ABSTRACT
There are significant differences in the way individuals, communities and nations interpret and think about disasters, and their management and consequences. This has the potential to cause confusion, particularly in the event of a multi-agency, multijurisdictional or multi-national response. Disaster management training is tactical based, often without an in-depth understanding of the underpinning philosophy, doctrine or principles that guide management strategies. This has the potential to weaken confidence in those strategies. Whilst the core principles are debatable, having a sound doctrinal and philosophical basis for disaster management is more likely to ensure consistency of practice and to augment cohesion within and between response agencies.
