ABSTRACT
I n the rst decade of the 21st century, individuals, communities, and nations across the world have had to face some of the most terrifying disasters and critical incidents in recent history, in which people have experienced multiple losses of life, belongings, community, and peace of mind. In many ways, the assumptive world that individuals and society have known and believed concerning safety and security will never again be thought of in the same way. In a 10-year period from 1900 through 1909, there were a total of 73 national-level natural disasters worldwide. Within the rst 5 years of the 21st century, disasters on the national level have escalated to 2,788, and this gure continues to rise, according to the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (2006, p. 1).
