An emergency (or disruptive challenge) as defined in the Civil
Contingencies Act 2004 is a situation or series of events that threatens or causes serious damage to human welfare, the environment or security in the United Kingdom. This definition covers a wide range of scenarios including, for example, adverse weather, severe flooding, animal diseases, terrorist incidents and the impact of a disruption on essential services and critical infrastructure.
The Principles of Emergency Management in the UK have arrangements that build on the roles of the Lead Government Department and the devolved administrations which, along with local responders, form the foundation of the response and recovery to any major emergency in the United Kingdom.