A formal “disaster” can only be declared by the firm owners or by the IT Department Manager. This is false because a formal “disaster” can be declared by any authorized person who has the responsibility and authority to activate the business continuity and disaster recovery plan. The authorized person may vary depending on the type, scope, and severity of the disaster, but it should be clearly defined in the plan who can declare a disaster and under what circumstances. The authorized person should also communicate the declaration of a disaster to all relevant stakeholders, such as employees, customers, suppliers, partners, regulators, media, or the public. Verified References: https://www.ready.gov/business-continuity-plan https://www.csoonline.com/article/515730/business-continuity-and-disaster-recovery-planning-the-basics.html