The Indian subcontinent is very vulnerable to droughts, floods, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, avalanches and forest fires. Among the 36 states and Union territories in the country, 22 are prone to disasters.

Disaster management is a multidisciplinary area in which a wide range of issues that range from forecasting, warning, evacuation, search and rescue, relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation are included. It is also multi-sectoral as it involves administrators, scientists, planners, volunteers and communities. These roles and activities span the pre-disaster, during disaster and post disaster plans. Since their activities are complementary as well as supplementary to each other there is a critical need for coordinating these activities.