The United Nations designated the period between 1990-1999 as the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR). Under the umbrella of IDNDR, experts from many fields began to shape the global framework for disaster risks and their management. Of particular relevance was the introduction of several concepts related to disaster-risk, including hazard, vulnerability, exposure, and risk; as well as the need to reduce disaster-risks for a more sustainable development of communities worldwide.