ABSTRACT
Environmental health emergencies, disasters, weather-related incidents, and acts of terrorism create situations where normal problems are intensified, existing environmental health problems are magnified, and new problems are created. The level of concern varies with the scope and nature of the situation which has occurred. For instance, a fire in a food warehouse would be an emergency, whereas an uncontrolled wildfire would be a disaster. (See Sub-Problems Including Leading to Impairment, and Best Practices for Environmental Health and Protection Emergencies, Disasters, and Special Issues section below for specific environmental concerns regarding food, water, housing, sewage disposal, solid waste, etc. These specific problems and Best Practices relate to most of the industrial accidents leading to disasters, natural disasters, and acts of terrorism discussed in this chapter and therefore to avoid repetition are being put in one special section.)
