Crisis Management Terms

noun an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster

• The earthquake brought about a great calamity to the region, causing widespread destruction.
• The flood was a total calamity, we had water everywhere in the house.
• The party was a calamity, nothing went as planned and it was a disaster.
• Her failed business venture was a calamity, leaving her in financial ruin.

noun the latest possible moment before it is too late

adjective referring to the last moment or the latest possible time

• The decision was made at the eleventh hour, just before the deadline.
• We finished the project at the eleventh hour, but it turned out great.
• I always do my homework at the eleventh hour, it's a bad habit.
• The eleventh hour of the negotiation process was intense and crucial.

noun A final course of action taken when all else has failed

• Evacuation should only be considered as a last resort in case of a natural disaster.
• I only eat fast food as a last resort when I don't have time to cook.
• I'll only ask my parents for money as a last resort.
• Using force should always be the last resort in resolving conflicts.

adjective having or showing good judgment; calm and rational

• She is known for being extremely levelheaded in high-pressure situations.
• Don't worry, Sarah will stay levelheaded and help us figure this out.
• I can always count on Jake to keep it levelheaded when things get crazy.
• His levelheaded approach to problem-solving is like a breath of fresh air in the chaos.

adjective describing a state of being extremely worried or fearful

• She felt panicky when she realized she had lost her passport.
• I always get panicky before exams.
• Don't get all panicky, everything will be fine.
• The stock market crash caused a panicky reaction among investors.

noun a situation of widespread destruction or chaos

verb to cause widespread destruction or chaos

• The hurricane is expected to wreak havoc on the coastal towns.
• If you don't study for the exam, it's going to wreak havoc on your grades.
• The party last night really wreaked havoc on my sleep schedule.
• Her careless words have the power to wreak havoc on people's emotions.

noun A person or entity that seeks to profit from disasters or crises by taking advantage of vulnerable situations

• The disaster capitalist took advantage of the economic downturn to buy up struggling businesses at a fraction of their value.
• That disaster capitalist always seems to profit off of other people's misfortunes.
• I heard that disaster capitalist is making a killing off of the current crisis.
• In the world of finance, the disaster capitalist is like a vulture circling above, ready to swoop in and capitalize on chaos.

noun A person who is actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area

adjective Describing someone or something that is engaged in or likely to engage in violent behavior

• The police are currently responding to reports of an active shooter in the area.
• There's news of an active shooter nearby, stay safe!
• Dude, did you hear about the active shooter situation happening right now?
• In the world of cybersecurity, an active shooter can be compared to a malicious hacker trying to breach a system.