Response is a term that represents the ensemble of activities conducted in the face of a disaster. The goals of the response phase of disaster management are to assure the survival of the greatest possible number of affected persons, to reestablish self-sufficiency and essential services with particular attention on the most vulnerable, and to repair or replace damaged infrastructure with an eye toward sustainable development. Response requires careful planning, attracts the greatest proportion of humanitarian funding, and benefits from the largest media coverage.

Although definitions of response very, the essence is always reflexive, directed on a particular hazard or disaster, and most often, in its immediate aftermath or shortly thereafter. Response is typically used in comparison to risk reduction, elements preceding an imminent hazard or a ...