Kriis

Kriis is a term used in Estonian to denote a turning point or a period of instability and urgency. A crisis typically involves significant negative consequences for individuals, communities, organizations, or systems, and it requires rapid assessment and decisive action. Crises can arise in many domains, including economics (financial or debt crises), politics (constitutional or governmental crises), health (epidemics or hospital capacity strains), environment (natural disasters or climate-related events), and social life (personal or collective crises).

The word kriis is related to the wider family of crisis around the world. It derives from the Greek krisis 'decision' through Latin crisis and French crise, and has cognates in many languages. In Estonian orthography, kriis is singular; kriisid is plural.

A crisis is typically marked by rapid change, uncertainty, and heightened risk. It often follows a lifecycle with a potentially rising onset, escalation or peak, and a resolution phase that includes stabilization and recovery. The focus is on preventing harm, maintaining essential functions, and restoring normal operations.

Crisis management refers to the coordinated set of processes and structures designed to prepare for, respond to, and recover from crises. It includes risk assessment, contingency planning, information management, communications with the public and stakeholders, and coordination among authorities, organizations, and experts. Emphasis is placed on timely, accurate information and preserving trust.