Household residential decision-making in the wake of disaster: cases from Hurricane Sandy
Date
2015
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
This dissertation explores how households decide to relocate and resettle or rebuild in situ following a disaster. Recent disasters, catastrophes, and episodes of repeat losses have started a conversation regarding the efficacy and desirability of an "organized retreat" from hazardous zones. The disaster literature, however, has lagged in this area, and we do not have a broad understanding of relocation and resettlement, or post-disaster household decision-making. Most scholarship in this area only tangentially relates to longer-term residential decision-making, or merely offers "best practice" recommendations for managing resettlement efforts. This study uses case-study methodology to investigate household residential decision-making in two communities in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Using two-tailed sampling of extreme cases, this study examines Sea Bright, NJ, a community that is rebuilding in situ, and Oakwood, NY, a community that is relocating and ultimately resettling. ☐ I used a mixed methods approach to build the case studies, including a survey distributed to the entire study population, purposely-sampled semi-structured interviews with community members and policymakers, and a review of housing recovery policies. Findings from this exploratory study suggest pre-event functioning, attachment to place, risk perception, destruction of the built environment, incentives, the availability of buyouts, and post-event functioning influenced household decision-making process. Mixed evidence supports the role of perceptions of trustworthiness of officials and NGO support. Interestingly, I did not find support for variables other studies identified as important in the decision-making process, including household income, race, or dependents in the home. This study also adds nuance to the literature by parsing constructs into their components and exploring how they relate to the decision-making process. The results of this study provide a preliminary understanding of how households decide where they live after a disaster. In achieving this goal, this study offers policymakers unique insights on what households consider most important in this decision-making process. Through a detailed explanation of methods and any problems encountered, this project also serves as a model for replication to confirm or expand findings through future studies.
Description
Keywords
Disaster, Housing, Hurricane Sandy, Public Policy, Recovery, Residential decision-making