Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
considers ways to reduce hazard losses together with the overall risk from specific
hazards and other community goals.
Because it is not possible to mitigate completely against every hazard, prepared-
ness measures can help to reduce the impact of those hazards by taking certain
actions before an emergency occurs.
Preparedness
Preparedness involves all of the players in the integrated emergency management
system and includes the following activities:
Developing, training, and exercising the EOP
Recruiting, assigning, and training staff who can assist in key areas of
response operations
Identifying resources and supplies that might be required in an emergency
Designating facilities for emergency use
Response
Response begins when an emergency is imminent or immediately after an event
occurs. Response encompasses all activities taken to save lives and reduce damage from
the event and includes providing emergency assistance to victims, completing emer-
gency repairs critical to infrastructure, and ensuring the continuity of critical services.
One of the first response activities should be to conduct a situation assessment.
To fulfill this task, responders must conduct an immediate rapid assessment of
the situation. Rapid assessment includes all immediate response activities that
are directly related to determining initial lifesaving and life-sustaining needs and
identifying imminent hazards. Coordinated and timely assessments enable local
government to prioritize response activities, allocate scarce resources, and request
additional assistance from mutual aid partners.
Recovery
The final phase in the emergency management cycle is recovery, the goal of which is
to return the community's systems and activities to normal. Some recovery opera-
tions may be concurrent with response efforts.
Recovery from a disaster is unique to each community and disaster. Short-
term recovery is an extension of the response phase, in which basic functions and
services are restored. After short-term recovery, the community must rebuild.
Considerations for long-term recovery include
Applying for federal assistance
Keeping the public informed on the rebuilding process
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