A typology for the classification of disasters: implications for intervention.

A model that can be used to plan for disaster intervention services is presented. The model, which is based upon an ability to classify disasters, presents four dichotomous categories for intervention: (1) psychotherapeutic vs. educational, (2) individual vs. systems, (3) prevention vs. treatment, and (4) direct vs. indirect. The article presents a rationale for determining which intervention, or combination, would be appropriate for any given disaster, based on its classification.