Just how well could the population of Chattooga County bounce back from a widespread disaster?  That’s a question that the US Census Bureau is attempting to answer with the recent  Community Resilience Estimates that report on how communities across the nation would do if faced with a disaster such as a natural or man-made disaster or pandemic.

The estimates uses data primarily from the 2022 American Community Survey to measure social vulnerability nationally, by state, by county and by census tract. Across the nation 20.6% of the population is considered vulnerable if they had to face a disaster.

Here in Chattooga County,  22.9% of the 24,902 residents are considered vulnerable. Among the factors that compare poorly to the national estimate are disability, 18.1%; single caregiver homes, 6.9%; below the poverty level, 19.9%; full time permanent employment, 43.8%; no health insurance, 13%; and broadband subscriptions, 77.7%.

Nationally, 12.9% of the population reported they have a disability, just 8.7% have no health insurance and 88.3% of households have a broadband internet subscription.