Disasters may represent many different types of events. Those related to weather and the earth’s geology are the most widely recognized. Recent events, though, point out that several episodes of mass destruction have their links to our own actions. The se may include industrial accidents, many episodes of famine, and significant population displacements.

The common characteristic to each of these events is their severity. These events represent extremes. We normally live with the underlying features of these events present with us every day. They become disasters when the extremes express themselves.