ABSTRACT
: As climate change continues to worsen, it has resulted in both the increase in and strength of natural disasters. This is highly visible in coastal areas which are not only coping with the threat of hurricanes, tsunamis, and typhoons but also sea-level rise, worsening flooding, and erosion. Due to these factors, coastal homeowners are particularly vulnerable to property loss. This study is based on qualitative research undertaken in the village of Ocean Beach, Fire Island, New York in 2017. These communities were devastated by Hurricane Sandy when it made landfall on October 29, 2012. The hurricane and post-storm flooding completely decimated 200 homes and damaged a further 2,200. Utilizing interviews with residents who chose to remain on the island, this study presents findings which highlight the interaction between risk awareness and personal post-disaster planning in a second home context. In particular, the chapter focuses on the interactions between these aspects and place attachment while emphasizing the influence of this relationship on second home owner community resilience to disasters.
