Abstract
Recent natural disasters and acts of terrorism in the United States highlight innumerable
accounts of altruism and resilience among individuals and communities. During Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita, local churches and community organizations—unaffiliated with a national
voluntary organization—often served disenfranchised groups that are sometimes missed by
more formal response efforts (GAO, 2005). These types of heroic efforts of the smaller faithbased and community groups are often noted in the popular press. Moreover, these
organizations are explicitly included in recent federal policies as capable of leveraging their
unique positions in communities to help prepare for and respond to disasters and other
emergencies (GAO, 2008a).