Calling on and thanking God: the role of faith and faith communities in disaster recovery

Faith and faith communities play a critical role in post-disaster recovery for at least three reasons. First, faith is a socially shared frame through which individuals understand a disaster and evaluate potential means of recovery. Second, faith is a driver or motivator of post-disaster recovery, providing inspiration, encouragement, and solace. Third, faith communities foster social capital, aiding the re-establishment and rebuilding of devastated areas. 

We examine the role of faith and faith communities in the recovery of The Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian struck in 2019—the most powerful and costliest storm to hit this Caribbean country. Relying on qualitative evidence from interviews with survivors and faith leaders, we explore how faith helped affected individuals discover opportunities for engaging in recovery and fostered an optimistic attitude about the ability to recover. Additionally, members of faith-based communities leveraged their social connections to obtain the goods and services they needed to recover from the disaster.

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