Mitigation/Prevention and Preparedness

Mitigation/Prevention

Mitigation efforts include all activities directed toward the prevention or reduction of risk associated with an all potential hazards. Mitigation activities include the analysis of two key components of risk, namely

1. the likelihood of an incident, and
2. the consequences of an incident. 

Through the systematic reduction of either of these two key components of risk, the potential destruction caused by either man-made or natural disasters can be significantly reduced. Since mankind has not yet learned how to prevent natural disasters such as floods or hurricanes, most mitigation efforts for these types of disasters are related to construction techniques. In the case of man-made disasters, including terrorism or accidents, mitigation efforts are directed toward both the prevention of incidents and the consequence management of incidents that do occur. For example, the massive reorganization of the federal government directed by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 created DHS, which was tasked with a multitude of prevention activities to include airline passenger screening, tighter border control, and immigration processes.

Preparedness

Simply put, preparedness activities include all those pre-disaster planning and readiness activities that will enable a rapid, efficient, and effective response to any disaster, crisis, or any other type of emergency situation. Preparedness activities include

• education,
• training,
• the development of standardized procedures, and
• the conducting of practice exercises, pre-positioning and stockpiling of equipment. 

These efforts are focused toward post-incident management and the minimization of destruction and loss of life.