Hot Enough For Ya?

July and August are the hottest months of the year, with September not far behind here in the South.  Extreme high heat can affect our outdoor activities, our electric bills, and our moods.  But what effect does heat have on the most vulnerable communities and what is their resilience to this external pressure on them.  According to the Census Bureau, “Community resilience is the capacity of individuals and households within a community to absorb the external stresses of a disaster.”

The United States Census provides data about the population in numerous topic areas.  Most recently (July 16, 2024), they released their report on the 2022 Community Resilience Estimates (CRE) for Heat.  The report includes Quick Guide which can be used to understand and use the data available.  The Bureau previously released data for 2019.

In general, the CRE reports the social vulnerability that inhibits community resilience.  The CRE for Heat (which is an experimental report) adds new components of social vulnerability and information concerning exposure.  For example, the report looks at which areas (by geography, state, county, and census tract) have more than two days in a row of temperatures over 90 degrees and what households in those areas do not have air conditioning. 

The CRE for Heat uses information from the American Community Survey and the Population Estimates Program.  The American Community Survey is conducted every month of every year and, unlike the decennial census, is sent to a sample of addresses.  The survey asks questions about topics not in the regular census such as education, employment, internet access, and transportation. 

The Population Estimates Program annually produces reports on the estimated changes in population and housing units for the nation, states, counties, cities and towns and includes births, deaths, and migrations. 

Arizona State University’s Knowledge Exchange for Resilience collaborates with the Census Bureau to produce the CRE for Heat reports.

The data from the CRE for Heat is included in My Community Explorer which is a Census Bureau tool to identify underserved communities and includes Census Bureau and Emergency Response datasets. 

Census Bureau Seeks Comments on the American Community Survey

 Beginning in 1810, the third census taken by the United States, the Census Bureau, a sub-agency within the Department of Commerce, understood that more information was needed about the public than the basic questions supplied.  This information was needed by business owners and potential business owners, academics doing research, other government agencies, etc.  Questions were added to the census covering various topics such as agriculture, industry, and commerce, as well as individuals' occupation, ancestry, marital status, disabilities, place of birth, and other topics.  These questions became unwieldy for the overall population, so in 1940, the Bureau created the long-form census questionnaire, which was sent to a random sampling of citizens.  More recently, the Bureau discovered that people need more up to date data than was provided by the decennial census.  In order to collect social, economic, and housing data continuously, the Bureau implemented, in 2005, the American Community Survey (ACS) and the Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS). This survey eliminated the need for the long-form of the census.

Periodically, the Census Bureau tests the questions to see if question wording, instructions, response categories, and underlying constructs need to be changed.  They also make changes to current topics or add topics as needed.  Current topics include household roster, educational attainment, health insurance coverage, disability, and labor force questions.  Three new topics are proposed for the 2025 census – solar panels, electric vehicles, and sewage disposal.

These changes and new topics will be available in the 2025 ACS/PRCS.  The Department of Commerce/Census Bureau is seeking comments on these changes and additions as well as on the validity of how questions are asked and the methodology of gathering and analyzing the information.  They are also asking for comments on how to make the survey less burdensome and more efficient for the respondents.

In order to read the document and make a comment, go to https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/10/20/2023-23249/agency-information-collection-activities-submission-to-the-office-of-management-and-budget-omb-for

Comments must be received on or before December 19, 2023.

The Census Bureau warns “comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include, or summarize, each comment in our request to OMB (Office of Management and Budget) to approve this ICR (Information Collection Request). Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.”

 

Exploring Census Data Webinar Series: New Businesses Statistics Census Bureau’s subject matter experts will provide practical ways to use our business data from economic programs to dive into business expansions and contractions. Join Us The session will explore several dimensions of births and deaths of businesses with highlights to include demographic components of new businesses. The webinar includes a segment on available resources and data tools with the opportunity for questions and answers. Date: August 11 Time: 2:00 p.m. ET Dial In: 888-989-6421 Passcode: 9494158 Link: Log In Details Event Password: census (If required, this password is only for users who join from a WebEx application or mobile app.)

New resources this month: data.census.gov

As the American FactFinder retired on March 30, 2020,  please visit data.census.gov for new data releases and questions.

Or: Contact Kelley Center govhelp@rice.edu to ask for assistance with searching and using this new digital government resource.

During the library closure due to the Coronovirus, you may email us to request nline research consultancy or instruction for yourself or your class via Zoom.

You may also want to visit our Census Data LibGuide to access resources that guide you in locating and using census data.