ISBN: 9798841753964

Category: Unavailable

Page count: 423

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.