Natural disasters will continue to occur with greater frequency and intensity as climate change accelerates. The combined effects of these events, alongside existing structural inequalities, result in a phenomenon known as the extreme weather-climate gap. This dissertation addresses the social determinants of health and provides evidence for an effective primary prevention strategy to mitigate the effects of climate change and narrow this gap. Chapter 2 explores how the neighborhood and built environment, along with access to healthcare, interact with environmental particulate matter to influence respiratory illness hospitalizations. Chapter 3 examines whether 'like attracts like,' questioning whether evacuation intentions depend on racial and neighborhood segregation as well as income inequality. Chapter 4 investigates whether individual- and neighborhood-level technology implementations can impact disaster preparedness in diverse community contexts. This dissertation utilizes geospatial data as well as primary data derived from a pilot community trial to address these questions. The findings indicate that housing vulnerability may increase environmental risk in less urban areas, particularly with regard to exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5). Additionally, individuals residing in areas of deprivation tend to evacuate to similarly deprived areas, which, on average, are further from their residence compared to their privileged counterparts. Finally, disaster preparedness interventions are shown to be effective, particularly for individuals with limited social resources. These findings aim to promote a shift from the current reactionary standard of disaster care to a more proactive approach.