Resiliency post-Hurricane Helene: The role of Social Capital in Western North Carolina’s Community Food Organization Network

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigates and describes the network of community food organizations in Western North Carolina post-Hurricane Helene by applying a Social Network Analysis: Aims were: 1) What did the collaboration network of existing community food organizations in Western NC look like after Hurricane Helene? 2) How did the network structure hinder or facilitate a food organization’s ability to distribute aid? And 3) Which organizations were the key actors in the network? Background: Hurricane Helene provided a useful context for examining how community food organizations collaborated after Western North Carolina’s largest food bank warehouse was destroyed. Community food organizations are usually on the frontlines after a climate disaster, distributing food to the affected population. Methods: Survey data collected from community food organizations that distributed food in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene was used to generate and analyze a collaboration network. We used a social network analysis to investigate the social capital, relationships formed, and the resources shared within a network of community food organizations that do not usually experience large-scale disasters. This study looked at bridging across structural holes in the network; degree and betweenness centrality; and brokerage roles for organizations to identify key actors. Results: The resulting network contained 130 organizations, two-thirds of which were well established in North Carolina at the time Hurricane Helene landed. The network was disconnected and was made up of distinct clusters. Organizations tended to collaborate within their respective counties and among organizations that were a different type than their own. Three key actors were identified; these key actors were highly connected, acted as bridges across clusters that would otherwise be isolated, and brokered exchanges primarily within their respective counties among organizations of a different type than their own. Food distribution after Hurricane Helene was correlated with high degree and betweenness centrality and cumulative brokerage scores. Conclusion: This study shed light on how rural community food organizations collaborated in an area that does not usually experience large-scale disasters. While the resulting network is largely disconnected, key actors worked to connect to smaller clusters. Highlighting the importance of community food organization collaboration with other organizations before a disaster, to improve community resiliency after a disaster.