This chapter has its starting point in 2013, when a train carrying crude oil derailed in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, Canada. Research on the aftermath of this tragedy indicates that the adverse psychosocial impacts resulting from the rail tragedy decreased over time. The authors explain that although the tragedy certainly has left its mark, the local community is gradually adapting to its new reality. The asset-based approach to recovery that has been encouraged seems to have contributed to the “new reality,” emphasizing the importance of social capital to activate individual and community resilience in post-disaster contexts. The authors identify and discuss success factors supporting the recovery of citizens and the social reconstruction of the community, and they document the positive development of the psychosocial situation in Lac-Mégantic, commenting also on the importance of developing a shared understanding of risks and working together in finding solutions.
The authors conclude by discussing the importance of long-term initiatives to promote understanding, preventing, and reducing psychosocial risks in the months and years following a disaster, and the need to move from disaster management to risk management logic in response to disasters.
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