Work on war, terrorism, and disaster suggests that losses that individuals and families experience in the domains of personal resources (e.g., self-esteem, optimism), condition resources (e.g., marriage, employment), energy resources (e.g., time, credit) and material resources (e.g., house, car) are the key ingredients in outcomes of traumatic events. These reactions will include a range of negative sequelae ranging from moderate anxiety and sleep problems for those at the periphery of events to full-blown PTSD for those who are most directly impacted. Secondarily, because these events are usually outside of people's own control and coping repertoire and because the threat is often vague as to future possibilities, media construels of events and political processes will deeply affect people's reactivity. Hence, if politicians and news sources provide a clear message and promote a clear responsive strategy that fits people's value system it can supplement individuals' meaning systems and coping processes and help them navigate through these unfamiliar waters. In this regard, it is important to add to individual-level knowledge about traumatic stress responsiveness and resiliency, certain key family processes. Families can be a critical point of resiliency and stability. At the same time, a troubled family will accelerate the negative impact of traumatic events. These concepts will be presented in light of Conservation of Resources theory, spanning from individual to family level responding.