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Disaster: A serious disruption of the functioning
of a society with widespread human, material, or environmental
losses which can exceed the ability of affected community or area to
cope using its own resources. "Natural" disasters involve largely
geological and climatic hazards. In human-made disasters, the
principal direct causes are identifiable human actions.
Disaster Incident: A natural or human-made event
that can cause a disaster with severe negative effects on human
life, property, and activities.
Disaster
Category |
Types |
Sudden Onset |
Tsunami, Flood, Earthquake,
Hurricane, Wildfire, Volcanic Eruption, Landslide |
Slow |
Drought, Famine, Environmental
Degradation, Desertification, Deforestation, Pest
Infestation |
Industrial/Technological |
System Failure/Accident (wreck,
derailment), Spillage, Explosion, Fire |
Wars & Civil Strife |
Terrorism, Insurgency, Armed
Aggression |
Epidemics,
Pandemics |
Water/Food-Borne Diseases,
Person-To-Person Diseases, Vector-Borne Diseases |
Vulnerability or Risk:
The measure of the negative
cultural, social, economic, and environmental factors and unsafe
conditions that put people at risk of a disaster when a hazard
occurs. See Disaster Risks on menu.
Disaster Size |
Description |
Low (I) |
Affects 1-30 households, assistance
provided by local teams and churches. |
Medium (II) |
Affect 50-200 households, involves
entire community or several communities with district
response. |
High (III) |
Large area, usually eligible for
presidential declaration. Massive response by state and
federal agencies. |
Catastrophic (IV) |
Large number of deaths or injuries,
extensive property damage, severe impact on national
security. |
Disaster Phases |
Description |
Preparation |
Activities designed to plan
for high risk disasters, minimize loss of life and damage,
plan for the temporary removal of people and property from a
threatened location, facilitate timely and effective rescue,
relief, and recovery. It also includes education, training,
and certification, communications systems, and other
preparation activities. |
Disaster |
The time period during which
the disaster happens. It may be days, weeks, or, in rare
situations, months. |
Emergency |
The time-frame when
extraordinary measures are taken to search and find
survivors; provide medical assistance; support human needs
of shelter, water, and food; and protect property. |
Relief |
The operations for cleanup
of structures and roads, restoration of communications and
power, and removal and disposal of debris. |
Mitigation |
Actions taken prior or after
a disaster to identify risks, take risk reduction activities
such as zoning flood plains for park land and wildlife
habitat areas, clearing debris from streams and rivers,
modifying or moving buildings. After a disaster, mitigation
may impact where and how rebuilding activities are
undertaken. |
Recovery |
Actions taken to
re-establish a community after a period of rehabilitation
subsequent to a disaster - including construction of
permanent housing, full restoration of services, complete
resumption of the pre-disaster state. |
Disaster Management:
The policy and administrative decisions and operational activities
which pertain to the various stages of disaster at all levels.
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