Community‐Level Social Support Responses in a Slow‐Motion Technological Disaster: The Case of Libby, Montana

Social support is an important resource for communities experiencing disasters. However, a disaster's nature (rapid‐ versus slow‐onset, natural versus technological) may influence community‐level responses. Disaster research on social support focuses primarily on rapid‐onset natural disasters and, to a lesser extent, rapid‐onset technological disasters. Little research has addressed slow‐onset disasters. This study explores social support processes in Libby, MT, a community experiencing a “slow‐motion technological disaster” due to widespread amphibole asbestos exposure. A comprehensive social support coding system was applied to focus‐group and in‐depth‐interview transcripts. Results reveal that, although the community has a history of normative supportiveness during community and individual crises, that norm has been violated in the asbestos disaster context. Results are interpreted as a failure to achieve an “emergent altruistic community.” Specifically, community‐level conflict appears to interfere with previously established social support patterns. The observed phenomenon can be understood as the deterioration of a previously supportive community.