1         c); human suffering can not be quantified in "numbers" such as the number of people affected, a "disaster declaration" by a government has in most cases only the purpose to invoke certain specific administrative measures, and sudden occurrence characterizes all emergencies.

2         b); hazards as well as vulnerabilities need to be considered, hazards causing natural disasters can in most cases not be eliminated, but eliminating hazards can often prevent man-made disasters.

3         b); institutional responders need to be alerted - this is typically one of the first actions of anyone at the site of an emergency, by definition a disaster are a special case of an emergency, and trained volunteers are just as qualified to respond as professionals are.

4         d); horizontal and vertical lines of communication are equally important, horizontal information exchange among rescuers on-site is a key element of safety and efficient cooperation, vertical information exchange follows hierarchical structures and ensures the flow of reports, instructions, and feedback.