This is qualitative research with an interpretive analytical base, which aimed to present families' perceptions regarding the social support in the transition following a natural disaster. Six family units, living in a rural area in the south of Brazil, which was affected by a natural disaster in 2008, were interviewed. The data was collected in 2010, based on participant observation, narrative interview, genogram and eco-map. The collected narratives were analyzed following the stages of Fritz Schütze's method. The results reveal the help perceived during the transition phase, the lack of help which had been expected, the emotional support from relatives and friends and the resources recalled by the families in their eco-maps, which were of fundamental importance for the initial recovery phase in the aftermath of the disaster. The study contributes to the understanding of the context of the families' recovery, and emphasizes the relevance of social support as a means of coping with the changes.
Nursing; Family health; Social network; Natural disasters
