The 5 Stages of Disaster Management

A Long Road Ahead: The 5 Stages of Disaster Management

Just before the December 2024 holidays, in a very narrow margin of time before the end of the congressional year, the 118th Congress passed a crucial bill to deliver natural disaster aid to Americans. The $110 billion disaster recovery spending bill includes $29 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response, recovery, and mitigation activities related to presidentially declared major disasters, including hurricanes Milton and Helene. It also includes dedicated funds to support American farmers and small business owners, repair infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and drinking and wastewater systems, and support public safety, among other areas.

Forbes.com recently reported that 2024 brought on an onslaught of weather-related disasters, including record-setting heat waves, wildfires, and hurricanes. Top among them was Helene, which surprised communities like Asheville, North Carolina, who thought the area was a haven against extreme weather. Residents were without potable water for 53 days following the hurricane, which dropped 17-plus inches of rain across three days, resulting in the devastating floods.

The aid package marks an essential milestone in the long process of disaster recovery. It highlights the immediate needs of affected areas and the long-term commitment required to rebuild impacted communities.

These efforts take time, as illustrated by the following examples:

  • New Orleans, struck by Hurricane Katrina, was just 90 percent recovered in 2019 — 14 years after the hurricane devastated the city.
  • Today, a year after the Maui wildfires, the community is navigating an ongoing housing crisis as they work to rebuild lost structures.
  • The EF5 tornado that ripped through Joplin, Missouri, in 2011 left a community in shambles. They rebuilt their community to include a tornado-grade hospital, which had its grand opening nearly four years later.

Disasters can be natural or man-made. They include weather-related events like hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and wildfires, as well as human-driven tragedies such as cyber and terrorist attacks or industrial transportation accidents. According to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, we are experiencing disaster fatigue, and we should all be prepared for this new normal and its steady stream of disastrous events.

It takes time and significant resources to rebuild after the devastation. Like Asheville, many communities are not prepared when disaster strikes due to either a lack of proper planning or a major curveball — like uncontrollable and unpredictable extreme weather. These disasters take their toll on land, housing, infrastructure, businesses, communities, and families.

The 5 Stages of Emergency and Disaster Management

Disaster recovery is a complex and lengthy process that unfolds in stages. Each phase is critical, and the road to full recovery often takes years.

1. Prevention

Prevention measures are designed to avoid disasters happening in the first place. However, not all disasters can be prevented. Good evacuation plans, environmental planning, and design standards can limit the risk of injury and loss of life. Community awareness and education, land use planning, and infrastructure improvements are key at this stage of disaster management.

2. Mitigation

Mitigation efforts work to reduce loss of life and property, accomplished by lessening the devastating impact of disasters and emergency situations before they occur. This can involve both structural and non-structural measures. Generally, mitigation activities include digging water channels to redirect water, planting vegetation to absorb water, constructing levees or permanent barriers to control flooding, or changing building codes to better withstand the forces of nature. However, not all disasters can be mitigated.

3. Preparedness

Preparedness is a continuous cycle of planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating, and taking corrective action. Activities include developing disaster preparedness plans outlining emergency actions, practicing these plans through drills and exercises, and creating a supply list of valuable disaster items. For the organizations that help those in need during disasters, having a substantial inventory of these items — such as bottled water, non-perishable food, blankets, cots, hygiene kits, first aid supplies, tarps, flashlights, and batteries — is crucial.

4. Response

The response phase involves coordinating, deploying, and managing resources — including personnel, equipment, and supplies — to immediately respond to a disaster with focused efforts to address the safety of life, property, and the environment. It is the collective reaction when a catastrophic disaster or emergency strikes. This stage involves implementing disaster response plans, conducting search and rescue missions, and taking actions to protect and support oneself and others.

5. Recovery

Recovery efforts continue beyond the emergency period to restore critical community functions and begin stabilization efforts. The recovery phase begins immediately after the threat to human life has passed. The goal of the recovery phase is to bring the affected area back to some degree of normalcy. This could involve anything from preventing or reducing stress-related illnesses and financial burdens to rebuilding damaged structures or addressing vulnerability to future disasters.

Working Together in the Emergency Management Cycle

As the congressional relief bill begins to deliver critical aid to affected communities, there’s a glimmer of hope, but the journey to full recovery is long and demanding. Disaster management is not just about immediate response — it is a sustained collective effort that addresses the evolving needs of individuals and communities at every stage. The response and recovery phases are crucial, as this is when lives are saved and stabilized. People receive essential items such as food, clean water, shelter, and personal care products to help them begin rebuilding.

From donating money and supplies to volunteering for recovery efforts, we can all help communities like Asheville, Maui, and others get back on their feet.

At DollarDays, we stand alongside nonprofits and aid organizations dedicated to helping others weather the storm. By providing low-cost essentials in bulk, we can help support disaster management and relief efforts at critical phases. Whether it’s simple hygiene kits and blankets for displaced families in temporary shelters or school supplies to help children get back to normal, these items matter.

In the face of ever-increasing natural disasters and man-made emergencies, our collective strength and resilience will always shine through. By coming together, pooling resources, and steadfastly supporting disaster-stricken communities, we can help restore hope and build a foundation for a safer, more prepared future. Let us remain vigilant and compassionate, ever-ready to extend a helping hand in times of need. Together, we can face any storm and emerge stronger, united in our commitment to making a difference for those in need.

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