Which sequence correctly lists the four phases of disaster management?

• A. Preparedness, Mitigation, Recovery, Response
• B. Recovery, Mitigation, Preparedness, Response
• C. Mitigation, Preparedness, Recovery, Response
• D. Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, Recovery

Answer: (D)

Disaster management unfolds in a flow from reducing risk to rebuilding, with actions arranged around when they’re needed. Start with mitigation—the steps to lessen potential damage from future events, like enforcing building codes, land-use planning, and hazard assessments. Then move to preparedness, which is the planning and training that make an effective response possible: drills, stockpiling supplies, establishing communication and incident command systems. When a disaster strikes, the focus shifts to response—the immediate actions to protect lives, provide emergency care, and stabilize the situation. After the immediate danger passes, recovery begins, aiming to restore infrastructure, services, and livelihoods over time. This sequence—mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery—best reflects the logical progression of actions before, during, and after a disaster. Sequences that place recovery before response or skip ahead to recovery without proper preparedness and response don’t align with how disaster management is actually carried out.