EM-DAT aims to rationalize decision-making for disaster preparedness through the provision of historical data. It contains essential core data on the occurrence and effects of over 22,000 mass disasters in the world from 1900 to the present day, that is compiled from various sources, including UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, insurance companies, research institutes and press agencies. The data covers both the human impact of disasters, as well as the economic impacts, and disaster specific international aid contributions.
The included hazards are categorized according to the Disaster Loss Data (DATA) Peril Classification and Hazard Glossary by Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR). This aims to standardise the definitions and classifications of disasters and is used in several databases:
• Geophysical – earthquake, mass movement, volcanic activity
• Hydrological – flood, landslide, wave action
• Meteorological – convective storm, extratropical storm, extreme temperature, fog, tropical cyclone
• Climatological – drought, glacial lake outburst, wildfire
• Biological – animal accident, disease, insect infestation
• Extra-terrestrial – impact, severe weather
For each disaster, the main following information is stored:
• Disaster number (unique number assigned to each event)
• Country (or countries) in which the disaster has occurred
• Disaster type (15 types and over 30 sub-types of natural disaster, 15 types of technological disaster)
• Date of occurrence
• Number of deaths
• Number of people who are missing and presumed dead
• Total deaths: sum of death and missing
• Number of people injured
• Number of people made homeless
• Number of people affected (Total affected (sum of injured, homeless, and affected)
• Estimated Damage