ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the adaptive behaviors that individuals use to effectively cope with traumatic loss during disaster. The nature, extent of, and trends in traumatic loss in disasters will be described. Theoretical and conceptual frameworks useful for understanding loss and trauma in disasters will be presented. These frameworks include vulnerability, resiliency, stress, and posttraumatic growth theories. Next, normative responses to disaster losses, stress, and trauma will be described, with a multidimensional framework examining individual, support network, and community components of stress and coping. The components and steps of typical coping responses and behaviors will be described to suggest the most effective means of responding to loss and trauma in disasters. Finally, empowerment and strengths perspectives will be used as a foundation for understanding coping and resilience, as well as social work interventions in disasters.
