Phase of Emergency

There are two models typically used to describe the phases of an emergency. The more recent and commonly used model suggests that there are four broad phases – mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. An extended model suggests that there are eight categories – risk perception, preparedness, warning, physical impact, psychological impact, response, recovery and reconstruction (Fothergill et al., 1999; Perry and Mushkatel, 1986). We utilize the extended model to catalog and organize resources so that users can easily identify information within their specific area of interest.

• Phase 1 - Risk Perception refers to the degree to which people in certain communities believe they can be affected by disaster, which is largely based on predictability, recurrence of disasters in an area, and past experiences with disasters.
• Phase 2 - Preparedness refers to pre-event activities and mitigation efforts of individuals and families, providers, organizations and jurisdictions in advance of a specific warning. Individual-level preparedness may include stocking emergency supplies, making structural improvements and purchasing disaster-specific insurance. Provider, organizational and jurisdictional preparedness may include planning, training and response drills, and other educational efforts.
• Phase 3 - Warning refers to the sending and receiving of messages such as emergency broadcasts, tornado sirens or other risk communication of an immediate danger. Warnings and information about risks may be delivered through formal networks such as television and radio broadcasts or informally through social networks (e.g., family, friends, neighborhood meetings and religious congregations).
• Phase 4 - Physical Impact refers to the immediate effects of an emergency. Physical impacts include mortality, morbidity, injury, property damage and economic loss.
• Phase 5 - Psychological Impact refers to mental health effects of a an emergency including fear, emotional stress, trauma, shock, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Phase 6 - Response refers to the phase directly following the impact of a disaster, usually ranging from the first hours up to one week. Response activities include rescue operations, survival, evacuation, and property protection. The response phase involves significant interaction between emergency responders and victims/survivors.
• Phase 7 - Recovery refers to the phase when survivors begin to return to normality. This may involve rebuilding, allocating resources, and finding housing.
• Phase 8 - Reconstruction refers to long-term restoration of a community and includes rebuilding, replacing infrastructure, obtaining assistance and locating permanent housing.