There are two principal aspects of disaster preparedness. First the daily around the clock routine already existing in ambulance services, hospitals, police forces, firebrigade, voluntary humanitarian organizations, etc. These organizations are occupied daily with accidents, each within their own areas of responsibility, and often in cooperation with each other.

Where people are hurt, medical care will have priority over damage of materials and property. So resuscitation and transport are basic factors in most accidents.

Second, according to the definition of disaster, the problems created by accidents of various types will exceed these daily operating resources. The community must take extraordinary steps to provide rescue and first aid to the victims, and provide fire control, police control, transportation, etc.