national disaster

American  

[nash-uhn-uhl-di-zas-ter] / ˈnæʃ ən əl dɪˈzæs tər /

noun

national disasters plural

1. a disaster, especially a natural disaster, such as a flood, hurricane, or earthquake, that affects a large portion of a nation or requires the resources and powers of a national government to address it.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• national disasters
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

national disaster

Indonesia's national disaster agency, meanwhile, instructed officials in the North Sulawesi capital, Manado, northern Gorontalo province and the Sangihe islands "to immediately direct their residents to evacuate in an orderly manner to higher ground".

From Barron's ● Jun. 8, 2026

Mozambique has declared a red alert in the wake of the devastating floods while South Africa has announced a national disaster.

From BBC ● Jan. 19, 2026

Prabowo has also so far ignored calls to declare it a national disaster, which would unlock emergency funds and streamline relief efforts.

From BBC ● Dec. 25, 2025

Extreme weather has lashed North Sumatra for several days, flooding parts of the Tapanuli Selatan district since Monday, according to the national disaster agency, BNPB.

From Barron's ● Nov. 26, 2025

Even the burning fire of the national disaster at Bull Run left the egg unhatched.

From Diary from March 4, 1861, to November 12, 1862 by De Gurowski, Adam G., count