Disasters in urban context

This article provides a brief overview of the field of disaster research, summarizing what is known at present about the prevalence of disasters, the range of stressors and outcomes experienced, and sample-, event-, and individual-level risk factors for poor health and mental health outcomes. Prior research does not suggest that an urban context either enhances or reduces risk for individual survivors. It is argued, however, that the influence of extraindividual exposure, ethnic diversity, and support deterioration may be especially salient for understanding urban disasters. Investigators of urban disasters are especially well situated to expand knowledge of ecological and collective aspects of disaster response and recovery.