Abstract
This research incorporates structuration theory to define social capital and develop a social capital framework to evaluate the network structures of recovery stakeholders, factors that influence the capabilities of structural social capital, and existing reliance on social capital for disaster response, and recovery. Research in Manatee County, Florida sought to: 1) to evaluate existing hazards plan of Manatee County to understand role of social capital in the recovery process, 2) model social network of recovery stakeholders to understand structure and position of stakeholders into decision-making process, 3) analyze opportunities and constraints for incorporating structural social capital into disaster recovery process. The evaluation of hazards plan of Manatee County indicate that plans are more focused on fact-based elements, with a limited incorporation of social capital. Modeling results indicate that Manatee County follows a more centralized network pattern, core stakeholders are comprised of governmental institutions with local social capital rich institutions are being peripheral in the recovery planning and decision-making process. Results also indicate that the capabilities of social institutions of Manatee County are low for factors such as fund, staff availability, network of agencies, formalized collaborative planning, and standardized training of non-governmental institutions. In the end, this research demonstrates that there is a need to address the role of social capital in disaster recovery process by evaluating existing hazards plans in that context, analyzing the social network of recovery stakeholders, and examining the capabilities of social institutions involved in the recovery process.