This article discusses the significance of disaster resulting from natural phenomena for people and societies in the developing world. It examines the need to develop planning and management techniques and skills so that disaster‐prone countries can be ready to meet the challenge of disaster, and thus mitigate the distress which it brings to those least equipped to withstand it. It concludes by making proposals for the expansion of the training of public servants in developing countries to embrace pre‐disaster planning and disaster management. It suggests that this is the most rapid, effective and economical way of meeting the disaster threat.