Government disaster assistance: An exploration of expectations

Abstract

Scholars have raised concerns that individuals' expectations of government disaster assistance are outsized and do not align with reality. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore participants' expectations of government disaster assistance, how they form those expectations, and how those expectations compare to actuality. Using a phenomenological approach, 24 participants who were unfamiliar with government disaster assistance were interviewed using fictional vignettes of disaster scenarios. This study found participants' expectations of government disaster assistance are based on direct and vicarious experiences, as well as their beliefs about roles and responsibilities. These expectations are influenced by the nature of the disaster event, the participants' level of trust in the government's intent and capacity, and their general beliefs about personal responsibility and the role of government. Overall, the participants' expectations of government disaster assistance were modest with pessimistic overtones. Additional research is needed to explore perceived responsibility and its role in household-level decision making before, during, and after disasters.