A disaster is a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.

The concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts to analyze and manage the causal factors of disasters, including through reduced exposure to hazards, lessened vulnerability of people and property, wise management of land and the environment, and improved preparedness for adverse events.

The systematic process of using administrative directives, organizations, and operational skills and capacities to implement strategies, policies and improved coping capacities in order to lessen the adverse impacts of hazards and the possibility of disaster.

A methodology to determine the nature and extent of risk by analyzing potential hazards and evaluating existing conditions of vulnerability that together could potentially harm exposed people, property, services, livelihoods and the environment on which they depend.

It is an organized course of events that addresses all phases of incident control within a specified time. An IAP is necessary to effect successful outcomes in any situation, especially emergency operations, in a timely manner.

i. Emergency Management Specialist,
ii. Fire Inspector/Investigator,
iii. Technological Hazards Program Specialist,
iv. Floodplain Management Specialist, etc

An emergency management plan is a course of action developed to mitigate the damage of potential events that could endanger an organization’s ability to function. Such a plan should include measures that provide for the safety of personnel and, if possible, property and facilities.

i. Prevention
ii. Mitigation
iii. Preparedness
iv. Response
v. Recovery

Hazard mitigation is sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and their property from hazards.