On February 27, 2010, south-central Chile was struck by a powerful earthquake, which was then followed by a tsunami. At 8.8 on the Richter scale, the earthquake affected six of the most densely populated regions of Chile, where 80% of the nation's people are concentrated. Of these 11,944,188 people, 422,267 were affected, with the death toll reaching 565 (Arenas, Lagos, Flidalgo, 2010, p. 2). Vast areas of cities were largely destroyed, thousands of houses collapsed, seaports ruined, highways wrecked; the land was left without food, water, electricity, fuel, or communications. Pillaging ensued, and curfews were set (Ministerio de Planificacion-PNUD, 2014; OPS, 2010). Five years after the catastrophe, little has been done in investigating and debating how well the municipalities responded to the disaster. Little is known about their capability at governing and handling such a crisis. A similar paucity of interest has been shown toward the instruments and devices available to the local authorities to help them face situations of natural disasters. Indeed, the hazards and the crises due to natural disasters, at least in Chile, have been insufficiently recognised as objects of research in fields such as Political Science or Public Administration despite the fact that earthquakes and tidal waves have altered the course of history in the nation. (fragment of text)