Four Phases of Emergency Management

Emergency Management is conducted in four stages, namely mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.  In some cases, two phases might be concurrently ongoing.

Mitigation
Any sustained action to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from hazards and their effects. Mitigation includes: land-use planning, zoning, developing building codes, and creating plans based on known hazards to reduce susceptibility to emergencies and disasters.

Preparedness
A state of readiness to respond to any emergency or disaster. Preparedness includes: planning, training, and disaster drills.

Response
Actions taken to save lives and prevent further damage in a disaster or emergency situation. Response includes: search and rescue, fire fighting, sheltering, and damage assessment.

Recovery
Actions taken to return the community to pre-disaster or improved conditions. Recovery includes: repairing, replacing, or rebuilding property.