Mitigation concepts

This section is designed to provide you with an insight into the concept of prevention/mitigation as it is used in emergency management. You will then have the opportunity to study examples of specific mitigation information for several major hazard types.

Prevention/mitigation means taking those actions designed to reduce the effects of a hazard before it occurs. These terms apply to a wide array of activities and protection measures that may be instigated from the physical - like the construction of stronger buildings, to the procedural, for example, the use of processes for developing hazard analysis and disaster/emergency plans.

The concept of mitigation, as widely used in disaster/emergency studies, is not always a clear one. It may apply to preparedness actions taken prior to the onset of the event, or to more specific meanings such as activities designed to lessen the human and socio-economic impact of the event. Consequently there is a need for a more universally accepted definition of the term mitigation, and one that more readily and clearly distinguishes between preparedness and mitigation.

The most critical part of implementing mitigation is acquiring a full understanding of the nature of the threat. This will vary, as the types of hazards faced in each country and region will be different. Some countries may be more prone to floods, others may have a history of tropical storm damage, and others may be in known earthquake regions. The majority of countries will be prone to some combination of the various hazards and the possibility of technological disasters as industrial developments progress. The likely effects of these hazards will vary depending on the infrastructure within those countries and regions.

The following article which will provide you with particular characteristics of several hazard types, and some of the main mitigation strategies designed to reduce their effects.

You should now have a more robust understanding of mitigation and the variety of applications of the concept, through practical mitigation strategies, that are employed to minimise the effects of emergencies/disasters.