Coping with Disaster discusses emergency preparedness and disaster management at the city-wide or larger level. It defines a disaster as an unexpected calamity that overwhelms normal coping mechanisms, requiring extraordinary measures. A disaster risks significant human suffering and economic losses. Developing an effective disaster response plan involves assessing risks and available resources. The plan should address different disaster scenarios, objectives, tasks, responsibilities, and needs like supplies, logistics, funding, and communication systems. Rehearsals help ensure those involved maintain skills and improve any issues in the plan.