Disasters come in many forms:
- Geological disasters: avalanches and landslides, earthquakes, sinkholes, volcanic eruptions
- Hydrological disasters: floods, tsunamis, limnic eruptions
- Meteorological disasters: hailstones, cyclonic storms, blizzards, ice storms, cold waves, heat waves, droughts, tornadoes, thunder storms
- Wildfires: can be caused by lightning, drought, human negligence, arson
- Space disasters: Asteroids that impact the Earth, solar flares
- Societal hazards: war, terrorism, riots, massacres, civil disorder, criminality, stampedes, industrial hazards, waste disposal, nuclear war, shooting sprees
- Hazardous materials: toxic metals, radioactive materials, systemic, broad-spectrum glyphosate-based herbicides
- Transportation: air, rail, road, sea, spaceflight
- Environmental emergencies: oil spills, air pollution, air pollution, smog, nuclear explosion/nuclear radiation, hazardous gases
- Biological disasters: epidemic, pandemic, famine, insect swarms
- Engineering disasters: structural collapse, mast and tower collapse, failure due to fatigue
- Electromagnetic fields (EMR), at power lines and radio frequencies (RF)
Post-disasters have a human element. These aftermaths impact the individual physical, mental and emotional health plus the devastating effect on the environment.
Integrated management by countries and organizations help coordinate humanitarian aspects that cover prevention, preparedness, relief, and recovery to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people.
While these traumatic and other stressful life events can be challenging, we need to foster a culture of peace around the world.