A Symbol of Hope: An Ethnographic Analysis of Religion and Disaster following the Camp Fire

Presentation Year

2020

College or Department

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Short Description of your Research or Creative Project (700 characters or less)

What support do survivors turn to after environmental disasters? This research examines how survivors of the Camp Fire, one of the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in California’s history, draw upon religion in the aftermath of disaster. Specifically, this research asks: What role does religion play in rebuilding a community post-disaster? During the summer of 2019, I conducted ethnographic observations, interviews and surveys with individuals affected by the Camp Fire. I documented material, social and spiritual forms of support that religions organizations offered to residents of Paradise and consider how these factors relate to building the town.

Permission to Publish Work

No