The Impact of Preserving Social Connections on Recovery and Reconstruction in Communities Affected by Natural Disasters

Abstract

To improve disaster resilience of older adults, it is increasingly recognized that preserving social connections in the community—also referred to as social capital—serves as a crucial ingredient (Glass & Balfour, 2003). According to Aldrich (2012) (Aldrich, 2012), communities endowed with higher stocks of social capital—i.e., stronger bonds of trust between community members, as well as norms of mutual assistance—are better equipped to cope with the devastating consequences of disasters. To quote Aldrich: “Standard advice about preparing for disasters focuses on building shelters and stockpiling things like food, water, and batteries. But resilience—the ability to recover from shocks, including natural disasters—comes from our connections to others, and not from physical infrastructure or disaster kits.”