The following chapters report an exploratory study of reactions to two disasters, a tornado and floods, which struck Dallas, Texas, in the spring of 1957. Although the findings and discussion are presented in the context of a somewhat shortened version of the time sequence described above, the major emphasis is on the differential impact of the two types of disaster agents and on the reactions of victims to disaster situations.Two disasters had occurred in the Dallas area, both having a major effect upon Negro areas of residence in that city. Furthermore, a rapid, impressionistic survey of the two areas made by Doctor Harry E. Moore of the Department of Sociology of the University of Texas and Doctor H. J. Friedsam of the Department of Sociology of North Texas State University, suggested that the two areas were also homogeneous in income level and. possibly in other ways. 5 Hence, the situation presented an opportunity to study and compare the residents' reactions to two different disaster agents. More specifically, it was felt that an exploratory study to determine whether or not there was Qadifference in the responses of tho victims to the tornado and floods could be undertaken.

Following Hawley's point of view regarding the definition and inclusiveness of human ecology, ecological data must include both a population and its characteristics and some measurements of the environment of this population. Following Hawley, an ecological investigation must select from available data and examine at least some of the relationships that may exist among these measurable population and environmental characteristics, in an effort to find and isolate the causes of mental disorders, particularly of those now called "functional."

The purpose of this research is to provide a descriptive study of selected social and psychiatric characteristics of adolescent first admissions to a private psychiatric hospital and an analysis of some of the inter-relationships among social, ecological, demographic and psychiatric variables selected for study.

"The purpose of this thesis is to examine the age structure of the population of Texas as it existed in 1960, and insofar as possible to trace important changes and trends in the older group from 1900 to 1960. The qualification derives from the fact that at this time not all of the data from the 1960 census are available, and hence many trends can be described only through 1950. Where appropriate, the structure and trends characteristic of the total population will be described, usually for comparative purposes."-- leaf 1.