DISASTER MANAGEMENT – 60 MCQs
1. Disaster management is best defined as:
A. Relief activities only after disasters
B. Organization and planning to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters
C. Emergency medical care during disasters
D. Government response to emergencies
Answer: B
2. The primary goal of disaster management is to:
A. Eliminate all hazards
B. Reduce risks and minimize loss of life, property, and environment
C. Provide compensation after disasters
D. Increase emergency funding
Answer: B
3. Which of the following is NOT a key stakeholder in disaster management?
A. Government
B. NGOs
C. Communities
D. Only hospitals
Answer: D
4. In ancient times, disasters were mainly viewed as:
A. Technological failures
B. Acts of God
C. Climate phenomena
D. Political events
Answer: B
5. Which disaster significantly influenced global disaster management thinking in 2004?
A. Haiti earthquake
B. Japan tsunami
C. Indian Ocean tsunami
D. Hurricane Katrina
Answer: C
6. The Hyogo Framework for Action covered which period?
A. 1995–2005
B. 2000–2010
C. 2005–2015
D. 2015–2030
Answer: C
7. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction applies to:
A. 2005–2015
B. 2010–2020
C. 2015–2030
D. 2020–2040
Answer: C
8. A disaster is best described as:
A. Any natural hazard
B. A serious disruption exceeding local coping capacity
C. Any emergency situation
D. A technological accident
Answer: B
9. Hazard refers to:
A. Ability to recover after disaster
B. Probability of loss
C. Potentially damaging event or activity
D. Emergency response
Answer: C
10. Vulnerability refers to:
A. Strength of infrastructure
B. Conditions increasing susceptibility to harm
C. Disaster preparedness
D. Emergency response capacity
Answer: B
11. Disaster risk is a combination of:
A. Hazard and resilience
B. Vulnerability and preparedness
C. Hazard and vulnerability
D. Recovery and mitigation
Answer: C
12. Resilience is defined as the ability to:
A. Prevent disasters
B. Respond immediately
C. Resist, absorb, and recover from disasters
D. Provide relief supplies
Answer: C
13. Which of the following is a geological disaster?
A. Flood
B. Earthquake
C. Epidemic
D. Cyclone
Answer: B
14. Landslides are primarily caused by:
A. Wind pressure
B. Gravity
C. Volcanic activity
D. Ocean currents
Answer: B
15. The 2010 Haiti earthquake resulted in approximately:
A. 50,000 deaths
B. 100,000 deaths
C. 200,000 deaths
D. 500,000 deaths
Answer: C
16. Floods are classified as:
A. Geological disasters
B. Biological disasters
C. Hydro-meteorological disasters
D. Technological disasters
Answer: C
17. A prolonged period of deficient rainfall is known as:
A. Flood
B. Cyclone
C. Drought
D. Landslide
Answer: C
18. Cyclone Idai (2019) primarily affected:
A. Kenya
B. Mozambique
C. Haiti
D. Japan
Answer: B
19. Epidemics are defined as:
A. Diseases affecting animals only
B. Localized outbreaks within communities
C. Global disease spread
D. Non-communicable diseases
Answer: B
20. COVID-19 is classified as a:
A. Epidemic
B. Endemic
C. Pandemic
D. Zoonotic outbreak
Answer: C
21. Fire requires all the following EXCEPT:
A. Fuel
B. Heat
C. Oxygen
D. Water
Answer: D
22. Class C fires involve:
A. Paper and wood
B. Flammable liquids
C. Electrical equipment
D. Cooking oils
Answer: C
23. Which extinguisher is best for electrical fires?
A. Water
B. Foam
C. CO₂
D. Wet chemical
Answer: C
24. The PASS technique stands for:
A. Pull, Aim, Spray, Stop
B. Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
C. Push, Aim, Spray, Sweep
D. Pull, Alert, Spray, Sweep
Answer: B
25. During evacuation, lifts should:
A. Be used quickly
B. Be used by disabled persons only
C. Not be used
D. Be used with supervision
Answer: C
26. An active shooter is defined as:
A. A person threatening violence
B. An individual actively attempting to kill people using firearms
C. A criminal suspect
D. A hostage taker
Answer: B
27. The correct sequence in RUN–HIDE–FIGHT is:
A. Hide, Fight, Run
B. Fight, Run, Hide
C. Run, Hide, Fight
D. Run, Fight, Hide
Answer: C
28. Which phase of disaster management aims to avoid disasters entirely?
A. Mitigation
B. Preparedness
C. Prevention
D. Recovery
Answer: C
29. Preparedness includes all EXCEPT:
A. Emergency drills
B. Stockpiling supplies
C. Search and rescue
D. Early warning systems
Answer: C
30. Immediate life-saving actions occur during:
A. Mitigation
B. Preparedness
C. Response
D. Recovery
