Public Infrastructure Service Disparities: Spatiotemporal Analysis of Solid Waste Service Requests during Hurricane Irma

The unequal distribution of infrastructure services poses critical challenges to disaster resilience, as natural hazards amplify disparities and disproportionately impact vulnerable populations. This study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of solid waste service disparities by analyzing 311 service requests from communities in Lee County, Florida, affected by Hurricane Irma. Analytical methods, including event study and bivariate autocorrelation, were employed to examine service inequalities across communities with varying geographic and socioeconomic characteristics. The results reveal distinct temporal patterns in service demand—with lower-than-predicted volumes during the response phase and higher-than-expected volumes during the recovery phase. Spatially, inland areas experienced significantly longer time to resolve requests compared to coastal regions. Moreover, Hurricane Irma exacerbated pre-existing disparities, as many communities with higher social vulnerabilities tended to report fewer service requests and experienced prolonged resolution time. These findings underscore the importance of addressing infrastructure inequalities and tailoring strategies to the unique characteristics of communities.