Disasters-Definitions and effects
The definition of disaster is variable and usually reflects the nature and focus of the organization or individuals defining it. According to the more complete definition, ‘Disaster’ is defined as a crisis situation causing wide spread damage which far exceeds our ability to recover. A more focused definition generally accepted by the specialty of emergency medicine is: when the number of patients presenting within a given time period are such that the emergency department cannot provide care for them without assistance. With this definition, events that result in mass death roll are excluded[11].
But regardless of the given definition we conclude that there cannot be a perfect ideal system that prevents damage, because then it would not be a disaster. It has to suffocate our ability to recover. Only then it can be called as ‘disaster’. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) refers that the term “disaster” is usually applied to a breakdown in the normal functioning of a community that has a significant adverse impact on people, their works, and their environment, overwhelming local response capacity. This situation may be the result of a natural event—say, a hurricane or earthquake—or it may be the result of human activity[12].