Illustration 1.1

A disaster will occur, if a hazard causes an inpact on a vulnerable target.

Vulnerable targets are primarily societies and the infrastructures supporting them.

If either of the factors, hazard or vulnerability, has the value of zero, a disaster can not occur.

Illustration 1.2

A disaster inevitably disrupts the development process.

Disaster response often includes resources such as equipment, which will not sustainable on a longer term, if they can not be maintained and fully utilized once the emergency responders have left the affected location.

This situation might in turn lead to a deterioration of the situation.

The next illustration shows the desirable way:

Illustration 1.3

Disaster response should aim at allowing the continuation of a planned development process.