Preparedness functions in disaster: lesson learned from Tehran dust storm 2014

Iran is exposed to a wide variety of natural hazards. Dust storms mainly occur in the east of Iran. However, in June 2014, a powerful dust storm brought winds to Tehran, Iran. It killed 5 and injured 82 people in the capital of Iran. This brief incident report highlights the characteristics of this powerful dust storm. It then provides the summary of lessons learned with the approach of preparedness functions for this incident. The preparedness functions focus on strategic cooperation with stakeholders, risk assessment and early warning system, emergency operations plan, training, exercise, and drill. The most important point in this incident was the lack of an early warning system. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015