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Patterns of giving and receiving help during severe winter conditions: a research note

D M Neal1, J B Perry, K Green

  • 1Department of Sociology University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee 37916 Department of Sociology Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, Ohio 43403 Eastern Panhandle Planning and Development Council 121 West King Street Martinsburg, West Virginia 25401 Afro-American Studies Syracuse University Syracuse, New York 13210.

Disasters
|October 21, 2010
PubMed

Insights

During severe winter storms, stranded individuals relied most on family, friends, and neighbors for help. This study examined aid networks during the 1976-1977 blizzards in Ohio, finding proximity crucial for receiving assistance.

Area of Science:

  • Sociology
  • Human Geography
  • Disaster Studies

Background:

  • Severe winter conditions, including blizzards, pose significant risks, potentially stranding individuals and necessitating external assistance.
  • Understanding social networks and aid-giving behaviors is crucial for community resilience during extreme weather events.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the dynamics of help-seeking and help-provision among individuals stranded during severe winter conditions.
  • To identify the primary sources of aid and the factors influencing the effectiveness of assistance in a specific historical context.

Main Methods:

  • A mail questionnaire survey was administered to residents in Bowling Green, Ohio, and surrounding rural areas.
  • The study utilized data from the 1976-1977 period, focusing on experiences during severe winter weather events.
  • Sampling included both urban and rural residents listed in the local telephone directory.

Main Results:

  • Family members emerged as the most significant source of aid, followed closely by friends and neighbors.
  • Little variation was observed in the patterns of help-giving and receiving between rural and urban respondents.
  • Geographic proximity (propinquity) was identified as a key factor influencing the accessibility and provision of assistance.

Conclusions:

  • Social ties, particularly kinship and close community relationships, are paramount in mitigating the effects of being stranded during extreme weather.
  • The findings underscore the importance of local social capital in disaster response, irrespective of residential setting (urban vs. rural).
  • Future preparedness strategies should consider leveraging and strengthening these proximate social networks for enhanced community support.

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