The Kenya National Disaster Operation Centre

There are several levels of response to disasters, from level 1 which is the least severe to level 4, which is the most severe.

Level 1: Localized emergency events dealt within the regular operating mode of the protective, emergency and health services in the district.

Level 2: Disaster Emergency events that overwhelm the capacity of the resources in the municipal/ district, but which do not overwhelm the capacity of the provincial resources to respond and recover (such zones of impact can be declared Affected Areas).

Level 3: Disaster Emergency events that requires the mobilising of national resources to respond and recover (such an event may be designated as a national disaster). This will prompt seeking of assistance from other external partners.

Level 4: A Disaster Emergency event that overwhelms the existing national response capacity, thus prompting the President to declare a national disaster to seek foreign/international assistance to support the country in the response and recovery initiatives

The response of the NDOC and other collaborating response agencies depends on the severity of the disaster emergency and the type of assistance required.