This training manual on emotional responses to disaster is designed for use by mental health professionals in the training of emergency medical teams whose job is to immediately respond to both large- and small-scale disasters. It is noted that members of these teams are usually not mental health professionals, but they must deal with a range of intense emotions in addition to a range of physical problems. The goal of this manual is to present basic concepts in understanding disaster-related behaviors, to explain phases of such behaviors, and to outline postdisaster intervention strategies for mental health problems. The pamphlet is divided into these sections: (1) basic concepts in understanding disaster behavior, focusing on stress resulting from the crisis, social supports at the time of the crisis, and coping skills of the individual victim; (2) phases of disaster-related behaviors, illustrated by a table listing typical reactions to stress for preschoolers, latency age children, preadolescents and adolescents, adults, and senior citizens; and (3) postdisaster intervention strategies for mental health problems in the acute phase, including special mental illness, drug abuse, and alcohol problems and disaster worker stress. (Author/ABL)