EM-DAT, managed by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), is a global database that tracks and documents disasters. Established in 1988, EM-DAT provides reliable and historical data to improve decision-making for disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response efforts. It serves as a critical resource for researchers, policymakers, and humanitarian organizations worldwide.

The database covers a wide array of natural and technological disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, storms, industrial accidents, and public health emergencies like pandemics. With over 26,000 recorded events dating back to 1900, EM-DAT offers comprehensive insights into disaster trends, their impacts on human lives, and economic losses.

1. Extensive Historical Coverage: EM-DAT provides a detailed record of global disasters since 1900. Each entry includes:

• Location and Date: Precise geographical and temporal information.
• Magnitude: Intensity of the disaster (e.g., Richter scale for earthquakes).
• Human Impact: Deaths, injuries, affected populations, and displaced persons.
• Economic Losses: Estimates of damages to property and infrastructure.

2. Wide Range of Disaster Categories: EM-DAT categorizes disasters into:

• Natural Disasters: Earthquakes, floods, droughts, storms, volcanic eruptions, etc.
• Technological Disasters: Industrial accidents, transport accidents, and oil spills.
• Public Health Emergencies: Pandemics and epidemics like COVID-19 or Ebola.

3. Freely Accessible Data for Non-Commercial Use: EM-DAT is freely accessible to researchers, students, and organizations for non-commercial purposes, ensuring that valuable information is widely available to support disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts.

4. Evidence-Based Decision Support: The database supports:

• Risk Assessments: Identifying vulnerable regions and populations.
• Policy Development: Informing strategies for disaster preparedness and mitigation.
• Resilience Building: Crafting data-driven programs to improve community resilience.

5. User-Friendly Interface and Reports: EM-DAT offers interactive tools and downloadable reports, enabling users to explore data through charts, maps, and statistical summaries. This visualization helps stakeholders quickly grasp disaster trends and impacts.

• EM-DAT Homepage: Access the database and explore its tools.

• ReliefWeb: A comprehensive hub for disaster and humanitarian information.
• Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS): Real-time disaster monitoring and coordination.

• Climate Change and Disaster Trends
• Humanitarian Response to Disasters
• Resilience in Disaster Management

• DesInventar: Another disaster database focusing on local and regional events.
• UNDRR Knowledge Hub: Resources for disaster risk reduction and resilience.