Emergency ManagementEmergency management is often described in terms of "phases", using terms such as mitigate, prepare, respond and recover. The main objective of this assignment is to examine the origins, underlying concepts, variations, limitations and implications of the “phases of emergency management”. In this article, we will review the definitions and descriptions of each phase or component of emergency management, the importance of understanding the interrelationships and responsibilities for each phase, some newer terms and associated concepts (e.g., resilience disasters, sustainability, resilience, business continuity, risk management). emergency management) and the diversity of research perspectives. Emergency management has been described over the past three decades as a “four-phase” process, involving: • Mitigation; • Preparation; • The answer; • Recovery. These terms have been widely used by policy makers. creators, practitioners, trainers, educators and researchers. As Figure 1 illustrates, the four phases are often described as part of an ongoing process. Sometimes one phase of emergency management tends to overlap with the adjacent phase. The concept of "phases" has been used since the 1930s to help describe, examine and understand disasters and to help organize the practice of emergency management. In an article titled Reconsidering the Phases of a Disaster, David Neal cites various examples from different researchers using five, six, seven, and up to eight phases long before four phases became the norm. (Neal 1997) This recognizes that critical activities often span more than one phase and that boundaries between phases are rarely precise. Most sources also emphasize that significant interrelationships exist between all ph...... middle of paper ...... ; and the many agencies responsible for our roads, wildlands and parks, housing, sewer and water infrastructure, social services, and more. Without these partnerships and a system in place to coordinate mitigation activities, efforts will be fragmented and could miss critical components of the system. In the end, I would like to say that disasters are inevitable and therefore authorities must prepare in advance and when the disaster occurs. actually occurs, the response must be rapid and effective. After recovery from loss, one should plan well and plan for the future so that better protective measures can prevent greater damage. Reference: • ACP - Association of Contingency Planners. 2007. BCP 101. http://www.acp-international.com/know_bcp101.asp (October 1, 2009); • onlinepubs.trb.org • www.riskinstitute.org/peri/index.ph