ETSI TS 103 260-1 defines an earthquake disaster scenario. The scenario includes definition of the responders involved and their gross communication needs without specifying the network technologies involved. Finally the topology modelling of the responders involved is defined, in terms of their disposition in the Incident Area, their time evolution and their movements (if any).

The scenario is not generic in the sense of representing all emergencies of this type, but is intended to be a "typical" example, and thus a reference in order to allow evaluation and dimensioning of required overall emergency telecommunications.

The regulations and operating procedures for Emergency Responses vary between countries e.g. the organization responsible for the emergency can be the police, the fire and rescue organization, a dedicated organization for this purpose (e.g. civil protection) or others.

The response services defined are limited to safety-related services (i.e. not security such as law enforcement).

Casualties and personnel not active in the rescue operations (e.g. the press) have been excluded, as their communications needs are not covered by the emergency communication systems considered here, but their needs are considered in ETSI TR 102 410 [i.2].