Unraveling hurricane Ian’s Impact: A multiscale analysis of mobility networks in Florida

Understanding how human mobility patterns respond to natural disasters is crucial. This study investigates Hurricane Ian’s impact on human mobility patterns and subsequent recovery in southwest Florida. Using privacy-preserving mobile phone GPS data, this research analyzes human mobility networks before, during, and after the hurricane, examining both macro and substructure (motif) levels. Additionally, this study investigates spatial variations in motifs over time, revealing localized connectivity patterns and adaptations in response to the hurricane’s impact. The macroscale analysis shows a substantial decrease in mobility during the hurricane, leading to disruptions in connectivity and efficiency. However, the network demonstrated resilience by swiftly recovering post-hurricane. At the substructure level, different motifs exhibited varied responses, with densely connected motifs experiencing reductions in their percentage distribution, while less connected motifs showed increases. Moreover, there were shifts in the spatial distribution of motifs, which underscored vulnerabilities and adaptations within the mobility network. Understanding these dynamics during natural disasters can guide more targeted, spatially informed disaster management policies.