Chapter 20.4: Planning for Emergencies and Disasters

Disaster

any natural catastrophe, regardless of cause, any fire, flood, or explosion that causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant assistance supplementing state, local, and disaster relief organization efforts to alleviate damage, loss, hardship, or suffering

Emergency or Disaster Plan

specifies the resources and supply chain support necessary to first rescue citizens, tend to injuries, and prevent further fatalities, and second, to restore basic services such as utilities, communication, transportation, and housing.

Mitigation

the process of preventing or reducing the severity and consequences of disasters

Preparedness

the process of advanced planning and training for emergencies and disasters.

Response

what happens in the immediate aftermath of a disaster and includes rescue missions, and restoring basic services such as shelter, food, water, and communication services.

Recovery

begins when restoration efforts begin to rebuild destroyed infrastructure such as airports and roads, provide housing, hasten insurance assessments and payouts, and restore normal economy operations and activities.

Community lifeline

those services that enable the continuous operation of critical government and business functions and are essential to human health and safety or economic security.

Humanitarian logistics

the capability of one or more supply chains, and their respective processes and work tasks, to plan and deliver physical goods and accompanying information, in an efficient and cost-effective way to victims of emergency situations.