Different natural disasters and man-made disasters are occurring in the world. This paper aims to show the importance of adjusting urban areas to disaster risks and research the possibilities that can be used to control different risks. After defining the basic concept - catastrophe, this paper covers different types of catastrophes. It also explains the features of natural disasters and the anthropogenic influence on the environment. Within the frame of urban development, the concept and the role of the city as drivers of growth is explained. This is followed by strategic planning of urban development, sustainable development, the challenges of urban development, and sustainable urban development. A separate chapter explores the Cohesion Policy of the European Union. To better explain the topic, the chapter starts from the main strategic document of the European Union - Europe 2020 - followed by the European Structural and Investment Funds and the European Union Solidarity Fund. The analysis of the implementation of the Cohesion Policy determines its ability to directly influence on the cities, the importance of politics in adapting to climate change and risk management. Cohesion Policy instruments also encourage sustainable urban development and the creation of resilient cities. The chapter on the adjustment of urban areas to disaster risks is the backbone of the paper. It encompasses disaster risks and disaster risk assessment in the Republic of Croatia which includes the risk assessment of major accidents using the City of Pula as an example. An important part is a subchapter on disaster risk reduction as well as urban resilience and the adjustment of cities to disaster risks. The final part of the paper analyzes the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is an emphasis on the research of the socio-economic consequences of the pandemic in Croatia through selected indicators as well as the response of the European Union to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is followed by a personal overview of the adaptation of cities to the consequences of the pandemic. The comparison of different examples throughout the paper leads to the conclusion that disaster risk reduction always begins with a risk assessment. It is also necessary to define a risk reduction strategy and be familiar with various instruments that can be used to mitigate or prevent risks (including the options offered by the European Union). The conclusions also suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic brought about a series of changes. Although the negative effects of the pandemic are numerous, there is an opposite, encouraging perspective, applying the concept of resilience. Urban adaptation to disaster risks is inevitable.