Emergency or disaster preparedness is a programme of long-term activities whose goals are to strengthen the overall capacity and capability of a country or a community to efficiently manage all types of emergencies, and bring about an orderly transition from relief through recovery, back to sustained development. The goal of disaster preparedness is to reduce the loss of lives and suffering and to minimise the effects of a disaster.

Much effort has been made to determine how agencies can cooperate to provide effective aid to those who have experienced disaster. Recently, the focus has begun to include disaster preparedness, especially in high risk areas. Instead of waiting for a disaster to occur, communities are exploring how they could be prepared in advance.