In 2011, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) introduced the National Preparedness Goal. This was big news, since at the time, it added an extra “milestone” to the existing disaster response cycle. What was once looked at as the 4 critical steps of disaster response suddenly became 5, with the newest step being preparedness. Updated again in 2015, the National Preparedness Goal outlines what this really means for whole communities, officially stating the goal of becoming: 

“A secure and resilient nation with the capabilities required across the whole community to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk.” – (Source: FEMA.gov)

Today, the updated disaster response cycle looks like this: prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. In addition to adding a key first step to the response process, the National Preparedness Goal also outlines several dozen “core capabilities” that aim to address the nation’s greatest risks. These core capabilities are broken up into mission area, and include things like: 

• Public information and warning
• Operational coordination
• Intelligence and information sharing
• Risk and disaster resilience assessment
• Logistics and supply chain management
• Operational communications
• Housing

What once started as a traditional 4-step response cycle for natural disasters has grown exponentially, and not just in the US. As society progresses, it’s become clear that the way we used to look at disaster response is outdated, uncovering an increased need for more comprehensive response and preparedness plans. 

The 5 Elements of Disaster Response

Prometheus strives for readiness over reactivity, which is why we’re so passionate about the prevention element of the disaster response cycle. But prevention and preparedness isn’t all we do. By digging deeper into each piece of the response cycle, we can develop an intimate understanding of what is required to achieve preparedness and respond efficiently in times of need.

While there is little we can do to prevent natural disasters from happening, we can identify and invest in prevention measures that can minimize – or prevent – impact. We believe that through thorough assessments like ours, nations can gain a better understanding of their opportunities for prevention. Preventative measures can include the construction of physical protection – like dams or coastal protection measures – or adjustments to city planning efforts to ensure an alignment of interest and protection. 

Additionally, by acknowledging infrastructure and supply chain gaps, volunteer shortages, or location-dependent vulnerabilities, nations can identify their most pressing risks and address these needs accordingly. 

However, it’s important to understand that it’s difficult to completely eliminate loss when it comes to natural disasters. By leveraging preventative and preparedness measures, however, we can strive to minimize the impact that these disasters have on our communities across the globe. 

All nations have valuable resources worth protecting, human life being the most valuable. But in addition to this priceless asset, it’s important to consider crucial infrastructure like roadways, buildings, utility systems, and beyond that help support life across these nations. These systems, while desirable throughout day-to-day life, can also serve as lifelines during disaster. This is why it’s so important that they are protected against relevant threats in their areas (like hurricanes, earthquakes, or freezing temps). 

In an effort to reinforce these support systems and protect lives, we must also consider the wants and needs of communities during times of normalcy. In other words, too much protection can actually get in the way of everyday life outside the realm of disaster. All good things come in moderation, and protection measures are no exception. By striving for a balance of protection and comfort, we can keep citizens safe without getting in the way. 

This step is similar to prevention, though mitigation acknowledges that we can’t stop disaster, we can only take strides towards lessening the damage it has on our communities. When striving for a reduction in loss, nations can leverage reinforcements to infrastructure, upgrades to communication plans, and updated response measures to ensure efficient execution if needed. 

We see huge opportunities for growth in this area, especially since sharing information and insights has never been easier. By learning from other nations, we can assess what works, what doesn’t, and what findings we can apply to similar nations in order to learn and lead by example. 

Trust us when we say that when countries find themselves frozen or unable to execute response plans in the face of disaster, morale plummets alongside response plan success rates. But what if every nation across the globe had an airtight response plan that allowed them to execute quickly and comprehensively, no matter what they were facing? By striving for perfection when it comes to response plans, we believe – and have seen – that the impact of natural disasters can be lessened. 

Through efficient response plans, we can prioritize the resources most relevant to YOUR nation, targeting specific goals and eliminating the need for hesitation, friction, and loss along the way. 

We believe that by prioritizing the first four steps of the disaster response cycle/National Preparedness Goal, we can continue to lessen the lift of the fifth step in the cycle: recovery. Of course, in the wake of disaster, a nation’s number one priority is the safety of citizens and the prompt restoration of infrastructure with the goal of restoring “normalcy.” By focusing on restoration efforts, nations can prioritize housing, infrastructure, and their economy in the hours, days, weeks, or months following disaster. 

Through efficient recovery and restoration plans, we strive to shorten the span of time between when disaster strikes, and when citizens feel safe and comfortable once again.

Prometheus Refuses to Settle

While the current standard for disaster response might involve 5 steps, we’re always looking for new opportunities to improve upon old practices – who says you can’t teach old nations new tricks? Beyond prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery, the Prometheus team strives to fill gaps and seek out unanswered questions that might ultimately help us continue to shrink the impact that natural disasters have on our communities. Natural disaster occurrences are on the rise, but so are we.