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The Best Small Town in America? Perceptions of Community and Disaster Recovery

Sat, August 11, 8:30 to 9:30am, Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Floor: Level 5, Salon G

Abstract

This study investigates how evaluations of community strength and cohesiveness affect appraisals of community and household recovery after a major disaster. Specifically, we conducted a survey on the five-year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and analyze how perceptions of community solidarity and optimism, as well as assessments of past economic and environmental community hardship, affect both individual- and community-level recovery. We find that residents who believe they live in a community where neighbors help each other see their communities on the road to recovery. We also find that residents who see their community on an upward trajectory are more likely to view their own recovery in a positive light. Additionally, we find that positive perceptions are correlated with plans to stay in a community rather than move away; an important issue in the aftermath of disasters when residents may choose to relocate rather than deal with the hardships wrought by an environmental threat.

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