The most important thing to do in the wake of a personal or natural disaster is to let creditors know about the situation, Davis said.

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What made the Gulf situation so frustrating however is that a certain amount of unnecessary complexity may have contributed to the disaster in the first place and afterwards made it harder to resolve.

FORBES: Let's Not Compound Complexity

However, the situation eased in the city of Salzburg, which has already been declared a disaster zone.

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"The government has a task to be close to all those citizens who have found themselves in a very difficult situation due to the earthquake, the disaster and of course also due to the financial crisis, " Berlusconi said.

CNN: Italy quake worker: 'It's hard to deal with'

And speaking of the potential for a nuclear disaster, it is becoming clear that while the situation is tragic, the Dai-ichi plant is not Chernobyl and is not going to have a major economic impact.

FORBES: My Apologies If I've Offended Anyone in the Bear Camp Today