Definition of Emergency

The dictionary meaning of emergency is sudden, unexpected, or impending situation that may cause injury, loss of life, damage to the property, or interference with the normal activities of a person or firm and which, therefore, requires immediate attention and remedial action. While some emergencies are self evident such as a natural disaster that threatens many lives, many smaller incidents require the subjective opinion of an observer or affected party in order to decide whether it qualifies as an emergency. The precise definition of an emergency, the agencies involved and the procedures used, vary by jurisdiction, and this is usually set by the government, whose agencies emergency services are responsible for emergency planning and management.

In a word, emergency may be defined as an unexpected occurrence; an event not unusual or foreseen unforeseen combination of circumstances which calls for immediate action.

Classification of Emergency

From the view point of territorial extent emergency may be if two types- national Emergency and partial or state Emergency.

When emergency is declared, whatever may be the reason behind the declaration, throughout the whole territory of the state, it is called national emergency. On the other hand, when emergency is declared in a particular area of a unitary state or in a state of a federation, it is partial or state emergency. 

On the basis of its nature emergency may be of following types-

i) Emergency of War

When emergency is declared as a result of war or external aggression, it is called emergency of war. 

ii) Emergency of Subversion

When emergency is declared due to internal disturbances within the state e.g. to suppress civil war or any anti–government movement or a riot in any particular area if the country or to face any natural disaster, it is called emergency of subversion. For example, in Bangladesh emergency was declared four times due to internal disturbance.

iii) Economic Emergency

When emergency is declared with a view to overcoming a situation in which the economy if the state is about to breakdown or has broken down, it is called economic emergency. It is worthy of notice here that from the broader point of view economic emergency should be included in emergency of subversion but constitutions and laws of some countries provide specifically, on addition to emergency of subversion, for the economic or financial emergency.