This article explores the organizational factors that produce errors of perception, judgment, and calculation, which can lead to unfortunate consequences. The author examines three major disasters in order to identify common features and characterize stages of development. Discussion includes the role of false assumptions, poor information handling in complex situations, and cultural lags in existing precautions in disaster development. The author highlights the importance of continued study into disasters with particular emphasis on a classification system that better represents the complexity of interactions not explained with current categorizations.