World Physiotherapy recognises that disasters resulting from natural, environmental, and technological hazards (including biological, geological, hydrometeorological, and socio-natural hazards) have a major and long-lasting impact on people and the countries/territories in which they live. Physiotherapists should contribute to national and local disasterDisaster: A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources. View full list of glossary terms preparedness and management strategies.