Why did Harris Counties Commissioners Use a Social Vulnerability Index to Allocate Covid Relief Funds?

Last night, I was reviewing Harris Counties Commissioners Court archives, when I stumbled across a session regarding the beginning of the COVID 19 Pandemic. The commissioners were in discussions on the funds to be used to assist the county’s residents. What struck me as extremely unnerving was when Commissioner Rodney Ellis began to explain how the allocation of funds would be used, based on an “Equitable manner” referencing Judge Hidalgo’s Social Vulnerability Index which had been intended for the counties flood risk reduction.

Video of Ellis explaining the EQUITY Link of Renee SOCIAL VULNERABILITY INDEX