Preparedness is a set of actions that are taken as precautionary measures in the face of potential disasters. Being prepared helps in achieving goals and in avoiding and mitigating negative outcomes.
There are different types of preparedness, such as public health preparedness and local emergency preparedness or snow preparedness, but probably the most developed type is "disaster preparedness", defined by the United Nations as involving "forecasting and taking precautionary measures before an imminent threat when warnings are possible".[1] This includes not only natural disasters, but all kinds of severe damage caused in a relatively short period, including warfare.
In the United States, before Hurricane Katrina, the responsibility for emergency preparedness fell upon local first responders and other local emergency services.[2] In the aftermath of Katrina, it became evident that first responders can and will become overwhelmed in a large-scale disaster; unable to effectively respond to the emergency.[3]
In 2011, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposed a "Whole Community Approach" to emergency management.[4] This approach includes individuals, families, businesses, faith-based and community groups, profitable groups, schools and academia, media outlets, and all levels of governments and assigns them a role in preparedness efforts.
In the United States, legislation such as the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act, and the Public Response and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act were enacted to develop the emergency personnel, procedures, drills, and plans needed in the event of an emergency.[5]
Civil defense – Protection of citizens from natural disaster and military attack
Community Emergency Response Team – FEMA-sponsored program promoting basic emergency response skills and preparednessPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
Disaster recovery – Maintaining or reestablishing vital information technology infrastructurePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Preparedness Day – Political campaign to strengthen the U.S. military after the outbreak of World War IPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Preparedness Movement – Political campaign to strengthen the U.S. military after the outbreak of World War I
Project management – Practice of leading the work of a team to achieve goals and criteria at a specified time
Risk management – Identification, evaluation and control of risks
Survivalism – Movement of individuals or households preparing for emergencies and natural disasters
The dictionary definition of preparedness at Wiktionary
Media related to Preparedness at Wikimedia Commons
