In disaster planning, which term describes the ability to determine when and whether a disaster will occur?

• A. Predictability
• B. Frequency
• C. Mitigation
• D. Imminence

Answer: (A)

Forecasting disasters is what this question is about—the ability to forecast if and when a disaster will occur. The best term for that is predictability, because it describes how well we can anticipate the timing and occurrence of a hazard. This capability is what drives planning, early warning systems, and resource readiness.

Frequency looks at how often disasters happen overall in a area, not the timing of a specific event. Mitigation refers to actions taken to lessen impact before or during a disaster, not the ability to forecast. Imminence deals with how near in time a threat is, which speaks to immediacy rather than the broader capacity to predict occurrence.