Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

5-2025

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Geography

Major Professor

Kelsey N. Ellis

Committee Members

Solange Munoz, Jennifer First, Dimitris Herrera

Abstract

As urban areas face increasing disaster risks due to climate change, faith-based community organizations (FBCOs) play a crucial yet underappreciated role in enhancing community resilience and in disaster risk reduction (DRR). This research examines the role of local Muslim FBCOs in DRR in Knoxville, Tennessee, highlighting their contributions, challenges, and potential collaboration with emergency management agencies (EMAs). The study is guided by three primary objectives: assessing how the Muslim community and their leaders perceive the role of FBCOs in hazardous weather preparedness, response and recovery (PRR), exploring community perceptions of hazardous weather and climate change along with the influence of Islam and FBCOs on these perceptions, and finally evaluating FBCO leaders’ views on collaboration with local EMAs to develop more inclusive and effective DRR strategies.

A mixed-methods approach was used, involving semi-structured interviews with ten FBCO leaders, a survey of 82 members from the Knoxville Muslim community, and archival analysis of local disaster mitigation plans. The findings underscore the invaluable role that Muslim FBCOs play in providing social, spiritual, and material support to their community during times of need. However, these organizations face major barriers for providing comprehensive DRR support due to limited resources, a lack of disaster training, and competing priorities. Community perceptions of hazardous weather risks and climate change vary, with hazard preparedness levels influenced by familiarity with local hazards. Although religion (Islam) may influence individuals' pro-environmental attitudes, this potential has yet to be leveraged by local FBCOs to enhance environmental awareness and disaster management. While government agencies possess the technical expertise for DRR, their engagement with diverse communities often falls short.

While this study is exploratory, it underscores the need to strengthen partnerships between FBCOs and EMAs to create inclusive, culturally responsive DRR strategies. By enhancing collaboration, increasing resource accessibility, and integrating FBCOs into formal emergency planning, disaster resilience can be improved in multicultural urban environments. This study contributes to the discussion on inclusive DRR strategies, promoting equitable, bottom-up approaches that acknowledge the role of FBCOs in building resilience.

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