Disaster response

Disaster response is the coordinated action taken during and after a disaster to protect people, meet urgent needs, and limit further harm.

Incident command system: A standardized structure for coordinating personnel and resources during an emergency. It assigns roles and creates a shared command structure across responding organizations.
Emergency management: The organization of efforts to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. Disaster response is one phase within this broader cycle of public action.
Evacuation: The organized movement of people away from places threatened by danger. Authorities use evacuation when remaining in place exposes people to immediate danger.
Disaster recovery: The process of restoring communities, services, livelihoods, and infrastructure after a disaster. Recovery follows urgent response, though the two phases often overlap.
Emergency alert system: A system for distributing urgent warnings and instructions to the public. Timely alerts help people avoid hazards and follow protective instructions.
Disaster risk reduction: Policies and measures that reduce disaster risks and their damaging effects. Reducing underlying risk can limit the scale and complexity of response.
Mass care: The provision of shelter, food, water, and related support to affected populations. Mass care addresses basic needs for large groups during displacement and disruption.
Displacement: The forced movement of people from their homes or habitual places of residence. Evacuations and destroyed housing can create immediate and prolonged displacement.
Search and rescue: The organized search for and removal of people from dangerous or inaccessible places. Rescue teams locate and extract people trapped or cut off by the disaster.
Emergency operations plan: A documented framework assigning responsibilities and procedures for emergency action. Plans establish how agencies coordinate before an incident disrupts normal operations.

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