DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE:
Disaster management aims to reduce, or avoid, the potential losses from
hazards, assure prompt and appropriate assistance to victims of disaster, and
achieve rapid and effective recovery. Disaster Risk Management includes sum
total of all activities, programmes and measures which can be taken up before,
during and after a disaster with the purpose to avoid a disaster, reduce its
impact or recover from its losses.
The four disaster management phases illustrated here do not always, or even
generally, occur in isolation or in this precise order. Often phases of the cycle
overlap and the length of each phase greatly depends on the severity of the
disaster. The cyclical nature of disaster management process focuses on the
ongoing and continual actions to prevent and manage the disasters.
o Mitigation - Minimizing the effects of disaster.
Examples: building codes and zoning; vulnerability analyses; public
education.
o Preparedness - Planning how to respond.
Examples: preparedness plans; emergency exercises/training; warning
systems.
o Response - Efforts to minimize the hazards created by a disaster.
Examples: search and rescue; emergency relief .
o Recovery - Returning the community to normal.
Examples: temporary housing; grants; medical care.
, 1. Mitigation; the action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness
of something.
Mitigation activities actually eliminate or reduce the probability of disaster
occurrence, or reduce the effects of unavoidable disasters through proactive
measures taken before an emergency or disaster occurs.
The mitigation phase, and indeed the whole disaster management cycle,
includes the shaping of public policies and plans that either modify the causes
of disasters or mitigate their effects on people, property, and infrastructure.
Mitigation measures may include but not restricted to:
➢ Enforcement of building codes, floodplain management codes and
environmental regulations.
➢ Public safety measures such as continual maintenance of roadways
and dams.
➢ Land-use planning (zoning) and controlling human activities in hazard
prone areas
➢ Earthquake resistant construction, permanent houses
➢ Community health and sanitation (improving nutrition, keeping the
community clean, immunization, herbal gardens, training of
community health workers)
➢ Deployment of warning systems to alert and notify the public.
2. Preparedness: Getting ready to cope
Disaster preparedness refers to measures taken to prepare for and reduce the
effects of disasters. These measures can be described as logistical readiness
to deal with disasters
Disaster preparedness has the potential to save the maximum number of lives
and property during a disaster.
Preparedness phase coves a wide range of activities;
➢ Individual, family and community preparedness measures: knowing what to do
➢ before, during and after a disaster for earthquake, drought, epidemic
Disaster management aims to reduce, or avoid, the potential losses from
hazards, assure prompt and appropriate assistance to victims of disaster, and
achieve rapid and effective recovery. Disaster Risk Management includes sum
total of all activities, programmes and measures which can be taken up before,
during and after a disaster with the purpose to avoid a disaster, reduce its
impact or recover from its losses.
The four disaster management phases illustrated here do not always, or even
generally, occur in isolation or in this precise order. Often phases of the cycle
overlap and the length of each phase greatly depends on the severity of the
disaster. The cyclical nature of disaster management process focuses on the
ongoing and continual actions to prevent and manage the disasters.
o Mitigation - Minimizing the effects of disaster.
Examples: building codes and zoning; vulnerability analyses; public
education.
o Preparedness - Planning how to respond.
Examples: preparedness plans; emergency exercises/training; warning
systems.
o Response - Efforts to minimize the hazards created by a disaster.
Examples: search and rescue; emergency relief .
o Recovery - Returning the community to normal.
Examples: temporary housing; grants; medical care.
, 1. Mitigation; the action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness
of something.
Mitigation activities actually eliminate or reduce the probability of disaster
occurrence, or reduce the effects of unavoidable disasters through proactive
measures taken before an emergency or disaster occurs.
The mitigation phase, and indeed the whole disaster management cycle,
includes the shaping of public policies and plans that either modify the causes
of disasters or mitigate their effects on people, property, and infrastructure.
Mitigation measures may include but not restricted to:
➢ Enforcement of building codes, floodplain management codes and
environmental regulations.
➢ Public safety measures such as continual maintenance of roadways
and dams.
➢ Land-use planning (zoning) and controlling human activities in hazard
prone areas
➢ Earthquake resistant construction, permanent houses
➢ Community health and sanitation (improving nutrition, keeping the
community clean, immunization, herbal gardens, training of
community health workers)
➢ Deployment of warning systems to alert and notify the public.
2. Preparedness: Getting ready to cope
Disaster preparedness refers to measures taken to prepare for and reduce the
effects of disasters. These measures can be described as logistical readiness
to deal with disasters
Disaster preparedness has the potential to save the maximum number of lives
and property during a disaster.
Preparedness phase coves a wide range of activities;
➢ Individual, family and community preparedness measures: knowing what to do
➢ before, during and after a disaster for earthquake, drought, epidemic
