Hazard Management: Prediction, Mitigation and Resilience

Because geophysical hazards cannot be prevented, managing them means reducing their impact on people. Geographers often organize this work using the hazard management cycle, a continuous four-stage framework that helps communities prepare for, respond to, and learn from hazard events. The first stage is mitigation, the long-term actions taken before an event to reduce its potential impact, such as enforcing earthquake-resistant building codes, land-use zoning that keeps development away from the most dangerous areas, and public education. The second is preparedness, the shorter-term planning that ensures readiness, including warning systems, evacuation plans, emergency supplies, and drills. The third is response, the immediate actions during and just after an event, such as search and resc