Dynamics of sudden on-set hydrometeorological and geophysical disaster-driven internal displacement in high-income country context: Insights from the Global Internal Displacement Database

Internal displacement is a growing global human security concern that affects people in high- and low-income contexts. However, past studies of internal displacement have predominantly focused on low-income contexts. This study sought to contribute to the growing but currently limited knowledge on internal displacement in high-income contexts. The study specifically investigates dynamics of sudden on-set disaster-driven internal displacement in the United States using data from the Global Internal Displacement Database (GIDD). Data analysis involved both descriptive and inferential statistics. Study results reveal that hydrometeorological disasters accounted for 99 percent of sudden on-set disaster-driven internal displacements in the United States during the period under study. Storm disasters alone accounted for 68 percent of total internal displacements. Yet simple linear regression analysis demonstrated a very weak but positive relationship (R2 = 0.02) between yearly total number of storm disasters and yearly total number of internal displacements associated with the same at 0.05 confidence level indicating that something else other than yearly total number of storm disasters is to blame. The article identifies and discusses five explanatory factors based on close reading of disaster studies literature. The article also presents a two-step pathway-based conceptual framework for understanding the nexus between climate change and sudden on-set hydrometeorological and geophysical disaster-driven internal displacement in the United States and similar contexts across the globe. Finally, the article suggests potential future research directions and recommends the formulation of a national strategy on internal displacement in the United States.