War and disaster often strike impoverished and stressed communities. The Lower East Side of New York City (LES) became one of those communities on September 11, 2001, when youth and parents experienced the destruction of the nearby World Trade Center. HIV-affected and HIV-infected parents discussed their own and their families' reactions. LES parents felt they had dealt with the initial effects of the World Trade Center disaster well, but were concerned about their ability to deal with continued threat. This challenge was made more difficult as they saw the number and quality of safe places from which to view and interpret events diminish, and their opportunities to establish reserves that would help them cope erode. HIV posed additional difficulties post-disaster. Implications are drawn for emergency preparedness planning for urban families.
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