Disaster risk runs high in unincorporated areas
Just miles from downtown Dallas, Sand Branch—an unincorporated community that lacks potable water and basic infrastructure—faces some of the region’s greatest risks when disaster strikes.
That reality is at the center of new research led by Ariadna Reyes Sanchez and Malini Roy, assistant professors of public affairs and planning at The University of Texas at Arlington. With support from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, they are studying how vulnerable communities like Sand Branch confront disasters, and how local governments can better include them in preparedness planning.
The historically African American community in southern Dallas County lacks many basic services and is composed largely of heir property—land passed down informally without clear legal title. That can make it difficult for residents to access government assistance following disasters such as floods, winter storms or wildfires.
“When a disaster happens, communities like this one are often invisible,” Dr. ReyesSanchez said. “People may not be able to ask for assistance because of land title issues or documentation, even though they are among those most impacted.”
Dr. Roy, an expert in disaster planning, will examine how current policies benefit or hinder preparedness efforts. A key component of the project is collaboration with Dallas County, which is updating its disaster preparedness plan.
“This project gives us an opportunity to engage with the county at a critical moment,” Roy said. “We want to understand how disaster plans can account for communities that don’t fit neatly into traditional infrastructure or regulatory frameworks.”
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Despite limited resources, Reyes Sanchez, said Sand Branch residents demonstrate remarkable resilience. During events such as the 2021 winter storm, many relied on ingenuity and community networks to get through the crisis, though some continue to face long-term challenges repairing damaged homes and securing basic services.
“When you don’t have resources, you become resourceful,” Reyes Sanchez said. “But that doesn’t mean people should have to struggle alone.”
The community’s lack of potable water remains one of its most pressing challenges. Many residents rely on wells, some unsafe or difficult to maintain, adding another layer of vulnerability during emergencies.
UTA researchers in Sand Branch. (Dr. Ariadna Reyes Sanchez)Reyes Sanchez has worked in Sand Branch since 2021, conducting community-based research alongside residents and local organizations. Over the years, she and other UTA faculty have led studies on water quality, air quality, energy insecurity and transportation poverty—efforts that prioritized trust-building over publicity.
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That sustained engagement now provides the foundation for the new project, which focuses specifically on disaster resilience. The research aims to co develop, with residents and stakeholders, a roadmap to institutionalize proactive disaster preparedness for heir property owners.
Reyes Sanchez grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Mexico City and has spent much of her academic career studying underserved communities across Latin America and the United States.
“I’m passionate about how people improve their homes and lives with very little,” she said. “But I’m also passionate about how governments can make that process less difficult and less painful.”
Students play an active role in the research, gaining hands-on experience in community-based work while contributing to policy discussions with real-world impact.
“This is not just my research,” Reyes Sanchez said. “It’s work that students, colleagues, residents and organizations are doing together.”
Ultimately, she hopes the project will help reframe housing, water and disaster preparedness as interconnected issues.
“If we improve housing conditions and infrastructure,” she said, “communities will be better prepared long before the next disaster arrives.”
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.