Definition: A disaster is defined, for the purposes of this event, as any natural or man-made event that causes significant loss of life, destruction of property, or economic cost. (Each disaster must have occurred in a state of the United States at the time of the event.)

Man-made disasters includes: terrorism, science and technology, military events on the homefront, environmental, fires, financial, or accidents.

Natural disasters includes: disease, weather, volcanoes, earthquakes, tornadoes, drought, hurricanes, lightning fires, floods or accidents, fires