A disaster is a sudden, calamitous event that seriously disrupts the functioning of a community or society and causes human, material, and economic or environmental losses that exceed the community’s or society’s ability to cope using its own resources. Though often caused by nature, disasters can have human origins (UNISDR) As per the Disaster Management Act 2005, a disaster is defined as “a casastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area, arising from natural or man-made cause, or by accident or negligence which results in substantial loss of life or human suffering or damage to, and destruction of property, or damage to, or degradation of, environment, and is of such a nature or magnitude as to be beyond the coping capacity of the community of the affected area” Disasters produce a range of impacts; these include direct, secondary and indirect effects. Direct effects include deaths, injuries and physical damage. However, secondary disaster impacts such as releasing fire or hazardous material that is triggered by disasters. Finally, impacts include the ripple effect resulting from the flow of goods, services, unemployment etc. Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir, has constituted Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Unit at Divisional level.In case of any disruption on account of damage to the infrastructure or inability to access the site at the Old secretariat the directorate will keep a first standby site ready at the DEPH Building, Barzulla. Alternate site (if required) will be planned at the JLNM Hospital Srinagar. The sites so identified should preferably be housed in the upper floors. A clear space in the vicinity should be made available for parking of vehicles and accessible to heavy motor vehicles. This parking space should be properly street lit. A comprehensive plan is framed and published by this Directorate as well as all District Hospitals of Kashmir Division for combating disasters. The Epidemiologist Kashmir will be responsible for maintaining the alternate office site atBarzulla and the Medical Superintendent JLNM will identify and earmark a site at JLNM Hospital.