Next to the loss of life, the loss of family history, family pictures, and memorabilia provokes the most intense sense of loss in disaster victims and is confirmed by researchers as a major source of emotional stress. Conservators are the custodians of social and cultural history, which provides meaning and connectedness for people. When artifacts that provide them with identity and pride and continuity of culture are destroyed, people mourn. This report discusses what we know of human response to disaster; social and clinical intervention programs for disaster victims; public education and planning programs to prevent or diminish disaster stress; roles of conservators in disaster recovery.