Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 June 2012
Natural and man-made disasters continue to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Natural disasters include earthquakes, storms such as hurricanes, floods, fires, drought. Man-made disasters include fires, explosions, chemical and radioactive releases, major transportation accidents, terrorism, and war. The effects of disaster include injury, death, damage to infrastructure, environmental exposure, population movement, and increased incidence of communicable diseases.