title: Vehicle of Hope: Faith-based Disaster Response.
abstract: In August 2005, the United States experienced one of the most catastrophic and costly disasters in its history: Hurricane Katrina. Faith-based Organizations (FBOs) made a major contribution to the response and recovery efforts. Whereas the activities and skill sets of FBOs vary, their core missions are very similar: they want to provide hope. As a concept, hope has been purported to be essential for health and well-being, is viewed as multidimensional and a life force, as well as is highly individualized. This mixed methods study used interviews of the phenomenology tradition and the Herth Hope Index.
authors.affiliation: Regional Center for Disaster Preparedness Education, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Arkansas State University, 105 North Caraway, PO Box 910, State University (Jonesboro), AR 72467, USA. Electronic address: dpersell@astate.edu.
authors.forename: Deborah J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Persell
mesh_terms: D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D012066:Relief Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012067:Religion; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States
keywords: Faith-based disaster response; Herth Hope Index; Hope; Hurricane Katrina; Mixed methods; Phenomenology