Introduction to Disaster Management

Disaster - answerdefined by the United Nations, is a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or society. Disaster management - answerhow we deal with the human, material, economic or environmental impacts of said disaster, it is the process of how we "prepare for, respond to and learn from the effects of major failures." Disaster - answerthe result in the combination of hazards, vulnerability, and inability to reduce the potential negative consequences of risk. Types of Disaster - answerNatural Disasters, Man-Made Disasters, Complex Emergencies, Pandemic Emergencies Natural Disasters - answernaturally occurring physical phenomena caused either by rapid or slow onset events that have immediate impacts on human health and secondary impacts causing further death and suffering. Geophysical - answerEarthquakes, Landslides, Tsunamis and Volcanic Activity Hydrological - answerAvalanches and Floods Climatological - answerExtreme Temperatures, Drought and Wildfires Meteorological - answerCyclones and Storms/Wave Surges Biological - answerDisease Epidemics and Insect/Animal Plagues Man-Made Disasters - answerviewed by the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies are events that are caused by humans which occur in or close to human settlements often caused as a results of Environmental or Technological Emergencies. Man-Made Disasters can include - answerEnvironmental Degradation, Pollution, Accidents Complex Emergencies - answerThese emergencies involve a break-down of authority, looting and attacks on strategic installations. Complex emergencies include conflict situations and war. Pandemic Emergencies - answeroccurs when a highly infectious new strain emerges that humans have no immunity to. The difficulty responding to pandemics is the isolation they cause. Influenza - answera respiratory viral infection transmitted from person to person through the transmission of droplets which contain the influenza virus. Disaster Prevention - answerthe concept of engaging in activities which intend to prevent or avoid potential adverse impacts through action taken in advance, activities designed to provide protection from the occurrence of disasters. Disaster Preparedness - answerrefers to measures taken to prepare for and reduce