ABSTRACT
Disasters disrupt the functions and meanings of urban spaces, often prompting changes in their ownership, management, and use. This study examines two such disaster events: riverine flooding in Lexington, Kentucky, and Hurricane Katrina in coastal Mississippi. After each event, we observe the emergence of quasi-public spaces during long-term recovery, where residents generally perceive an increase in the ‘publicness’ of formerly exclusive spaces. This trend more closely mirrors public-private hybrid spaces discussed in urban geographic literature rather than strict privatisation as observed in most post-disaster studies. Terming this shift from private to greater public use post-disaster communalism, we employ data from open-ended surveys, photovoice, and resident interviews to describe the phenomenon. Using discourse analysis and grounded theory, we explore residents’ perceptions of access and belonging in these quasi-public urban spaces. Findings show how different policy instruments (public buyouts versus insurance rate changes) contribute to similar land uses and perceptions of access. Building upon previous human geography research, we discuss five broad mechanisms that collectively generate communalism in our study sites. Finally, we consider the competing implications of post-disaster communalism for promoting both ideals of public space and of community resilience to future disasters.
