Table 2.

Four phases of a disaster

Phase	Action	Example
Mitigation	Predisaster; preventing or attenuating the effects of the disaster	Having hurricane or flood insurance
Preparedness	Planning appropriate disaster response; notifying appropriate response personnel; establishing the resources required	Emergency kits, planning evacuation routes, having a disaster response system in place
Response	Carrying out disaster response plans. Attempt to mitigate hazardous situations created by disasters	Search and rescue, provide medical care, obtain necessary resources (eg, food, water)
Recovery	Returning the community to normal, reconstruction, and collecting data to learn from experience	Rebuilding communities, temporary housing, postdisaster medical care

Adapted from Kuza CM, McIsaac J. Human-induced and natural disasters. [Chapter 43]. In: Pardo M, Miller RD, editors. Basics of anesthesia. 7th edition. Philadelphia: Elsevier, Inc; 2018. p. 753; with permission.