Starting from left to right, this graph illustrates the general progression of the disaster effects and reactions on communities.
- The first is the Pre-Disaster Phase where the amount of warning a community receives varies by the type of disaster. Perceived threat varies depending on many factors.
- Next is the Impact Phase. The greater the scope, community destruction, and personal losses associated with the disaster, the greater the psychosocial effects.
- Next is the Heroic Phase which is characterized by high altruism among both survivors and emergency responders.
- In the following weeks and months is the Honeymoon Phase where survivors feel a short-lived sense of optimism.
- Over time, survivors go through an inventory process where they recognize the limits of available disaster assistance. This leads into the Disillusionment Phase where survivors are coming to grips with reality of their situation. Certain trigger events, such as the anniversary of the disaster, can prompt survivors to re-experience negative emotions related to the disaster.
- Lastly, during the Reconstruction Phase, survivors experience setbacks and work through their grief, eventually readjusting to their new surrounding and situations.
Back to Phases of Disaster Page
