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Phases of Emergency Management
Defining Emergency Management
An emergency is any event that threatens to, or actually does, inflict damage to property or people. Emergencies can be small or large, and we often call large emergencies disasters. Disasters can include tornadoes and floods, explosions and toxic chemical releases, major transportation accidents such as airline crashes, and national security events.Management simply means a coordinated, organized effort to reach specific goals or objectives. In emergency management, it means a coordinated and organized effort to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from an emergency.
Comprehensive is the word that cements all this together. It clarifies “emergency” by including all kinds of natural and man-made events that adversely affect lives and property, including national security threats. Using the word comprehensive broadens the definition of management by suggesting the best mix of resources from federal, state, local, and tribal governments and from business, industry, volunteers, and the public.
Four Phases of Emergency Management Administration
A community has many opportunities to deal with emergencies before they strike and a responsibility to aid in recovery after a disaster. The four phases of emergency management include:Emergency Management Phase One: Mitigation
Mitigation includes activities that eliminate or reduce the chance of occurrence or the effects of a disaster. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) pre-disaster mitigation programs have shown that communities can do a lot to prevent major emergencies or disasters from affecting them negatively.
If communities cannot prevent disasters, they can at least reduce the damaging impact. For example, requiring roof reinforcements will reduce damage from hurricane winds. Preventing new construction in floodplains or placing structures on columns in them can reduce the chance of flooded homes.
For More Information
If you have any questions, email the Natrona County Emergency Management Office or call their office at (307) 235-9205.
Emergency Management Phase Two: Preparedness
The second phase of emergency management is preparedness. It is planning how to respond when an emergency or disaster occurs and working to marshal the resources to respond effectively. These activities help save lives and minimize damage by preparing people to respond appropriately when an emergency is imminent or hits.
To respond properly, a jurisdiction must have a plan for response, trained personnel to respond, and necessary resources with which to respond.
General Preparedness Information
| Emergency supply checklist (PDF) | Preparedness for pets (PDF) |
| Management of elderly disaster victims (PDF) | Ready brochure (PDF) |
| Outdoor warning siren system |
Disaster-Specific Information
| Earthquake | Tornado |
| Flood | Wildfire |
| Hazardous Materials | Winter Storm |
| Thunderstorm |
For More Information
If you have any questions, email the Natrona County Emergency Management Office or call their office at (307) 235-9205.
Emergency Management Phase Three: Response
Response is the third phase of emergency management and covers the period during and immediately following a disaster.
During this phase, public officials provide emergency assistance to victims of the event and try to reduce the likelihood of further damage. Local fire departments, police departments, rescue squads, and emergency medical service (EMS) units are primary responders.
View Natrona County's National Incident Management System (NIMS) requirements.
For More Information
If you have any questions, email the
Natrona County Emergency Management Office or call their office at (307) 235-9205.
Emergency Management Phase Four: Recovery
Recovery is the fourth and final phase of the emergency management cycle. It continues until all systems return to normal or near-normal operation.
Short-term recovery restores vital life-support systems to minimum operating conditions. Long-term recovery may go on for months—even years—until the entire disaster area returns to its previous condition or undergoes improvement with new features that are less disaster-prone. For example, a town can relocate portions of its flood-prone community and turn the area into open space or parkland. This illustrates how recovery can provide opportunities to mitigate future disasters.
For More Information
If you have any questions, email the
Natrona County Emergency Management Office or call their office at (307) 235-9205.