I recently noticed that FEMA in its official dialectic has added the word "Prevention" to the original NGA concepts of Preparedness, Mitigation, Response and Recovery.
Whatever the merits or significance of this change wondering if any on the list know how it came about? Was it self-initiated or imposed from the powers that be? IOs this really new or did I just miss it? What is its significance organizationally?
I decided to review the term "Crisis Management" [...] So whatever the merits of "Prevention" being added should "Crisis Management" be added to the 4 horsemen of EM? I also challenge anyone to describe the New FEMA's organization in light of the above concepts and discussion!
If any on the list believe that they can enlighten me I would deeply appreciate it!
I'll use this space to reply to Bill and also ask if you all have input to this question. In my memory the word prevention became prominent right after the 9/11 attacks. I'm sure it had existed before in some discussions, but it was right after 9/11 as the nation turned to counter terrorism and homeland security as an area of emphasis it became the word of the day. My guess is that it came out of a law enforcement based way of thinking.
The huge debate that erupted in the emergency management community was when "the Feds" started using the word "Prevention" in place of "Mitigation." You have to remember the context for this being the fact that Project Impact, a mitigation focused area of emphasis in FEMA had been killed by the new Administration on February 28th (I'll always remember that date since it was the same day we experienced the Nisqually Earthquake in the greater Seattle area). The battle then ensued between the forces pushing for Prevention and those hanging onto Mitigation.
"I think" where we are today, at least where I am, is that both words can co-exist. I see Prevention as being focused on human caused disasters like terrorism and those activities that help detect and "Prevent" an event from occurring, e.g. airport screening (although it hasn't seemed to prevent much of late). I do not see Prevention replacing Mitigation within emergency management doctrine, nor being a primary focus for our labors. It is an adjunct function that we support and it rightly lies more within the law enforcement discipline.
Lastly, the link to Crisis Management also raised the point that Crisis Management is not Risk Management. I think there is a HUGE opportunity for us emergency managers to embrace the concept of Risk Management to advance the quality of our programs and our ability to "sell" emergency management as a concept that pays dividends in the end.
I noted that this is my 600th blog posting for 2009. While there are sure to be a few more for the year, I want to say thank you to everyone who contributed information for sharing with others. I could not do the number of postings I did without you!
Happy New Year!
