When rebuilding no longer means recovery: the stress of staying put after Hurricane Sandy

Abstract

After a disaster, it is common to equate repopulation and rebuilding with recovery. Numerous studies link post-disaster relocation to adverse social, economic, and health outcomes. However, there is a need to reconsider these relationships in light of accelerating climate change and associated social and policy shifts in the USA, including the rising cost of flood insurance, the challenge of obtaining aid to rebuild, and growing interest in “managed retreat” from places at greatest risk. This article presents data from a survey of individuals who opted either to rebuild in place or relocate with the help of a voluntary home buyout after Hurricane Sandy. Findings show those who lived in buyout-eligible areas and relocated were significantly less likely to report worsened stress than those who rebuilt in place. This suggests access to a government-supported voluntary relocation option may, under certain circumstances, lessen the negative mental health consequences associated with disaster-related housing damage.

Adaptation to compound climate risks: A systematic global stocktake

“… 135 , 136 Relocation, either autonomously as households or as a coordinated community resettlement, has complex impacts on community members, as an adaptation loss and damage are created for different stakeholders simultaneously, such as coping with the loss of place attachment and emotional stress. 137 , 138 …”

Health and wellbeing implications of adaptation to flood risk

“…Whilst there is ample evidence that relocations are related to negative consequences for health, Koslov et al ( 2021 ) draw attention to instances where supported relocation can be beneficial. Their study on the impact of buyout schemes on the mental health of people affected by Hurricane Sandy shows that rebuilding can lead to higher levels of stress compared to those who were financially supported to move elsewhere.…”

The role of water in environmental migration

“…State‐sponsored safety net programs, such as buyout programs intended to financially help vulnerable households relocate to less disaster‐prone areas, can expedite a household's recovery, whereas not getting assistance and staying in place can worsen well‐being. For example, those who accepted buyouts in New York and New Jersey urban areas in the US were less likely to report worsened stress than those who stayed and rebuilt their flood‐damaged homes after Hurricane Sandy (Koslov et al, 2021). This also exemplifies how it can be difficult to disentangle the effects of punctuated events, like a storm, from chronic events, such as the ongoing stress of recovery over many years.…”