A problematic integration approach to capturing the cognitive, cultural, and communicative experiences of Hurricane Katrina volunteers

This essay outlines an applied approach for examining message reception and processing among natural disaster volunteers. It is argued that an applied ap-proach provides analysis of volunteers ’ decision-making processes that extends to cognitive, cultural, and communicative influences on the decision to volunteer. Implications for future research on volunteerism in natural disasters are discussed and policy-making implications are addressed. In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the American Red Cross issued an unprecedented call for some 40,000 volunteers (van Zwieten, 2005). The orga-nization reported an estimated 74,000 workers from all 50 states responded to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort and an additional 63,000 individuals were trained in specialized disaster relief skills (American Red Cross, 2005b). With the help of volunteers, the Red Cross was able to provide housing to nearly 75,000 survivors in 445 shelters across 19 states and the District of Columbia and serve 7.6 million hot meals and more than 6.6 million snacks to survivors of Hurricane Katrina (American Red Cross, 2005a). This was the organization’s largest mobilization of resources for a single natural disaster (National Climate Data System, 2005). ∗Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Melinda Villagran, Departmen