It occurs in the first few weeks after the disaster has taken place, and focuses on rescuing victims, providing them with temporary shelter, health care, counseling and mental health services, clothing, food and water, and foster care. This stage is usually accomplished by emergency aid agencies. these agencies concentrate on completing the following tasks:
1. Mobilizing resources, supplies, and personnel quickly
2. Dealing with communication systems that are destroyed, damaged, or strained during the disaster, such as telegraph poles and telephone line
3. Ensuring that essential services such as health care, food, and shelter reach those in need
