Race, religion, and ethnicity in disaster recovery

Abstract

This study grows out of work that each of the authors have previously done on the dynamics, in various social contexts, of family recovery from disasters.In those earlier studies, the importance of ethnicity and race was left largely unexplored.Our previous research did note the importance of culture, age, and social class as determinants of patterns of aid utilization.To that mix of social variables we now add race and ethnicity (and/or religious affiliation) as additional pieces in the puzzle of family recovery.Four sites are discussed, each with its own mix of disaster agents, ethnic groups, patterns of destruction, aid utilization, and victim recovery.We examined a tornado in Texas, a flood in Utah, an earthquake in California, and a hurricane in Hawaii.Groups affected by the disasters were, among others, bl acks, Hi spani cs, Japanese-Ameri cans, Fi 1 ipinos, and Mormons.This study looks at various factors--particularly aid from official and "unofficial" sources--that affected the recovery of those disaster victims.The United States has an institutionalized structure of public and private organizations that aid the victims of natural disasters.Our study examines some of the patterns of aid utilization across the various groups of victims and the effects of such programs on victim recovery.Understanding the complexities of a dynamic social process like family recovery requires consideration of a large number of influences.While we have attempted to focus on those judged to be most relevant, there always remains the possibility that others not examined here may prove to have greater explanatory power.This work should be read as part of the continuing effort of several researchers to understand and conceptualize the process of long-term family recovery from disasters.