Chapter 1 - Introduction

Abstract

Comprehensive emergency management encompasses an all-hazards approach that addresses all hazards, partners, and phases of emergency management. This chapter begins by introducing comprehensive emergency management and the all-hazards approach. The four phases of emergency management (i.e. preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation) can be viewed as a continuous life cycle. The chapter discusses the goals, objectives, and typical activities for each phase of the emergency management life cycle and how mitigation fits into it. It also gives a brief history of modern emergency management in the United States, highlighting the evolution of major mitigation policies and the mitigation framework. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) requires all states, tribal, and local governments to develop hazard mitigation plans (HMPs) as a condition for receiving certain types of federal disaster assistance. The text presents an outline of the structure of a functional HMP. In addition, the benefits of mitigation planning are discussed at the end of the chapter.