The experience of disaster appears to have become an expected aspect of life. Whether it is a natural disaster such as a hurricane or tsunami, or a human‐made disaster such as terrorism, the effects can be both physically and psychological devastating. While we have made great strides in reducing the physical impact of disasters through prevention, early warning, and specialized rescue initiatives, we have only begun to understand the psychological aspects of disaster.

We know relatively little about the psychological aspects of escape and rescue from disasters such as mining disasters compared to what we know about the physical aspects of such disasters. We know even less about the psychological “public health” consequences of a mine disaster. Arguably, a mining disaster that kills 10 can be as devastating to a community as a mining disaster that kills 50 or more, at least from psychological and sociological perspectives.

In this monograph, we will attempt to assist in the progression of our understanding of the psychology of disaster as we explore the psychological aspects of escape, rescue, and survival in the wake of disasters.

NIOSH-154/0154-010108-everly.pdf

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection