Phases of Emergency Management

Disaster Phases - Prepare, Response, Recovery, MitigateMitigation

Mitigation is about preventing future emergencies or minimizing their effects.

  • Buying flood and fire insurance for your home is a mitigation activity
  • Includes any activities that prevent an emergency, reduce the chance of an emergency happening, or reduce the damaging effects of unavoidable emergencies
  • Mitigation activities take place before and after emergencies

Preparedness

Preparedness includes activities designed to prepare to handle an emergency.

  • Evacuation plans and stocking food and water are both examples of preparedness
  • Includes plans or preparations made to save lives and to help response and rescue operations
  • Preparedness activities take place before an emergency occurs

Response

Response involves handling an emergency.

  • Includes actions taken to save lives and prevent further property damage in an emergency situation
  • Response activities take place during an emergency
  • 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

Recovery

Recovery covers restoration activities.

  • Includes actions taken to return to a normal or an even safer situation following an emergency
  • Recovery activities take place after an emergency
  • Recovery includes getting financial assistance to help pay for the repairs