Phases of Disaster

Many of you may be quite familiar with the Phases of Disaster chart below, or some version of it.  And given where we are as a global community in late April, I suspect we’re just coming off the peak of the “Honeymoon” phase and heading toward the trough of “Disillusionment.”  As you can see, there’s some tough terrain ahead.

When facing such deeply uncertain times it can be helpful to take a step back from all the things we don’t know and take stock of what, in fact, we do know; and to contemplate ways in which we can best share those insights as well as engage our colleagues, friends, and loved ones into helping determine new and creative ways forward.  
​
The fact is, while the scale of the current situation is globally unprecedented, humanity has been through catastrophic events before, and we’ve traversed and charted similar behavioral terrain.  It can be called by different names such as “steps of transition,” “stages of grief and acceptance,” and even “phases of a disaster,” but there is a behavioral progression we all go through as we face, come to terms with, and ultimately adapt to foundational change.  And, as we’re navigating our way through the current medical emergency presented by COVID-19, it seems appropriate to remind ourselves of this well-known sequence as a way to prepare for what’s yet to come.  For when the “emergency” is over, the reality is that we’ll then be facing the “crises” of secondary effects, and this will take longer and will require more stamina, resilience, and creativity to overcome.  

Stay strong…  Stay healthy… 
From all of us at Regulus Group