ABSTRACT
This paper is the first of a two-part analysis of the classification, measurement, and statistics of disasters. The authors place particular emphasis on the role of socio-economic and psychological factors, both as causative agents and as dimensions of harm. Certain planning advantages have recently been claimed for a measure of disasters which is based solely on the number of fatalities produced by these events. It is shown that these claims cannot be justified. The difficulties in devising an objective measure of disasters are discussed, and the relationship with on-going debates about the assessment and acceptability of risk is noted.
