Final answer:
A rapid-onset disaster is exemplified by an earthquake due to its sudden occurrence and potential for extensive environmental disturbance and impacts on human communities.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of a rapid-onset disaster is a) An earthquake. Earthquakes occur with little to no warning and can cause significant environmental disturbance, including changes to the landscape, destruction of buildings, and loss of life. They are sudden events compared to other disasters like hurricanes, which usually offer some warning as they develop over time. Earthquakes are natural phenomena that result from the movement of the Earth's tectonic plates and can lead to other related environmental changes, such as tsunamis, which can amplify their destructiveness.