Skip to main content
Hit enter to search or ESC to close
Close Search
Judy Huynh
  • View Resume
Menu
  • Projects
  • View Resume
  • linkedin email

Atlas of Accountability

Objective

Transformed Rebuild by Design’s static, 600+ page Atlas of Disaster (Nov 2022) into an interactive map, making climate risk and disaster funding data actionable for policymakers and the public.

Tags
GIS & MapboxPolicyPressStorytelling
Challenge

Critical climate and disaster funding data was trapped in a dense PDF, out of reach for most communities and decision-makers, especially as FEMA’s future and federal support come under scrutiny.

Solution

I pitched and led the creation of the Atlas of Accountability: a national-scale interactive map visualizing disaster declarations, $117.9B in federal recovery funds, and social vulnerability for every U.S. congressional district.

View the Atlas of Accountability Tool →

Workflow
  • Data Acquisition & Review: Synthesized FEMA, HUD, SVI, and energy data from iParametrics
  • Data Engineering: Cleaned, normalized, and geocoded data by FIPS; joined to districts in QGIS
  • GeoJSON Optimization: Processed spatial files for fast, efficient Mapbox rendering
  • Custom Map Development: Built the interactive map in Mapbox GL JS and Visual Studio Code
  • UX/UI Iteration: Prototyped with users; refined based on feedback from policymakers and media
  • Project Management: Led stakeholders and scheduled launch with major Associated Press coverage
Tools & Skills

Mapbox GL JS · QGIS · ArcGIS · GeoJSON · Python/R · Visual Studio Code · Data Wrangling · Project Management · UX/UI Design

Impact
  • 99.5% of congressional districts have experienced at least one major disaster since 2011, cutting across political, urban-rural, and socioeconomic boundaries.
  • Climate-driven events cost taxpayers $117.9 billion in federal relief, $72.7B from FEMA (Hazard Mitigation & Public Assistance) and $45.2B from HUD’s CDBG-DR program.
  • Featured in 400+ media outlets:
    • July 23, 2024 – Associated Press: Data shows hurricanes and earthquakes grab headlines but inland counties top disaster list
    • July 23, 2024 – WKMS: Kentucky counties rank among most plagued by federally declared disasters since 2011
    • Aug 23, 2024 – CT Insider: Extreme weather events are the new normal for CT

Explore More

Explore More

Explore More

Explore More

AllGIS & MapboxPolicyPressStorytellingUrban Design
Atlas of DisasterGIS & MapboxPolicyPressStorytelling

Atlas of Disaster

Curb Forward in Upper West SideGIS & MapboxPolicyPressUrban Design

Curb Forward in Upper West Side

Share Share Share Pin
Close Menu
  • Projects
  • linkedin
  • email