The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the agency that promotes disaster mitigation and readiness and coordinates response and recovery following the declaration of a major disaster. FEMA defines a disaster as:

"an event that results in large numbers of deaths and injuries; causes extensive damage or destruction of facilities that provide and sustain human needs; produces an overwhelming demand on state and local response resources and mechanisms; causes a severe long-term effect on general economic activity; and severely affects State, local, and private-sector capabilities to begin and sustain response activities."

Emergency managers further classify emergencies and disasters by size and the type and number of issues that need to be addressed. This classification involves minor emergencies, limited and potential emergencies, and major disasters.

Click on this link to see examples of the different classifications of emergencies and disasters.