This research explores the interorganizational coordination of faith-based organizations responding to disaster-impacted communities. During disasters, faith-based organizations play an integral role by providing extensive human, physical, and monetary resources to address the needs of the impacted community. This research builds on the existing literature by studying how resources, norms, and environment enable or constrain the coordination of faith-based organizations. Theoretically, this research is informed by the work of Giddens' (1984) structuration theory. Methodologically, this study is a qualitative inquiry exploring the inter organizational coordination of faith-based organizations which responded to 2018 Hurricane Florence in the community of New Bern, North Carolina. Interviews and site observations conducted during a quick response field study were analyzed to develop a semi-structured interview guide. Using that guide, follow-up interviews are being conducted with representatives of the responding local, state, regional, and national level faith-based organizations. This presentation focuses on findings from the analysis of the quick response data. Findings indicate the following factors impacted interorganizational coordination during Hurricane Florence: competition, racial and wealth division, prolonged flooding, the local emergency management agency, and personal networks. Findings from this study will contribute additional insights to the existing literature, including barriers and facilitators of inter-organizational coordination. Additionally, findings from this study will inform emergency management practitioners on better coordination practices among faith-based and other community-based organizations in disasters.
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