The aim of this essay is to present the emergency psychology as a discipline useful for the reconstruction of communities wounded by an earthquake. The author proposes an inter-actionist definition of emergency which enhances all the psychological dimensions of the concept. He then illustrates the ways in which the mind of the community is upset by disasters such as earthquakes. It also explains how aid actions can hinder the desire for rebuilding by communities. Finally, it presents some guidelines for psychological intervention in the post-earthquake community reconstruction phase. They include the facilitation of interactions, empowerment processes and timing reconciliation, as well as attention to the quality of territorial rebuilding.
Keywords: Emergency psychology, trauma, empowerment, context, interaction, artifacts.