A new University of Nebraska-Lincoln study shows that limited broadband access heightens the vulnerabilities of Nebraska’s manufactured housing communities, also known as mobile home parks. The research highlights that lack of reliable connectivity compounds flood risks for residents who often live in flood-prone zones.
Researchers note that roughly one-fifth of mobile homes in Douglas County sit in zones designated as very high flood risk, while in Dodge County the share approaches about one-half. The figures illustrate how proximity to flood plains intersects with infrastructure gaps to elevate danger for vulnerable residents.
The paper argues that risk is not solely about location. It attributes much of the heightened vulnerability to a lack of infrastructure—specifically limited broadband and spotty cellular coverage that can delay or degrade emergency warnings when flooding occurs.
Context from the study aligns with broader flood concerns across the United States, including recent devastating events in Texas and New Mexico. Nebraska’s own historically severe flooding in 2019 underscored how vulnerable communities can bear the brunt of natural disasters in the absence of robust communications networks.
As summarized by UNL’s College of Architecture, the study connects digital connectivity gaps with disaster risk in manufactured housing communities and calls for targeted investments to improve resilience for these neighborhoods. The researchers hope the findings inform policy and funding decisions that prioritize connectivity alongside traditional flood mitigation efforts.
