Chapter # 11

Disaster risk management cycle

Management (or disaster management) is the discipline dealing of with and avoiding risks. It is a
discipline that involves preparing, supporting, and rebuilding society when natural or human-made
disasters occur.
 
In general, any Emergency management is the continuous process by which all individuals, groups, and
communities manage hazards in an effort to avoid or ameliorate the impact of disasters resulting from the
hazards.

Defining Disaster

According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies:
“More people are becoming vulnerable to disasters or are forced to cope with acts of
violence, financial crises and growing uncertainty, often without adequate support from
their governments.” Disasters can be either natural or human-made events and can
include pandemics, technological disasters or environmental cataclysms.

Disaster types include the following:

 Earthquakes
 Tornadoes
 Hurricanes
 Pandemics
 Volcano eruptions
 Wildfires
 Floods
 Mass shootings
 Acts of terror
 Nuclear explosions
 Chemical emergencies

Appropriate actions at all points in the cycle lead to greater preparedness, better warnings, reduced
vulnerability or the prevention of disasters during the next iteration of the cycle. The complete 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 .

The four disaster management phases:

 Mitigation
 Preparedness
 Response
  Recovery -

Phase 1: Mitigation
Meaning: To prevent future emergencies and take steps to minimize their effects

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.
Phase 2: Preparedness
Meaning: To take actions ahead of time to be ready for an emergency

The “preparedness” phase also occurs before a disaster takes place. Here, an organization attempts to
understand how a disaster might affect overall productivity and the bottom line. The organization will
also provide appropriate education while putting preparedness measures into place.

Phase 3: Response:
Meaning: To protect people and property in the wake of an emergency, disaster or crisis

The “response” phase occurs in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Organizations must focus their
attention on addressing immediate threats to people, property and business. Occupant safety and
wellbeing largely depends on its preparedness levels before disaster strikes.
 Phase 4: Recovery:
Meaning: To rebuild after a disaster in an effort to return operations back to normal

The “recovery” phase takes place after a disaster. This phase is the restoration of an organization
following any impacts from a disaster. By this time, the organization has achieved at least some degree
of physical, environmental, economic and social stability.

The recovery phase of a disaster can last anywhere from six months to a year (or even longer depending
on the severity of the incident).