RESUMO
Disaster, whether natural or man-made, usually are unpredictable. Efforts to reduce morbidity and mortality from a disaster should be put forth before it occurs. the disaster preparedness and reposnse for Anhui Province, the hardest hit area, is summarized. The preparedness was comprehensive and cooperation was achived among various specialties: military forces; firefighters, civil, engineers, mechanics, police, provincial governors, the medical sectors and so forth. The measures undertaken by the medical sector included development of an organization to reduce the impact of disaster, training of medical personnel in techniques of rescue and in treatment of victims in disaster areas; and maintaining sufficient cappacity in general hospitals for the admission of victims from disaster areas (AU)
