A disaster is by definition a situation in which the resources available do not match the demands of the population impacted. This frequent reality often forces serious modifications in standards of best practice, all coping activities, and expected outcomes. Generally in most disasters, if assistance from outside is unavailable, mortality rates and disabilities are much higher than during crises which are met with adequate resources. “Disaster medicine” is population based, which is vastly different to individual-based medicine. The goal of medical care applied during disasters is to provide the best for the many, to treat only those expected to survive with treatment, and to not waste scarce resources. This means reduced quality of health care, even with optimal use of all available resources. The term “health disaster” is also used as it indicates how a disaster deteriorates health indirectly through destruction of infrastructure and societal functions.