An emergency is an urgent, unexpected, and usually dangerous situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property, or environment and requires immediate action. Emergencies can be caused by natural disasters, technological failures, or human-caused incidents. Some key features of an emergency include:

• Urgency: Emergencies require immediate action to remedy harm or avert imminent danger to life, health, or property.

• Seriousness: Emergencies are often serious and unexpected, and can cause great damage or loss of life.

• Impact: Emergencies can have a significant impact on individuals, communities, and the environment.

• Definition: The precise definition of an emergency, the agencies involved, and the procedures used vary by jurisdiction and are usually set by the government, whose agencies (emergency services) are responsible for emergency planning and management.

Examples of emergencies include natural disasters such as severe weather, technological failures such as fires, and human-caused incidents such as accidents or terrorist attacks. Emergency plans are designed to deal with unexpected and sudden incidents that have a significant impact and require immediate action.