A common typology defines three levels of crisis: Level I, a personal tragedy; Level II, a major personal crisis or a major threatening incident; and Level III, _________________.

A common typology defines three levels of crisis: Level I, a personal tragedy; Level II, a major personal crisis or a major threatening incident; and Level III, _________________.

• A. a disaster or threatened disaster
• B. a routine incident
• C. a community-wide emergency
• D. an organizational disruption

Answer: (A)

In this crisis framework, the levels move from individual impact to broader, more systemic events. Level I is a personal tragedy, Level II is a major personal crisis or threatening incident, and Level III captures disasters or threats of disasters—events that overwhelm ordinary coping resources and affect many people or the community at large. That’s why the best completion is “a disaster or threatened disaster.” It signals the largest-scale disruption, requiring broader response and resources beyond an individual or a single incident. A routine incident isn’t a crisis by definition, so it doesn’t fit Level III. A community-wide emergency could describe a Level III situation but the standard phrase used for this level is “a disaster or threatened disaster.” An organizational disruption shifts focus to an organization rather than the broader personal-to-community crisis continuum.

In this crisis framework, the levels move from individual impact to broader, more systemic events. Level I is a personal tragedy, Level II is a major personal crisis or threatening incident, and Level III captures disasters or threats of disasters—events that overwhelm ordinary coping resources and affect many people or the community at large. That’s why the best completion is “a disaster or threatened disaster.” It signals the largest-scale disruption, requiring broader response and resources beyond an individual or a single incident.

A routine incident isn’t a crisis by definition, so it doesn’t fit Level III. A community-wide emergency could describe a Level III situation but the standard phrase used for this level is “a disaster or threatened disaster.” An organizational disruption shifts focus to an organization rather than the broader personal-to-community crisis continuum.