*4.2. Method—Semi-Structured Interview Protocol*

Participants were given an information sheet which described the research, a consent form to sign once they agreed to do the research and a demographic form was also completed for each. They were assured of confidentiality.

There were eleven (11) questions in total. A sample of questions asked is below:

	- a. Physical
	- b. Social
	- c. Economical
	- d. Educational
	- e. Psychological
	- a. Are you employed presently or any time after Maria? If so, what is the nature of your employment? Is the renumeration less If so by how much? Is it more, If so by how much? Is it adequate for living? If not why, If yes, why?

If yes, give account of damages if any and cost of repairs if any. If no, give account of what happened to your place of abode post-Maria. Give area once lived and area now lived. How many miles away?

	- a. Informal Support from family and friends?
	- b. Formal support from Community, Government, NGOs and Civil Society?

### *4.3. Data Analysis*

Data collected from audio taped interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed by using Template Analysis. This involves the development of a coding template where themes are identified and summarised (University of Huddersfield 2023).

Hierarchical coding was emphasised, using broad themes such as responses to Hurricane Maria immediately after its passing in 2017 and four years later in 2021. Themes were narrowed and included social, spiritual, economical, psychological and educational experiences.

#### **5. Sample Description**

Altogether, seven (7) females participated in this study, all of whom were single mothers. They ranged between the ages of 34–56 (M = 41.6), and resided in the parish of St. David, except for one, who lived in St. Andrews. Their professions ranged from teaching and agro-processing to farming and hairdressing.

All seven women reported participating in some form of training post-Hurricane Maria by the government. Some of the training undertaken included Return to Happiness, Hazard Vulnerability & Capacity Training, Ham Radio training, Cassava Field School Training, training from UNDP in strengthening the disaster management capacity of women, Child-Friendly Spaces, Counselling in Gender-based violence, Early Childhood Care and Development, Child Protection Services and Child Assault Prevention (CAP). Some of the skills possessed by the respondents included farming, agro-processing, hairdressing, leadership, CPR, cooking, Spanish and computer skills, and one individual indicated that she was Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)-certified.

In addition, six of the women were never married, with one being divorced. Three had tertiary education and two had secondary education. Five were employed, one self-employed and one unemployed. Each had lived in their parish for over thirty years. Six out of seven women were employed; the fact that all seven had training speaks to the tenacity and resilience of these women. The determination to retain employment in the aftermath of the hurricane and to avail themselves of available and necessary training despite the mounting challenges add to this resilience and determination and the quest for survival. The sample size was chosen with a cap of ten (10) persons because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges this presented

in terms of access to participants, periodic lockdowns and other COVID-19 protocols. The research was time-specific based on guidelines given by the donor. Even though seven (7) women were interviewed, saturation of responses was seen from their feedback to the research questions asked.
