The Value of Community Building and Social Capital for Rural Communities Recovering from Disaster

Community building and social capital are essential components of disaster resilience for rural communities. Understanding the specific needs of rural communities and how community building benefits them in times of disaster and recovery is paramount in developing disaster recovery plans for these unique communities. Researchers conducted two focus groups and various informant interviews with the goal of collecting a narrative overview of Happy Camp's residents, recounting their experiences during and after the Slater Fire of 2020. Qualitative analysis of the transcripts identified themes regarding the importance of community mobilization, tribal support, social capital, community organization, external support and recovery, and rural community culture. This narrative overview calls to attention the strengths that rural communities have during disaster recovery, as well as opportunities to better support these communities. The findings from this study reinforce the importance of continuing to advance our understanding of the needs of rural communities in disasters.