What is defined as a significant hazard event that disrupts a community's normal functioning?

A disaster is characterized as a significant hazard event that disrupts the normal functioning of a community. This definition captures the essence of a disaster as it extends beyond mere emergencies or incidents, which may not involve extensive disruption or may be managed locally without wider consequences.

In contrast to other terms, a disaster typically leads to a considerable impact on the affected community, often necessitating external assistance for recovery and reconstruction. This can include natural disasters like earthquakes or floods as well as man-made events like industrial accidents.

While emergencies and crises may involve urgent responses, they do not necessarily encompass the broader, disruptive scale implied by a disaster. An emergency might be contained or resolved quickly, while a crisis suggests a critical situation that demands immediate action but does not always involve the systemic disruption characterized by a disaster. An incident, on the other hand, generally refers to a specific occurrence that might not imply widespread impact or the loss of community functionality.

Thus, the term disaster accurately reflects an event with substantial repercussions for communities, including loss of life, property, and a halt to normal services and governance.