Disasters often follow natural hazards.

 A disaster's severity depends on how much impact a hazard has on society and the environment. The scale
of the impact in turn depends on the choices we make for our lives and for our environment. These choices relate to how we grow our food, where
and how we build our homes, what kind of government we have, how our financial system works and even what we teach in schools. Each decision
and action make us more vulnerable to disasters resilient to them (Serapio, 2016).

When disaster strikes, businesses that close down run the risk of never reopening — especially with no plan of action in place. While there’s no way
to lower the risk of a natural disaster or a widespread health crisis like COVID-19, there are critical measures that an organization can take to
protect its people, assets and bottom line in the wake of a disaster (Kelly, 2020).

THE PHASES OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION MANAGEMENT

The following diagram illustrates the relationship of the four phases of Disaster Risk Reduction Management.

The significance of the emergency management cycle is that all communities are in at least one phase of emergency management at any time.

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management has four phases - also called "thematic areas", that show the cycle from pre-to-post disaster activities:

  PREVENTION AND MITIGATION PHASE

Meaning: To prevent future emergencies and take steps to minimize their effects.

According to RA 10121, disaster prevention is "the outright avoidance of adverse impacts of hazards and related disasters".  Meanwhile,
disaster mitigation is "the lessening or limitation of the adverse impacts of hazards and related disasters". When combined, prevention and
mitigation mean the avoidance or lessening of the adverse impact of hazards through actions taken in advances such as the application of
engineering techniques and hazard-resistant construction and/or the implementation of policies, laws, programs, projects, and activities;
knowledge management; and public awareness (Basas, 2016).

The “mitigation” phase occurs before a disaster takes place. Here, an organization will take steps to protect people and property, while also
decreasing risks and consequences from a given disaster situation. The organization’s main goal is to reduce vulnerability to disaster impacts .

Examples of “mitigation” may include conducting a property inspection to discover ways to fortify the building against damage. The organization
may also revise zoning and land-use management to further prevent or reduce the impact of a disaster (Kelly, 2020).

 PREPAREDNESS PHASE

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

RA 10121 defines this thematic area as "the knowledge and capacities developed by governments, professional response and recovery
organizations, communities and individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from, the impacts of likely, imminent or current
hazard events or conditions".

 Preparedness measures include building the capacities needed to efficiently manage types of emergencies and achieve orderly transitions from
response to sustained recovery: from fostering good linkages with stakeholders and planning with them constantly, to the installation of early
warning systems, the creation of  contingency plans, stockpiling of equipment and supplies, the development of arrangements for coordination,
evacuation and public information and associated training and field exercise. In addition, preparedness measures include the organized
mobilization of personnel, funds, equipment, and supplies should there be a need to deploy them. The key for this phase is that it is focused on
pre-disaster action and measures (Basas, 2016).

 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.

Examples of “preparedness” may include hosting training, education, drills, tabletop exercises and full-scale exercises on disaster preparedness.
This ensures that stakeholders know what to do in the event of an emergency. Organizations may also assemble a business continuity team to
assemble a strategic plan that allows the business to recover after a crisis. The team will create a business continuity plan outline and list of
resources needed to recover from a disaster (Kelly, 2020).

 RESPONSE PHASE

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

The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 defines disaster response as "the provision of emergency services and public
assistance during or immediately after a disaster in order to save lives, reduce health impacts, ensure public safety and meet the basic
subsistence needs of the people affected". This includes providing relief in the form of food and non-food items, conducting search and rescue
operations, managing evacuation centers/camps and assessing damages, needs, and capacities (Basas, 2016).

 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.

 The most notable example of the “response” phase is to ensure that people are out of harm’s way. The organization will then move on to assess
damage, implement disaster response plans, triage cleanup efforts and start resource distribution as necessary. Businesses will also need to
navigate building closures, preliminary damage assessments and hampered communication with stakeholders (like staff, vendors and suppliers)
due to shutdowns.

As the response period progresses, focus will typically shift from immediate emergency issues to conducting repairs, restoring utilities, re-
establishing operations and cleaning up. The organization will also need to begin planning the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure.

 REHABILITATION AND RECOVERY PHASE

Meaning: To rebuild after a disaster in an effort to return operations back to normal.

 RA 10121 defines rehabilitation and recovery as "measures that ensure the ability of affected communities/areas to restore their normal level
of functioning". This can be achieved through rebuilding livelihood and damaged infrastructures and increasing the communities' organizational
capacity in order for them to build back better.

Oftentimes, the thematic areas of response and rehabilitation and recovery blend into each other. For example, some response actions, such as the
supply of temporary housing and water supplies, may extend to the rehabilitation and recovery stage. The key in knowing the delineation between
these two areas is that disaster response is predominantly focused on providing immediate and short-term needs- hence, it is oftentimes called
"disaster relief. Meanwhile, disaster rehabilitation and recovery begin when the emergency phase has ended (Basas, 2016).

 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 lasts anywhere from six months to a year.

An example of “recovery” is creating strategic protocols and action plans to address the most serious impacts of a disaster. An organization will
work to obtain new resources, rebuild or create partnerships, and implement effective recovery strategies. The organization will also want to
take steps to reduce financial burdens, rebuild damaged structures and reduce vulnerability to future disasters.