Which Leadership Strategies and Community Resources are Most Important to Disaster Recovery?

Mon. 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Centennial F

This session examines the role of social capital in disaster recovery in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina, in particular, the rise of civic engagement, social networks, and community organizations to nearly all aspects of recovery and rebuilding. The presenter has conducted surveys of the general population, neighborhood association leaders, young newcomers, and musicians and cultural community members. He has conducted intensive ethnographic research with over 200 community groups, filmed interviews with community leaders, and been involved with a number of community recovery initiatives. Using a variety of analytic methods, he has sought to show the importance of social capital in disaster recovery. More importantly, he has sought to discover what recovery strategies have proved most effective, and which community resources are most important.

Rick Weil, Presenter
Louisiana State University