Buffalo Creek Flood DisasterEmilie Durkheim described the concepts of social regulation and social integration, and how both relate to suicide rates. These two concepts can also be used to analyze the effect of the Buffalo Creek flood on individuals and the community. Using the ideas of social regulation and social integration as well as the book “Everything in Its Path” by Kai T. Erikson, we can see the consequences of the Buffalo Creek flood disaster. Durkheim used the concepts of social regulation and social integration to analyze how social forces affect suicide. Social integration refers to the degree of integration a person has within their social group or the level of attachment a person feels toward their group (Conley 187). Social integration varies considerably between communities and differs depending on the degree of attachment of members. A close-knit community, where citizens interact with each other in a variety of ways, reflects greater social integration. This can be compared to a community in which members rarely or never interact with many other community members, reflecting low social integration. According to Durkheim, two types of suicide arise from different levels of social integration. One of the causes of suicide is extremely poor social integration, called selfish suicide. Durkheim argues that this is the case because others give meaning to the individual's life, so without this support from the group, the person may feel hopeless (Conley 188). The other type of suicide, altruistic suicide, reflects the opposite situation: when an individual is too socially integrated (Conley 189). This type of suicide occurs when members of a group or community become so absorbed in the group that they... middle of paper ... no rules to govern daily life, there there was no moral compass. The Loss The sense of community was deeply felt by the former residents of Buffalo Creek, who were once a close-knit people. This was demonstrated by the fact that the post-disaster euphoria completely disappeared after the flood. Usually, this euphoria arises when survivors realize that the community still exists and is alive. However, in Buffalo Creek, there was not a shred of community left to cause a celebration. This was due in part to HUD housing regulations, which not only worsened feelings of isolation, but also the massive destruction caused by the flood itself. After this sudden and violent incident, the pain of the survivors will continue long into the future. Chronic pain and suffering resulting from the loss of community and its effects would persist for years..