This course is designed to introduce participants to the basic concepts and terms in disaster management to give them a basic understanding of the discipline. It is intended to provide a general concept in the dimensions of disaster preparedness, response and recovery. It covers the Barbados National Emergency Management System (NEMS) as well as the CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) System – its mandate, and the Regional Response Mechanism (RRM).