...addressing growing needs across the Northern Gulf of Mexico
Population and land‐use data, combined with abundant research on the science of watersheds, make it clear that land‐use reforms are necessary to preserve coastal communities and ecosystems.
At the Mississippi State University Center for Urban Rural Interface Studies, it is our mission to provide a clearinghouse of information regarding community socio-economic profiles, changes in land use, community resiliency, economic and disaster preparedness, and economic impacts of natural and technological disasters. Addressing our communities’ “growing” needs, CURIS strives to assist with planning and policy decisions related to the improvement of the quality of life in the Gulf Coastal region of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
Along the northern Gulf of Mexico region, the vulnerability of rural counties/parishes has become more apparent due to the occurrence of more natural disasters during the last decade. Although natural hazards cannot be prevented, with disaster preparedness knowledge, awareness and practices, the recovery period can be expedited.
The damages to the Gulf of Mexico natural resources due to Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill (GOMOS) would take some time to be cleaned up and the restoration period to get the resources back to their original pre-GOMOS status is still indefinite. The closures of significant portions of federal and state waters to commercial and recreational fishing and closures of beach resources to human uses due to the GOMOS altered the recreation and consumption decisions of residents and tourists in affected communities.
