An emergency is any unplanned event that can cause deaths or significant injuries to the public; or that can disrupt operations, cause physical or environmental damage, or threaten the financial standing of businesses and institutions. Obviously, numerous events can be “emergencies,” including:
• Wildfires
• Hazardous materials incidents
• Floods or flash floods
• Severe thunderstorms
• Tornadoes
• Winter storms
• Earthquakes
• Communications, public transportation, or electricity failures
• Radiological accidents
• Civil disturbances, terrorism, war
• Loss of key suppliers
• Explosions
