Introduction
Disaster mitigation/prevention is the term often used to refer to all those actions aimed at preventing or reducing the impact and effects of a disaster that can be implemented prior to its occurrence, including preparedness and long-term risk reduction measures. It will include both the planning for and implementation of those measures designed to reduce the risks associated with known natural hazards and those that result from human activity (man made hazards), and the process of planning for an effective response to and recovery from disasters that do occur.
Concept review
In Topic 5 - Emergency prevention, of EMG100 Introduction to Emergency Management, you were introduced to the concept of prevention/mitigation as a valid tool of emergency management.
Many people do not distinguish between the two terms prevention and mitigation, but only refer to one or the other. This does not cause any problems as these two strategies often overlap. From here on I will use the term prevention/mitigation when making reference to either prevention and/or mitigation strategies. Take care in researching your selected event as you may locate this information under either or both headings.
Now you should take the time to review the terms prevention and mitigation from a variety of sources, including your EMG100 study materials (if you have kept them?). If not, then look in EMA’s Emergency Management Glossary and Thesaurus.
Having read these two chapters you should have a sound understanding of both terms mitigation and prevention.
Some examples of these strategies implemented in the pre-impact phase of an emergency event might be:
- prevention - the implementation of a non-smoking policy;
- mitigation - installation of a sprinkler and smoke detector system.
Fundamentally prevention and mitigation are:
- actions intended to reduce the probability or effects of emergencies/disasters.
This is the definition that will be used throughout this year's studies.