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EMDAT Data Entry Procedures

Source type and name: The database is compiled from various sources including UN, governmental and non-governmental agencies, insurance companies, research institutes and press agencies (see Table 2). As there can be conflicting information and figures, CRED has established a method of ranking theses sources according to their ability to provide trustworthy and complete data. In the majority of cases, a disaster will only be entered into EM-DAT if at least two sources report the disaster's occurrence in terms of people killed or affected.

The final figures in EM-DAT usually originate from the priority source, but they can also be completed by a secondary source. In certain cases, a secondary source can become the primary one. This can be the case, for example, when final figures are made available long after the disaster has occurred. Also, some sources are used for specific disasters (e.g. USGS for earthquake, WHO for epidemic).

Table 2. Main Sources used in EM-DAT. (non exhaustive)

There are five numeric variables which require exact values: killed, affected, homeless, injured and the monetary value of losses sustained.

Number of killed: Persons confirmed dead and persons missing and presumed dead (the number of missing is included when the figure becomes official).

Recording procedure: The number of killed includes the number of missing, with the breakdown information (exact number killed and number missing) being put in the comments field.

Number of injured: The number of injured is entered when the term “injured” is written in the source. The injured are always part of the "total affected". Any related word like “hospitalized” is considered as injured.

Recording procedure: It is sometime unclear whether the estimates reported include those people receiving ambulatory care provided at the site of the disaster, as well as those who were removed to a hospital. The EM-DAT procedure is to register all injuries for disasters such as earthquakes, windstorms or slides which invariably cause acute physical injuries. For disasters such as droughts or epidemics, there are no recorded injuries, only the number of dead and affected. In the case of epidemics, the people who have contracted the disease are entered as “affected”. If there is no precise number, such as “hundreds of injured”, 200 injured will be entered (although it is probably an underestimate). If there is a range of numbers, the average will be taken. Any other specification will be written in the comments field.

Number of affected: People requiring immediate assistance during an emergency situation. They are always part of the "total affected" population.

Recording procedure: Reports from the field usually give the number of individuals that are affected. If only the number of families or households is reported, the figure is multiplied by the average family size for the affected area (5 for developing countries, 3 for industrialised countries - according to the UNDP country list). Any other specification will be written in the comments field.

Exemples:
• Fifty families affected in developing country: 50 x 5 = 250 people affected (although it is probably an underestimate)
• If the value ranges from a minimum to a maximum: the average is taken
• Thousands of affected: 2000 affected is entered (although it is probably an underestimate)

Number of homeless: People needing immediate assistance with shelter. They are always part of the "total affected" population.

Recording procedure: Reports from the field usually give the number of individuals that are homeless. If only the number of families or houses is reported, the figure is multiplied by the average family size for the affected area (5 for the developing countries, 3 for the industrialised countries - according to the UNDP country list). Any other specification will be written in the comments field.

Exemples:
• Fifty houses destroyed in developed country: 50 x 3 = 150 homeless (although it is probably an underestimate)
• If the value range from a minimum to a maximum : the average is taken
• Thousands of homeless = 2000 homeless in entered (although it is probably an underestimate)

Total affected: The total affected is the sum of injured, affected and homeless.

Total estimated damages (in 000'US$): A value of all damages and economic losses directly or indirectly related to the disaster.

Recording procedure: Although several institutions have developed methodologies to quantify financial losses for specific economic sectors, up to now no standard procedure exists to determine a global figure for the economic impact. The value is given in thousands (‘000) at the date the disaster occurred. Breakdown figures for direct/indirect losses and by sectors are given when the information is available.

Reconstruction cost (in 000'US$): These costs (in 000'US$) are for the replacement of lost assets. Reconstruction costs are different than total damages as they must take into account present construction or purchase costs of goods, as well as the additional cost of prevention and mitigation measures to reduce damage from future disasters.

Insured losses (in 000'US$): Economic damages which are covered by the insurance industry.

Disaster impact: The infrastructure that was damaged or destroyed, given in absolute values or percentages.

Houses (number)
Bridges (number)
Commercial/business (number)
Roads (km)
Rails (km)
Education (number of schools)
Health (numbers of health centers/hospitals)
Forest (ha)
Farmland/crops (ha)

Disaster impact: Check box specifying the different sectors affected.

Animals
Industry
Electricity
Water supply/sanitation
Communications
Cultural infrastructure
Transportation
Other

Comments: This field includes all other relevant information related to the event:
• Any specification related to the official number of dead and missing persons (e.g. 340 dead + 1000 missing)
• Other relevant information related to people recorded killed, injured, homeless, affected and the breakdown of the estimated damages
• Miscellaneous information related the event (e.g. worst disaster in the region for the last decade).