What is the minimum number of patients that defines a disaster?

A disaster is typically defined by the overwhelming number of casualties and the subsequent need for emergency response resources that exceeds the normal capabilities of local facilities. In various emergency management frameworks, a significant threshold is established to identify when a situation escalates to a disaster level, which often requires coordinated multi-agency response and support.

In this context, the definition of a disaster is set at a minimum of 100 patients. This figure is representative of the scale of impact that necessitates extraordinary efforts from emergency services and resources that might not be available within the immediate community. The classification helps distinguish between routine emergency incidents and those that severely strain the capacity of local healthcare resources, making the response more complex and coordinated. Therefore, scenarios involving 100 or more patients are vital in applying disaster protocols effectively to manage the crisis efficiently.