Crisis event strength has been linked to various negative outcomes for employees. However, recent research suggests that it may also lead to positive outcomes, depending on the different underlying mechanisms. Extending this line of inquiry, the present study, grounded in event system theory and the stressor-detachment model, examines how crisis event strength distinctly influences employee fatigue and job performance through cognitive (i.e., problem-solving pondering) and emotional (i.e., affective rumination) process, along with the moderating role of family support. We examined our hypotheses across two studies. Study 1 (150 participants from various organizations) supported the positive effect of crisis event strength on problem-solving pondering and affective rumination. Study 2 (214 flight attendants at a major Chinese civil aviation company) replicated the findings of Study 1 and found that crisis event strength increases employee fatigue through affective rumination, while also enhancing job performance through problem-solving pondering. Moreover, family support reduces the impact of crisis strength on affective rumination. These results contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the dual impact of crisis events and offer practical implications for how organizations can transform crises into opportunities for growth.