Organizational involvement and changes in community structure in disaster.

Reprint

There is an interesting paradox which emerges when one observes the effects of a disaster event upon community structure. The effects are both disorganizing and integrative. Most mass media accounts of such events emphasize the disorganizing effects. Others, especially those who have looked more intensively at the longer-range consequences of disaster, are more impressed by the integrative effects. To understand the paradox, first it is necessary to see the various community organizations as being the problem solving arms of a community. Second, it is necessary to look at the consequences of the disaster event itself for organizational functioning. Third, the tasks created by the disaster necessitate the development of subsystems within the community attempting to cope with them. Fourth, the proliferation of these coping systems leads to problems of coordination. Finally, the process of mobilization will be described detailing how the community comes to control sufficient resources to cope with the problems created. This process results in a new integration