Which term describes an action plan to reduce the impact of hazards, commonly used in planning for disasters?

• A. Emergency
• B. Mitigation
• C. Triage
• D. Recovery

Answer: (B)

Mitigation is the action plan to reduce the impact of hazards and is a central part of disaster planning. It involves proactive steps taken before a disaster occurs to lessen vulnerability, exposure, and potential losses. Examples include enforcing stronger building codes, careful land-use planning to steer development away from high-risk areas, retrofitting critical infrastructure, creating hazard maps, improving drainage, establishing early warning systems, and public education on how to reduce risk. This focus on preventing or reducing damage distinguishes it from others: emergency planning is about immediate response during a disaster, triage is about prioritizing care after an event, and recovery deals with rebuilding and returning to normal after the disaster.