Theoretically, independent actions or the failure of a single component may result in negative consequences to other components and system effectiveness may be significantly impaired, particularly following an event of magnitude. It has been stated that the transitional period from peak to threshold, or onset and reaction is represented by chaos and that chaos is the transitional phase between routine and extraordinary response. In this case, from an in- tact emergency management system to a fragmented system where agency communication failure and critical facility loss has occurred. Chaos is predictably unpredictable, events are not completely random and outcome is sensitive to initial conditions. Since time of intervention is unpredictable, outcomes will vary, the decision-maker becomes part of the system and chosen courses of action will change the catastrophe.
Catastrophes occur in open systems.
Our knowledge of the system is always partial, approximate at best and objects and events do not conform precisely to mathematical models. Therefore, catastrophe cannot be measured to degree yet it will exist. There is multivalence in catastrophe to degree and to attribute. Catastrophe can be from physical, social or medical threat dimensions and varying degrees along each dimension. It then follows that the ability for assets to respond and bring control to catastrophe is also multivalent.