All damage requires some response. Responses are directed towards the mitigation of further damage once the impact of an event has begun and/or correcting the functional deficits created by the primary and secondary events, and restoring the functionality of the damaged elements to their respective pre-event state. Disaster responses are directed towards search and rescue, relief, recovery, and/or rehabilitation. Responses must be directed at satisfying all or part of defined needs. Implementation of responses must be coordinated through a Coordination and Control Center. Thus, all responses must be driven by clearly stated goals and objectives directed towards specific needs. The Disaster Critical Control Point (DCCP) is the time at which the available supplies balance all of the needs. Selection of appropriate indicators that reflect the severity of the damage and the effectiveness of the response in meeting its goals and objectives and the benefit to society that results is crucial. Use of appropriate indicators eventually will result in the evolution of minimum and optimum standards, and definition of functional and critical thresholds. Evolution of such standards and thresholds will lead to the development of critical pathways (process evaluation) and guidelines to be used in optimizing future responses. All of the steps from preparedness to recovery that are undertaken to minimize the damage and restore the pre-event status are the tasks of disaster management.