The volunteers who participate in search and rescue operations after which assist disaster survivors belong to organizations which have change into more formal and established over the past decade. We found this out after greater than 4 years Volunteering alongside eight of those groups to higher understand their role and the motivations of the people participating in these efforts.
We did this research as part of a bigger one Team of sociologists, an urban planning scientist and emergency management specialists. We all worked with civilian volunteer search and rescue groups from Louisiana and Texas during and after many hurricanes between 2017 and 2022. including Harvey And Laura, the winter storm Uri and other major disasters.
While volunteering with these organizations, we observed them in motion and interviewed their leaders and volunteers to search out out why they take the time and private risks to avoid wasting others. Many cited their personal values, expressed their have to belong to a bunch, and said this helped them find meaning. Others shared that they were motivated by their personal circumstances and experiences, feelings of guilt, or that one of these volunteer work gave them a deep sense of satisfaction.
“I lost everything I owned in Katrina. They considered my family’s property uninhabitable,” said a boater we’ll call Dylan to guard his anonymity. “I can’t sit here after knowing what it means to lose everything.”
Some volunteers said one reason they’ve done this work repeatedly is to counteract stereotypes about individuals who take part in these efforts. When he heard people say, “Oh, you're just out there doing this just to get the spotlight,” Roger said and told us he desired to respond by saying, “Yeah, dude. If you’re flooded, call me and I’ll pick you up.”
While the organizations we studied were based in Louisiana and Texas, the volunteers participating in these efforts come from across the United States and, in some cases, from other countries. One volunteer we met was from the UK.
Why it matters
Since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in 2005, volunteers have been involved in search and rescue operations following major disasters, particularly on this region. But these volunteers come from in every single place.
Many of those groups are often known as “Cajun Navy” organizations. Whether or not these organizations use the Cajun Navy trademark of their names, they share the common mission of helping others in times of need.
These volunteers aren’t fair Operating boats and helicopters. Others act as dispatchers, handle logistics and run social media activities.
Over time, a number of the organizations have begun working with local emergency responders. Signing of letters of intent with you. They work with government agencies and assist in disaster relief and relief efforts, but operate primarily autonomously and might travel to where they imagine the necessity is biggest.
This kind of group tends to dissipate after a disaster passesmoderately than becoming a longtime nonprofit organization.
But most of the eight groups we studied have change into nonprofits or are within the strategy of doing so.
How we do our work
We were capable of conduct this research by becoming volunteers ourselves. We participated in local and distant shipping operations and supported logistics planning. In addition, we observed and in some cases participated in search and rescue training and operations in water and on land.
The Research Brief is a brief version of interesting scientific work.
image credit : theconversation.com