REGIONAL DISASTERS AND SYSTEMIC REACTIONS

Abstract

Today’s catastrophes (many of them man-made or at least triggered by human activity) seemingly endanger an increasing number of humans and a spreading portion of land in numerous different ways, calling for more attention concerning appropriate reactions. We will discuss the basic question of what constitutes a ’disaster’. Consequently various alternatives are considered as to reacting in view of a "disaster" (Flight/run away, Fight/intervene, Freeze, Submit/sustain/endure, Ignore/deny). Taking a closer look at interventions as the classical reaction, we distinguish between different points of view: systemic (a system leaving its domain of dependability), process-oriented (a system of interlinked process steps), human (communication, psychology, and mental health of intervention personell and victims), and multicultural (problems of communication, trust, and habits).