Laura Geronimo

I am a PhD Candidate at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. My dissertation is titled: Facing Future Floods: Equitable Risk Reduction for Coastal Residential Communities.

I research how federal hazard mitigation programs are implemented in the coastal zone to manage flood risk at the household and community level. Using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods, I evaluate program implementation and the equity-efficiency tradeoffs of interventions, with a focus on FEMA-funded property buyouts and elevations.

I am passionate about working with diverse communities and professionals to think about how we can manage our coastal resources in fair and sustainable ways for the wellbeing of current and future generations.