Answer: C
31. Long-term rebuilding and rehabilitation occur during:
A. Response
B. Recovery
C. Preparedness
D. Prevention
Answer: B
32. “Build Back Better” emphasizes:
A. Restoring old structures
B. Rebuilding to higher and safer standards
C. Faster reconstruction only
D. Emergency response
Answer: B
33. Planting trees to prevent soil erosion is an example of:
A. Preparedness
B. Response
C. Mitigation
D. Recovery
Answer: C
34. Which principle addresses all hazards and all phases?
A. Flexible
B. Progressive
C. Comprehensive
D. Risk-driven
Answer: C
35. Focusing on the most serious and likely risks reflects which principle?
A. Integrated
B. Risk-driven
C. Collaborative
D. Professional
Answer: B
36. Coordination between health, transport, and security sectors reflects:
A. Comprehensive principle
B. Progressive principle
C. Integrated principle
D. Flexible principle
Answer: C
37. Disaster management involving NGOs, communities, and private sector is:
A. Flexible
B. Professional
C. Collaborative
D. Progressive
Answer: C
38. Adapting disaster plans to rural or urban settings demonstrates:
A. Professionalism
B. Flexibility
C. Integration
D. Risk assessment
Answer: B
39. Evidence-based and ethical disaster response reflects:
A. Professional principle
B. Flexible principle
C. Progressive principle
D. Comprehensive principle
Answer: A
40. Communities are considered first responders because they:
A. Have advanced technology
B. Are present before external help arrives
C. Replace government agencies
D. Control disaster funding
Answer: B
41. GIS is mainly used in disaster management for:
A. Medical treatment
B. Mapping hazard-prone areas
C. Evacuation drills
D. Communication only
Answer: B
42. Drones are useful in disasters for:
A. Delivering medicine only
B. Crowd control
C. Rapid damage assessment
D. Training responders
Answer: C
43. Telemedicine is particularly useful during:
A. Geological disasters
B. Technological disasters
C. Health emergencies
D. Fire incidents
Answer: C
44. A major disaster challenge in Kenya is:
A. Earthquakes
B. Snowstorms
C. Recurrent droughts
D. Volcanic eruptions
Answer: C
45. Climate change increases disasters mainly by:
A. Reducing rainfall
B. Increasing disaster frequency and intensity
C. Improving preparedness
D. Reducing vulnerability
Answer: B
46. The first step in emergency response is:
A. Providing first aid
B. Evacuation
C. Assessing the situation
D. Calling police
Answer: C
47. Personal safety during emergencies means:
A. Saving victims first
B. Avoiding all actions
C. Not putting responders at risk
D. Waiting for authorities
Answer: C
48. The 4W+CT principle is used when:
A. Conducting drills
B. Evacuating victims
C. Calling emergency services
D. Providing first aid
Answer: C
49. Which is NOT part of the 4W+CT principle?
A. Who
B. Where
C. Why
D. Time
Answer: C
50. First aid aims primarily to:
A. Cure injuries
B. Stabilize victims until help arrives
C. Replace medical care
D. Transport victims
Answer: B
51. During evacuation, priority should be given to:
A. Staff members
B. Children, elderly, and disabled
C. Security personnel
D. Visitors
Answer: B
52. Psychological support is most important during:
A. Preparedness
B. Response
C. Recovery
D. Mitigation
Answer: C
53. Emergency kits should include all EXCEPT:
A. Water
B. First aid supplies
C. Television
D. Flashlight
Answer: C
54. Disaster drills mainly help to:
A. Reduce funding needs
B. Improve panic response
C. Test readiness and coordination
D. Eliminate hazards
Answer: C
55. Hurricane Katrina highlighted gaps mainly in:
A. Recovery
B. Preparedness
C. Mitigation
D. Prevention
Answer: B
56. Japan’s 2011 disaster demonstrated:
A. Poor preparedness
B. Weak governance
C. Importance of resilience
D. Lack of technology
Answer: C
57. Drought in ASAL regions mainly leads to:
A. Industrial accidents
B. Famine and food insecurity
C. Landslides
D. Tsunamis
Answer: B
58. Disaster management is continuous because:
A. Disasters never end
B. It involves a cyclical process
C. Recovery is permanent
D. Response is constant
Answer: B
59. Weak coordination among agencies leads to:
A. Faster response
B. Reduced disaster impact
C. Inefficient disaster management
D. Improved communication
Answer: C
60. Effective disaster management requires:
A. Government action only
B. Community action only
C. Integrated effort of all stakeholders
D. International aid only
Answer: C