User:Doggluverduhh/Food desert

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Natural Disasters and Food Deserts

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Food access can be restricted in an area that is hit by natural disasters. Access to stores in low-income neighborhoods can be blocked when roads are flooded. Building damage can delay store openings. After Hurricane Harvey, grocery stores were not able to resume normal operation as they faced issues of infrastructure damage and supply issues. This situation was particularly dire for low-income communities, as they often have fewer resources to cope with such disasters and are more likely to live in areas prone to flooding and lacking in food retail options. This resulted in supermarkets in low-income neighborhoods being closed longer than other stores, which only worsened pre-existing inequalities.

There were less supermarkets available after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Access to supermarkets in predominantly Black neighborhoods was already limited prior to the storm. The storm increased racial-disparities in food access and access to supermarkets.