After the rain falls: A panel survey of disaster‐related attitudes and behaviors

Abstract

In this study, we take advantage of a temporarily unique panel survey to examine how Hurricane Harvey shifted individual perceptions of coastal resilience in two coastal shoreline counties (Galveston and Brazoria) directly affected by the storm. We find that, in the aftermath of the hurricane, individuals recognized they were less prepared and that recovery would take longer than expected. At the same time, social trust increased as did confidence in local government and support for increasing building standards and restricting new building structures and housing in high risk areas. We find no change in support for increased taxes or financial incentives to relocate. These shifts in attitudes were largely offset by reported hurricane damage, meaning individuals who reported experiencing the most damage became less trusting, expressed less confidence in local organizations, and were less supportive of resilience building policies. As the scope and scale of disaster-associated damages increase along with the frequency and severity of disasters, these findings can provide important insight to emergency preparedness planners and policy makers as they develop strategies to increase resilience, particularly in repetitive loss areas like the Texas Gulf Coast.