By definition disaster is result of upset of balance between vulnerability and threats. The main elements what have influence on the vulnerability and threats are shown on the slide. Emergency response is set of activities targeted to cope with disaster consequences.

Two elements are essential in the formulation of risk for disaster occurrence: a potential damaging event, phenomenon or human activity which is called hazard and the degree of susceptibility of the elements exposed to that threat which is called vulnerability.

Capacity building elements are noticed in the yellow box on the right side of the slide. All those elements are part of the preparedness planning. Preparedness planning is the most important pre-event phases of disaster cycle.