disaster

disaster

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

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

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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