The term “DISASTER” owes its origin to French word “Disastre”, a combination of two words “Des”
meaning “Bad” and “Aster” meaning “Star” thus the term Disaster refers to “Bad or Evil Star”.
Disasters, commonly leading to emergency situations, occur in diverse situations in all parts of the
world, in both sparsely populated rural and densely populated urban regions, as well as in situations
involving natural and man-made hazards. Disasters are often classified according to their speed of onset
(sudden or slow), their cause (natural or man-made), or their scale (major or minor). Disasters,
commonly leading to emergency situations, occur in diverse situations in all parts of the world, in both
sparsely populated rural and densely populated urban regions, as well as in situations involving natural
and man-made hazards. Disasters are often classified according to their speed of onset (sudden or slow),
their cause (natural or man-made), or their scale (major or minor).It is also defined as any event,
typically occurring suddenly, that causes damage, ecological disruption, loss of human life, deterioration
of health and health services, and which exceeds the capacity of the affected community on a scale
sufficient to require outside assistance (Landsman, 2001).
Natural Hazards (and the resulting disasters) are the result of naturally occurring processes that have
operated throughout Earth's history. Natural disasters are beyond human control. Natural disasters are
often termed an “Act of God”. If the natural process that poses the hazard occurs and destroys human
life or property, then a natural disaster has occurred. Among the natural hazards and possible disasters
to be considered are: Geophysical (result from phenomena beneath the Earth’s surface; earthquakes,
landslides, tsunamis and volcanic activity) Hydrological (avalanches and floods) Meteorological (cyclones
and storms/wave surges) Biological (disease, epidemics1 and insect/animal plagues) Climatological
(extreme temperatures, drought and wildfires) Man-made/ Anthropogenic : Technological (the failure or
breakdown of systems, equipment and engineering standards that harms people and the
environment;structural collapses, such as bridges, mines and buildings) 1 AN EPIDEMIC is a disease that
affects a large number of people within a community, population, or region; when COVID-19 was limited
to Wuhan, China, it was an epidemic. A PANDEMIC is an epidemic that’s spread over multiple countries
or continents; COVID-19 . Disaster Subgroup Definition Disaster Main Type Geophysical Events
originating from solid earth Earthquake, Volcano, tsunami, landslides.Mass Movement(dry)
Meteorological Events caused by short‐lived/small to meso scale atmospheric processes (in the
spectrum from minutes to days) Cyclones, Storm Hydrological Events caused by deviations in the normal
water cycle and/or overflow of bodies of water caused by wind set ‐up Flood, Mass Movement (wet)
Climatological Events caused by long‐lived/meso to macro scale processes (in the spectrum from intra ‐
seasonal to multi‐decadal climate variability) Extreme Temperature, Drought, Wildfire Biological
Disaster caused by the exposure of living organisms to germs and toxic substances Epidemic, Insect
Infestation, Animal Stampede Industrial (disasters caused by industrial companies, either by accident,
negligence or incompetence; Chemical and nuclear explosion2 ) Warfare ( disasters caused by
sociopolitical conflicts that escalate into violence; war, intra society conflicts)
Natural Types of Disasters
Agricultural Hurricanes and tropical
diseases & storms
meaning “Bad” and “Aster” meaning “Star” thus the term Disaster refers to “Bad or Evil Star”.
Disasters, commonly leading to emergency situations, occur in diverse situations in all parts of the
world, in both sparsely populated rural and densely populated urban regions, as well as in situations
involving natural and man-made hazards. Disasters are often classified according to their speed of onset
(sudden or slow), their cause (natural or man-made), or their scale (major or minor). Disasters,
commonly leading to emergency situations, occur in diverse situations in all parts of the world, in both
sparsely populated rural and densely populated urban regions, as well as in situations involving natural
and man-made hazards. Disasters are often classified according to their speed of onset (sudden or slow),
their cause (natural or man-made), or their scale (major or minor).It is also defined as any event,
typically occurring suddenly, that causes damage, ecological disruption, loss of human life, deterioration
of health and health services, and which exceeds the capacity of the affected community on a scale
sufficient to require outside assistance (Landsman, 2001).
Natural Hazards (and the resulting disasters) are the result of naturally occurring processes that have
operated throughout Earth's history. Natural disasters are beyond human control. Natural disasters are
often termed an “Act of God”. If the natural process that poses the hazard occurs and destroys human
life or property, then a natural disaster has occurred. Among the natural hazards and possible disasters
to be considered are: Geophysical (result from phenomena beneath the Earth’s surface; earthquakes,
landslides, tsunamis and volcanic activity) Hydrological (avalanches and floods) Meteorological (cyclones
and storms/wave surges) Biological (disease, epidemics1 and insect/animal plagues) Climatological
(extreme temperatures, drought and wildfires) Man-made/ Anthropogenic : Technological (the failure or
breakdown of systems, equipment and engineering standards that harms people and the
environment;structural collapses, such as bridges, mines and buildings) 1 AN EPIDEMIC is a disease that
affects a large number of people within a community, population, or region; when COVID-19 was limited
to Wuhan, China, it was an epidemic. A PANDEMIC is an epidemic that’s spread over multiple countries
or continents; COVID-19 . Disaster Subgroup Definition Disaster Main Type Geophysical Events
originating from solid earth Earthquake, Volcano, tsunami, landslides.Mass Movement(dry)
Meteorological Events caused by short‐lived/small to meso scale atmospheric processes (in the
spectrum from minutes to days) Cyclones, Storm Hydrological Events caused by deviations in the normal
water cycle and/or overflow of bodies of water caused by wind set ‐up Flood, Mass Movement (wet)
Climatological Events caused by long‐lived/meso to macro scale processes (in the spectrum from intra ‐
seasonal to multi‐decadal climate variability) Extreme Temperature, Drought, Wildfire Biological
Disaster caused by the exposure of living organisms to germs and toxic substances Epidemic, Insect
Infestation, Animal Stampede Industrial (disasters caused by industrial companies, either by accident,
negligence or incompetence; Chemical and nuclear explosion2 ) Warfare ( disasters caused by
sociopolitical conflicts that escalate into violence; war, intra society conflicts)
Natural Types of Disasters
Agricultural Hurricanes and tropical
diseases & storms
