Disaster Survivors' Anticipated Received Support in a Future Disaster.

Area of Science:

• Disaster preparedness and response
• Social science research
• Public health policy

Background:

• Post-disaster support is crucial for recovery.
• Understanding factors influencing support seeking is vital for effective aid.
• Previous research has not fully explored predictors of both network and non-network support utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors associated with anticipated support from network (e.g., family, friends) and non-network (e.g., government agencies) sources among Hurricane Sandy survivors.
• To inform strategies for improving post-disaster support systems.

Main Methods:

• A population-based sample of 409 Hurricane Sandy survivors was surveyed 25-28 months post-disaster.
• Participants reported on demographic characteristics, disaster exposure, mental health, and anticipated reliance on support sources for a future disaster.
• Community-level economic and social resources were also collected.

Main Results:

• Lack of insurance and living in neighborhoods with more single-person households predicted less anticipated network and non-network support.
• Marital status (married/cohabiting) was linked to greater anticipated network support.
• Older age and lower educational attainment were associated with less anticipated network support.

Conclusions:

• Anticipated post-disaster support is influenced by individual and community-level factors.
• Findings highlight disparities in expected support, particularly for vulnerable populations.
• Further research should validate these predictors with actual received support in future disaster scenarios.