EMAs

The emergency management concept evolved from the post World War II "Civil Defense" program but the "Civil Defense" program dealt principally with disaster preparedness. Emergency Management goes further to include mitigation, response and recovery as part of an integrated program.

Mitigation refers to activities that eliminate or reduce the negative effects of a disaster. Preparedness is planning how you will respond to various emergencies and the resources you will need to get the job done. Response is the actual reaction to an emergency and recovery is the act of returning to a normal or near normal status.

Responsibility for effective Emergency Management starts with the family, therefore every family should have adequate insurance to protect their assets. They should also have a written plan identifying potential emergencies, protective actions, meeting places, evacuation & relocation sites, emergency supplies and important telephone numbers. Unfortunately, some apathetic families do not take any steps to protect themselves or their property from the adverse affects of emergencies and disasters. They feel that the government is there to pick up the tab for their losses. These people usually end up very disappointed.