What are the four phases of emergency management?

The four phases of emergency management are Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. Each of these phases plays a critical role in effective emergency management.

Mitigation refers to efforts made to reduce the impact of disasters before they occur. This can include measures like building codes, land-use planning, and public education to lessen the effects of potential hazards.

Preparedness involves planning and preparing for emergencies before they happen. This includes developing emergency plans, conducting training and exercises, and ensuring that resources are available to effectively respond to any incident.

Response is the immediate action taken in the aftermath of a disaster to ensure safety, protect property, and provide essential services. This is when response teams are activated, and the focus is on addressing the immediate needs of affected individuals and communities.

Recovery encompasses the actions taken to restore and improve a community's resilience after a disaster. It involves rebuilding, restoring services, and addressing the long-term impacts of the event.

This framework not only helps to structure emergency management efforts but also emphasizes the continuous nature of emergency management by cycling through these phases for effective disaster risk reduction.