Disaster Preparedness
The Four Phases of Emergency Management
Mitigation: Preventing future emergencies or minimizing their effects
Includes any activities that prevent an emergency, reduce the chance of an emergency happening, or reduce the damaging effects of unavoidable emergencies.- Buying flood and fire insurance for your home is a mitigation activity.
- Mitigation activities take place before and after emergencies..
Response: Responding safely to an emergency
Includes actions taken to save lives and prevent further property damage in an emergency situation. Response is putting your preparedness plans into action.- Seeking shelter from a tornado or turning off gas valves in an earthquake are both response activities.
- Response activities take place during an emergency
Preparedness: Preparing to handle an emergency
Includes plans or preparations made to save lives and to help response and rescue operations.- Evacuation plans and stocking food and water are both examples of preparedness.
- Preparedness activities take place before an emergency occurs..
Recovery: Recovering from an emergency
Includes actions taken to return to a normal or an even safer situation following an emergency.- Recovery includes getting financial assistance to help pay for the repairs.
- Recovery activities take place after an emergency