PIARC C18 started its first term of activities in 2000, conducting two International Surveys, two International Seminars in Chile and Hungary, and a detailed Study on Risk Prevention and Management. This report is a compilation of essential findings and valuable information gathered through its activities of seminars and surveys. Its purpose is to give an overview about risk and crisis management indicating a general approach to methodology and describing the main activities of these processes. The major emphasis is given to risk management activities; this should facilitate setting up practical organisations, defining manuals and pointing out particular aspects of communication, cost-benefit models, funding, insurance, legal framework, etc. The same approach is followed for crisis management, stressing the actions and their practical outcome during and after a disaster occurence. The recommendations included in the report are about preventative measures, establishing methods / tools for risk identification, analysis, evaluation and treatment. Recent examples of natural and man-made disasters illustrate the complexity in dealing with these events.