Step 1. Collect up-to-date information on the disaster

The list of websites below are reliable sources of up-to-date information on both natural and human-made disasters. They also help frame the issues surrounding post-disaster research and the mental health consequences of disasters. The information provided in these websites will help a researcher answer the following questions.

1. What happened?
2. Where did the disaster take place?
3. What populations seem to be most affected?
4. How many people died from the disaster?
5. How many people were injured in the disaster?
6. How many people have been displaced?
7. How much property damage did the disaster cause?
8. Was there a warning of the disaster?
9. What rescue efforts have been established?
10. Are many people seeking services?
11. What is the state response?
12. Is there an international response? What?

News Websites	Background Websites
http://www.cnn.com	http://firstgov.gov
http://www.nyt.com	http://redcross.org
http://www.weather.com	http://disasterhelp.gov
http://www.weather.gov	http://www.bt.cdc.gov/index.asp
http://www.fema.org	http://www.geodata.gov/gos
	http://www.hhs.gov

In addition to the list of websites above, there are two other useful ways to obtain relevant information immediately after a disaster occurs.

1. Go to http://www.google.com (a straightforward internet search engine) and type in the name of the disaster and the state where the disaster occurred. From this search, you will have access to numerous current news reports (of all kinds) about the disaster and the relief efforts that are currently in place.
2. Go to http://www.google.com and type in the name of state where the disaster occurred and "state government". This will allow you to access the website of the state government, where there may be current information on what the state is doing in response to the disaster, details about the disaster, and ways individuals can help.

Proceed to step two...