What are the roles of family and community in a life-threatening crisis?

The answer to the question regarding the roles of family and community amidst a life-threatening crisis differs from culture to culture, especially with respect to the role of community. In the United States, family generally plays a major role in supporting relatives experiencing a crisis. While there are frequently individual relationships within any given family that are strained, most members of the family will provide emotional support to those in need while possibly extending their level of support to include money or space in one's home when appropriate (e.g., when the crisis affects a family member away from his or her place of residence).
The role of community in the United States varies greatly depending upon the size of the town or city. In smaller towns where people tend to know each other, it is more likely for their to be community support for an individual or family undergoing a major crisis. That support often takes the form of fundraising activities intended to help offset medical costs, such as spaghetti dinners or car washes. In larger cities, where anonymity is far greater, community support is less likely. Certain professions, for example, firefighters and police officers, rally around members in need, mostly with respect to financial assistance. Beyond that, the increased size of the population tends to diminish the role of community.
As noted, the roles of family and community during a life-threatening crisis vary from culture to culture. In almost all cultures, however, family remains the principal source of emotional support. Financial support is dependent upon multiple variables such as the size of the locality and the nature of the profession of those experiencing the crisis. Certain professions often lend themselves to greater levels of emotional and financial support. Those, however, are the exception. Individuals and families experiencing life-threatening crises find out very quickly that life for the rest of the community often goes on undisturbed.