disaster

disaster

Etymology: L, dis, apart, astrum. a star

any mishap or misfortune that is ruinous, distressing, or calamitous.

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Disaster

Global village A cataclysmic event in which there is a loss of multiple lives and/or major property damage
Nuclear physics Decay disaster
Public health Any unanticipated event that requires urgent response to bring people and/or property out of harm’s way in order to minimise loss of life or destruction of property

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disaster [dĭ-zas´ter]

a situation that produces damage and varying amounts of destruction; there is a three-tiered classification for disasters, based on the number of casualties. See also emergency.

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disaster

Public health Any unanticipated event that requires urgent response, bringing people and/or property out of harm's way in order to minimize loss of life or destruction of property; disasters are described by certain parameters Vox populi A cataclysmic event in which there is a loss of multiple lives and/or major property damage. See Climatologic disaster, Geological disaster, Man-made disaster, Natural disaster, Tsunami.

Disaster classifications

Nature, ie either 1. Natural, geophysical–eg earthquakes, volcanoes or weather-related–eg floods, hurricanes 2. Man-made–transportation-related, structural collapse, war, hazardous materials, explosions, fires

Location Single site–eg explosion or multiple sites–eg hurricanes

Predictability Regular–eg hurricane season or sporadic–eg toxic spill

Onset Gradual–eg armed conflict or abrupt–eg accident

Duration Brief–eg natural disaster or extended–eg armed conflict

Frequency Often–eg flood, or rare–eg fire