CONCEPT: Emergency

Emergency: In addition to the conceptualization of an emergency given above in connection with the notion of Disaster, we can see an emergency as any out of the ordinary event which threatens to do harm or actually does harm to human well-being, life and property; or to the natural environment. All disasters are emergencies, but not all emergencies are disasters. 

Another definition, once offered by FEMA to a business gathering, is that an emergency is: "any unplanned [we may add, or planned] event that can cause deaths or significant injuries to employees, customers or the public; or that can shut down your business, disrupt operations, cause physical or environmental damage, or threaten the facility's financial or public image."

FEMA's examples of emergency events -- which have served as an initial point of reference for many individuals and organizations just getting into the more conceptual aspects of their work -- include: fire, hazardous material incident, flood or flash flood, hurricane, tornado, winter storm, earthquake, communications failure, radiological incident, civil disturbance, loss of key supplier or customer and explosion.

UNHCR (2000: 4), true to its global mandate, defines Refugee Emergency as "any situation in which the life or well-being of refugees will be threatened unless immediate and appropriate action is taken, and which demands an extraordinary response and exceptional measures."