Prevention versus mitigation?
Many people do not distinguish between prevention and mitigation, but refer only to prevention, meaning both. Division of the concept by the use of different words and definitions is not a problem, as long as the whole idea is described completely in some way.
Conventionally, one would suppose that prevention stops something before it starts to happen, and mitigation lessens its effect once it starts. However, in practice prevention and mitigation activities often overlap, and are sometimes indistinguishable.
Based on these elements, we can develop a very simple definition of the process(es) of prevention and mitigation. This is the definition we will use in this subject.
A definition of prevention and mitigation
Actions intended to reduce the probability or effects of emergencies.
The Australian Emergency Management Glossary (EMA, 1998) provides two definitions for prevention:
"Regulatory and physical measures to ensure that emergencies are prevented, or their effects mitigated" and "Measures to eliminate or reduce the incidence or severity of emergencies".
and one for mitigation:
"Measures taken in advance of a disaster aimed at decreasing or eliminating its impact on society and environment".
Thus, we will not make a hard and fast distinction between prevention and mitigation, as the fine line between the two is often blurred, particularly when we look at the strategies to follow.