NIST - National Institute of Standards and Technology

10/02/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/03/2026 03:09

A Review of Measurement Methods for the Recovery of Households After Disasters: An Annotated Bibliography

Published
October 2, 2026

Author(s)

Kurtis Goad, Jennifer Helgeson

Abstract

Household recovery after disasters is a complex process influenced by various factors. By compiling research on household recovery, this work seeks to support researchers and practitioners in identifying effective approaches to measuring and promoting household resilience. As a direct continuation of NIST TN 2347's focus on business recovery, this companion bibliography examines household recovery. It compiles studies across a broad range of disaster types, household characteristics, and research methodologies, highlighting the complex dynamics that shape domestic post-disaster stabilization. The objectives of this work are to: 1) report and summarize academic studies on household recovery after disasters, 2) provide a concise presentation of each study's context and methodology, and 3) highlight the significance of each study's findings to inform future research and practice. The compilation of 56 peer-reviewed studies demonstrates the multifaceted nature of household recovery, revealing that factors such as socioeconomic status, household demographics, social capital, and access to financial aid play a crucial role in determining recovery outcomes. The studies also emphasize the importance of considering the built environment, residential housing, utility infrastructure access, and broad well-being indicators in understanding household recovery. While the research has made significant contributions, a notable limitation is the lack of validation efforts in many studies, underscoring the need for continued research to develop more robust and validated methods for measuring household recovery. By documenting the various approaches to measuring recovery, this work sheds light on the challenges and opportunities in measuring household recovery and promoting community resilience.
Citation
Technical Note (NIST TN) - 2389
Report Number
2389
NIST Pub Series
Pub Type
NIST Pubs

Keywords

Community resilience, Disaster resilience, Disaster risk reduction, Economic recovery, Household continuity, Household recovery, Methodology, Natural hazards, Recovery measurement.

Citation

Goad, K. and Helgeson, J. (2026), A Review of Measurement Methods for the Recovery of Households After Disasters: An Annotated Bibliography, Technical Note (NIST TN), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2389, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=962811 (Accessed October 3, 2026)
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NIST - National Institute of Standards and Technology published this content on October 02, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 03, 2026 at 09:09 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]