Community Resilience In The Absence Of Aid: Recovery After the 2018 Father's Day Flood In Houghton County, MI
Location
FA-152
Start Date
1-5-2026 12:00 PM
Department
Communication, Media, and Theatre
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 towns like Houghton 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, that may lack support to the community all together. This project uses a qualitative case study approach that combines content analysis of news articles, public documents, social media, and academic literature with interviews and archival footage. The expected 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 must rely on themselves. 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.
Faculty Sponsor
Samentha Sepúlveda
Community Resilience In The Absence Of Aid: Recovery After the 2018 Father's Day Flood In Houghton County, MI
FA-152
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 towns like Houghton 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, that may lack support to the community all together. This project uses a qualitative case study approach that combines content analysis of news articles, public documents, social media, and academic literature with interviews and archival footage. The expected 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 must rely on themselves. 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.