climate change risks similarly to the general state population but experience significantly higher rates of environmental harms, such as flooding and sewage overflows. While these communities support government action on climate and the creation of local resilience hubs, they report lower levels of social capital and resource accessibility. The study highlights a strong demand for energy bill assistance and community centers, suggesting that climate preparedness efforts should be integrated with broader community development and social resilience goals.

• Residents of the four surveyed neighborhoods in Baltimore and Prince George’s County perceive risks from climate change and its effects—including sea level rise, extreme heat, storms, and flooding—at levels similar to the rest of the state of Maryland.
• A majority of residents in the studied areas view climate change as a significant near-term threat, with 57% in Baltimore and 61% in Prince George’s County believing it will cause significant harm in the next several years.
• Residents in the surveyed neighborhoods report higher frequencies of environmental hazards compared to the state average, specifically water damage from heavy rains or flooding (38% in Baltimore vs. 15% statewide) and sewage overflows (22% in Baltimore and 19% in Glassmanor-Oxon Hill vs. 6% statewide).
• Chronic medical conditions are more prevalent in the three Baltimore neighborhoods than in the state overall, with asthma affecting 23% of residents compared to 12% statewide.
• Surveyed communities perceive their social capital to be lower than the state average, particularly regarding their internal communication and ability to obtain necessary resources.
• There is strong community support for government intervention to mitigate climate change, with approximately 65% of Baltimore residents and 67% of Glassmanor-Oxon Hill residents favoring protective actions.
• Residents expressed high interest in local resilience and services hubs; 65% of respondents in both Baltimore and Glassmanor-Oxon Hill indicated they would be likely to use such facilities for emergency resources.
• Information requests from residents were primarily focused on energy-related topics, with 31% of respondents specifically asking for energy bill assistance.
• In Baltimore neighborhoods, trash was identified as a top community concern, which the report notes is directly linked to climate resilience because trash clogs storm drains and causes flooding.
• Coping mechanisms for stress in these communities differ from the state average, showing a higher reliance on faith in God and higher rates of disengagement or 'learning to live' with stressors.

APA

Akerlof, K., Moser, F., Baja, K., Dindinger, J., Chanse, V., & Rowan, K. (2016). Perceptions of Community Resilience. Center for Climate Change Communication. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2016-MD-Community-Resilience-Report-101216.pdf

Chicago

Akerlof, Karen, Fredrika Moser, Kristin Baja, Jennifer Dindinger, Victoria Chanse, and Katherine Rowan. Perceptions of Community Resilience. Center for Climate Change Communication, 2016. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2016-MD-Community-Resilience-Report-101216.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Akerlof |first1=Karen |last2=Moser |first2=Fredrika |last3=Baja |first3=Kristin |last4=Dindinger |first4=Jennifer |last5=Chanse |first5=Victoria |last6=Rowan |first6=Katherine |title=Perceptions of Community Resilience |publisher=Center for Climate Change Communication |date=2016 |url=https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2016-MD-Community-Resilience-Report-101216.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{akerlof2016perceptions, author = {Akerlof, Karen and Moser, Fredrika and Baja, Kristin and Dindinger, Jennifer and Chanse, Victoria and Rowan, Katherine}, title = {{Perceptions of Community Resilience}}, institution = {Center for Climate Change Communication}, year = {2016}, url = {https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2016-MD-Community-Resilience-Report-101216.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }