Disaster Preparedness

The Four Phases of Emergency Management

Mitigation: Preventing future emergencies or minimizing their effects

  • disaster-preparedness-1-500x350Includes 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

  • disaster-preparedness-2-500x350Includes 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

  • disaster-preparedness-3-500x350Includes 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

  • disaster-preparedness-4-500x350Includes 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