Citation

Quarantelli EL. Int. J. Mass Emerg. Disasters 1989; 7(3): 243-251.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, International Sociological Association, International Research Committee on Disasters)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The question of a taxonomy for disaster research cannot be addressed meaningfully until some sort of answer is given to the more fundamental issue: what is a disaster? Kreps does provide one general answer in his paper. Regarding much of what he says, he clearly is right. The evidence for this conclusion comes from the fact that many of his views correspond to mine -- obviously there could be no stronger confirmation that he is correct in expressing those views! However, I do have some problems with certain of his positions. In this brief commentary, let me discuss four matters regarding which I would take a different position than that which seems to be taken by Kreps. However, what is important is not that we disagree, but rather that the differences lead in different directions in conceptualizing disasters and developing typologies or taxonomies. So these are differences which make a difference.