The greatest amount of frustration in the recovery process happens during the time it takes to process relief forms. The disaster event may be 3 or more weeks in the past before a disaster declaration is made. This time can be called a "Second Disaster". It is usually the period when the greatest amount of stress is seen because continual stressors are added to those experienced in the initial event. Victims must be encouraged to ventilate their built-up emotional energy.

The disillusionment Stage lasts from one month to one or even two or more years. As the Honeymoon Stage passes into the Disillusionment Stage, the excitement of the media attention in the earlier stages begins to wane. Rather than feeling supported by the media, victims begin to feel that they are objects of insensitive curiosity. At the same time, they feel let down and isolated when the media no longer covers the story and moves on to other, fresher news. The departure of the media at the same time victims are beginning to dig out can be extremely upsetting.

Victims begin to ask for answers, especially if the disaster could have been avoided, or if negligence of a person or agency was involved. Community support at this stage can be extremely important in determining the course of recovery.

During this stage, disaster mental health professionals work with clients, offer debriefings and defusings for staff, mediate problems between staff and supervisors or clients, advocate for time off, educate about methods to decrease stress, and assist with team building as centers begin to consolidate and/or close down.

The final stage is the Reconstruction Stage. Victims come to the realization that the rebuilding of homes and businesses is primarily their responsibility. The rebuilding of the community reaffirms the victims' belief in themselves and the community. This stage may take from several years to the rest of their lives, depending on the amount of damage. If the rebuilding is delayed, the recovery process will also be delayed.

Many of the disaster related stress reactions will return when conditions are right for another disaster similar to the one the victims have experienced.

When the emergency response phase of the disaster is over, workers return to business as usual at their routine jobs. They may experience frustration and loss after the intensity of the emergency situation. Local staff may also be victims, thus facing job pressures, as well as feeling overwhelmed by needs to complete their own recovery, feelings of loss, depression, anger, etc.By providing crisis intervention and following a disaster it is hoped that both workers and survivors can develop effective coping mechanisms that will assist them through the stages of recovery with less long term emotional impact.

This section has discussed how all disaster victims proceed through recognized stages of grieving, from denial to acceptance. Also, just as there are recognized stages of grieving, there are recognized stages of disaster and expected individual and community reactions during the different stages. By understanding these stages, it will help you to better understand how disaster victims and workers may react psychologically. As a result, you will be better able to meet the emotional needs that arise due to disaster.

STAGES OF DISASTER RECOVERY

Phases_________Time Frame___Emotions_________Behaviors_____Support

Heroic	Occurs at time of impact and period immediately afterward.	Altruism. All emotions are strong and direct at this time.	Heroic actions. Use of energy to save their own and others' lives and property.	Family groups, neighbors, and emergency teams.
Honeymoon	From 1 week to 3 to 6 months after the disaster.	Strong sense of having shared a catastrophe experience and lived through it. Expectations of great assistance from official and government resources.	Victims clear out debris and wreckage buoyed by promises of great help in rebuilding their lives.	Pre-existing community groups and emergent community groups which develop from specific needs caused by disaster.
Disillusionment	Lasts from 2 months to 1 or even 2 years.	Strong sense of disappointment, anger, resentment and bitterness appear if there are delays, failures, or unfulfilled hopes or promises of aid.	People concentrate on rebuilding their own lives and solving individual problems. The feeling of "shared community" is lost.	Many outside agencies may now pull out. Indigenous community agencies may weaken. Alternative resources may need to be explored.
Reconstruction	Lasts for several years following the disaster.	Victims now realize that they need to solve the problem of rebuilding their lives. Visible recovery efforts serve to reaffirm belief in themselves and the community. If recovery efforts are delayed, emotional problems which appear may be serious and intense.	People have assumed the responsibility for their own recovery. New construction programs and plans reaffirm belief in capabilities and ability to recover.	Community groups with a long-term investment in the community and its people become key elements in this phase.

In a person's life when there occur events which threaten his/her biological, physical or social well-being, there is a resulting disequilibrium. When this well-being is threatened, people react with anxiety. When there are a particularly large number of painful or unpleasant stimuli like those associated with a disaster or tragedy, the individual requires a great capacity for adaptation.

The mental health literature describes the stress following disaster and tragedy as a precise set of symptoms manifested after an extraordinary traumatic event.

They may experience phobias about weather conditions or other reminders that the accident or situation could happen again.

They may experience difficulty with memory or calculations.

Suddenly, they cannot balance their checkbook, or remember simple tasks, appointments, or such things as their address or phone number when asked.

They may exhibit anger or even rage over their lack of control over the occurrence and their impotence at preventing it and protecting their families.

Many times this may be displaced towards those who are trying to help.

Typical stress reactions to disaster trauma can be assessed by adapting the multi-modal behavioral approach initially outlined by Lazarus (1976, 1989, 2000). He used the acronym BASIC ID :