Disaster vulnerability of the construction industry: comparing impacts of hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic on Florida construction companies

Abstract

This research tests differences in construction company vulnerability to disaster events based on theoretical differences across hazard types and unique economic vulnerabilities within the sector. The authors conducted an online survey of construction companies in Florida who experienced both the pandemic and a recent hurricane to compare their impacts and experiences through rank and proportion testing of Likert-scale measures and analysis of open-ended survey responses. Survey results showed greater material, labour and equipment costs and procurement challenges and number of contractual disputes during the pandemic compared to after hurricanes. The results also showed differences in post-disaster demand, number of contracts, and revenue based on company size, sector, and project specialization, though results varied across the pandemic and hurricanes. Lastly, the study found that significantly more construction companies applied for and received government assistance during the pandemic, which took the form of wage subsidies rather than traditional disaster loans, though written responses suggest that small construction companies may have been more hesitant to use government funding. The results of this study can help construction companies understand differences in impact across disaster types and better prepare them for the increasing frequency, severity, and complexity of natural hazards in the future.