We are never truly prepared for a catastrophic event, but we spend a lot of time worrying about what we will do in one situation or another. We as humans, just like animals, are equipped with survival skills; even if sometimes our brain doesn't always choose the right answer. There are several tendencies that the human brain tends towards in a life-threatening event or situation. Situation awareness and normality bias are two main tendencies that manifest themselves in disasters or extreme stressful situations. These responses are not only achieved by experiencing a traumatic event but also through high-risk activities such as skydiving and skiing. In the following paragraphs I will discuss how the brain responds to disasters and risky situations and how it can be a matter of survival and death. We all respond in different ways to disasters. But there are some key things that happen to everyone during an event. In the first chapter of The Unthinkable, Zedeno says she was overcome with a feeling of peace and calm when she found herself trapped in an elevator in the World Trade Center during an attempted detonation of a car bomb. During the events of September 11, Zedeno also noted that he observed colleagues making phone calls and turning off computers, without realizing the urgency of the situation. In most cases, people fall into a sort of fog in which they have difficulty concentrating on the reality of the situation. This tendency is called normality bias. This “fog” causes people to underestimate the disaster and its effects. People also tend to interpret warnings as optimistically as possible, making the situation seem less serious (Spalding). Our brains often perceive danger at...... middle of paper ......om/2006/09/ 29/world/americas/29iht-profile.2981944.html?pagewanted=2&_r=2>. Spalding, Steven. "Prejudice of normality". How to split an atom. 08 29 2010. Web. 3 December 2010. .Swink, David F. "Adrenaline Rush: Can It Help Us Face a Real Crisis?". Threat management. Psychology Today, January 31, 2010. Web. December 3, 2010. "Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571." Wikipedia. Wikipedia the free encyclopedia, 02-12-2010. Network. December 3, 2010. “Survival Stories No. 4: Andes Rugby Team Disaster of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571.” Harpoon. Spike.com, 29 08 2009. Web. 4 December 2010. .