Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Department

Communication, Media, and Theatre

First Advisor

Samentha Sepúlveda

Abstract

Community networks influenced resilience and recovery after the 2018 Father’s Day Flood in Houghton County Michigan, particularly in the absence of strong institutional support. The flood caused widespread damage to homes, roads, and infrastructure, forcing residents to rely on immediate local action before state or federal aid arrived. Rural locations like Houghton County are often neglected by government funding and support during disasters and are forced to rely on themselves. Community networks matter in disasters because neighbors, volunteer groups, and local leaders respond faster than formal institutions. This project uses a qualitative case study approach that includes content analysis of news articles, public documents and academic literature. The findings are that informal community networks were essential in early recovery, compensating for limited institutional support. This study highlights the concept of Coerced Resilience where rural communities are essentially required to rely on themselves in disaster recovery. By examining a nationally under-recognized event, this research sheds light on how rural communities navigate disasters and why community response is crucial for resilience.

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