Journal of Natural Resources Policy Research, Vol. 8, Nos. 1–2, 2018 Copyright © 2018 The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (Received 1 May 2018; accepted 21 July 2018) doi: 10.5325/naturesopolirese.8.1–2.0154 Abstract | Past studies have consistently shown that rural communities are less resilient to disasters than their urban counterparts. However, the specifc factors associated with low resilience have not been sufciently explored. This study seeks to advance our understanding of rural resilience by evaluating disaster recovery from a capitals perspective, focusing on the individual and collective resources that support adaptation to disturbance. Using data from 108 resident interviews in four Texas municipalities afected by Hurricane Harvey, rural and urban capital asset losses and gains are analyzed using a mixed-methods approach. The fndings indicate that rural communities have greater physical capital losses, of housing in particular, while urban communities have greater institutional capital losses. Social capital gains were prevalent in all cases but highest in the rural communities. These fndings have implications for targeting capacity-building eforts in rural communities to more efectively support disaster recovery and resilience. Keywords | disaster resilience, rural, disaster recovery, Hurricane Harvey, social capital Natural disasters are not respectful of geographical or jurisdictional boundaries; they wreak havoc on all in their path. Disaster damage, however, is not felt Capital Assets and Rural Resilience: An Analysis of Texas Communities Impacted by Hurricane Harvey ASHLEY ROSS Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, United States Corresponding author, ashleydross@tamug.edu LAUREN A. CLAY D’Youville College, Bufalo, United States clayl@dyc.edu Downloaded from http://scholarlypublishingcollective.org/psup/jnrpr/article-pdf/8/1-2/154/1224418/naturesopolirese_8_1-2_154.pdf by guest on 16 March 2024