The article examines the disproportionate impact of urban flood risks on vulnerable communities in the USA, particularly those with limited access to shelters. The authors develop a methodology to integrate shelter access into a national risk index for riverine floods in eight U.S. cities, using clustering techniques. The results show that shelters are more accessible in inner-city areas, but communities with high flood risk and low shelter access are disproportionately home to underserved populations, such as Asians and the elderly. This highlights the need for strategic responses and policy interventions to improve emergency responses and resource allocations. The study identifies four risk-exposed areas: (i) high flooding risk and high shelter access, (ii) high flooding risk and low shelter access, (iii) low flooding risk and high shelter access, and (iv) low flooding risk and low shelter access. The findings support planning and policy needs by identifying priority zones for enhancing community resilience and equitable resource allocation. The authors emphasize the importance of considering social and demographic factors in flood risk assessments to address social inequalities and ensure equitable disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies.The article examines the disproportionate impact of urban flood risks on vulnerable communities in the USA, particularly those with limited access to shelters. The authors develop a methodology to integrate shelter access into a national risk index for riverine floods in eight U.S. cities, using clustering techniques. The results show that shelters are more accessible in inner-city areas, but communities with high flood risk and low shelter access are disproportionately home to underserved populations, such as Asians and the elderly. This highlights the need for strategic responses and policy interventions to improve emergency responses and resource allocations. The study identifies four risk-exposed areas: (i) high flooding risk and high shelter access, (ii) high flooding risk and low shelter access, (iii) low flooding risk and high shelter access, and (iv) low flooding risk and low shelter access. The findings support planning and policy needs by identifying priority zones for enhancing community resilience and equitable resource allocation. The authors emphasize the importance of considering social and demographic factors in flood risk assessments to address social inequalities and ensure equitable disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies.