Social normalcy is a term to describe the efforts to return a community back to that pre-disaster conditions as soon as possible, both in terms of economic viability and letting people get back to their lives.

This fascinating article raises a legitimate argument against mitigation of the impact of a disaster through early warning. It could be interpreted as suggesting that the short term gains of preventing mortality and morbidity would be offset by the disruption of the community pre-event….”It is likely that a large number of people would move away, businesses would shut down, and the economy would probably go into free-fall. The economic and social cost would be huge – and indeed might be greater than the cost of the earthquake itself….”

What is the correct balance to strike between the disruption caused by early warning and the disruption caused by the event?