The Atlantic

Preparing for Hurricane Florence? Think About Your Neighbors.

Robust social networks and high levels of trust help people survive, and then bounce back after a crisis.
Source: Adrees Latif / Reuters

As I write this, meteorologists predict that Hurricane Florence could hover over populated areas of North and South Carolina, potentially becoming one of the major dangerous storms over the past two decades. Some envision that, beyond loss of life, the hurricane could cause more than $170 billion worth of property damage. Weather observers and disaster managers have started issuing calls for preparation. Get several days worth of food and water, they say, and make sure that you have gas in your vehicle. While this approach is certainly time-tested and has its merits, my own research and experience have convinced me it is, at best, half the story.

Although we’re often told

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