Eleanor H. Bernert

Evacuation and the Cohesion of Urban Groups

Data on the evacuation experiences of World War II reveal the strength of cohesion in certain urban groups, especially the family. Separation of evacuable persons from economically essential personnel meets with great resistance. As long as the home is not destroyed, the family prefers to remain intact and in the city. Destruction of the home forces the family to evacuate-and often to separate-to reception areas outside the city or to seek reaccommodation within the city. Ties with the place of employment and the location of family friends and neighbors provide significant bonds between the evacuated homeless urbanite and his former residence.