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Keeping Families Together during Repeated Evacuations in Coastal Bangladesh
Sadia Mahmud
Repeated evacuation can disrupt family care arrangements even when households remain within the same coastal district. This study examines how families coordinate movement during successive cyclone warnings in three upazilas of Bangladesh. Researchers conducted two survey rounds with 278 households, reconstructed evacuation sequences for 46 families, and observed preparedness meetings in nine villages. Sequence analysis distinguished households moving together from those separating members across shelters, relatives' homes, and livestock sites. Families with older adults requiring assistance were more likely to delay departure or divide responsibilities between locations. Women frequently coordinated information across these locations while also caring for children in crowded shelters. Previous evacuation experience improved knowledge of routes but did not remove constraints related to mobility or animal care. The findings show that household evacuation is often a distributed process involving several linked destinations. Retrospective accounts may omit short movements and disagreements within families. Preparedness planning should recognise separated care arrangements and provide accessible transport, reliable family communication, and practical options for safeguarding essential livelihood assets.