When the Disaster Response Phase Really Ends

Disasters follow a cycle (some, like pandemics can be in multiple parts — or Phases — of the cycle, at the same time) which usually follows a “before, during and after” construct. “Before” the first time something were to happen is called Preparedness (which at the U.S. Federal level, includes Prevention and Protection), “During” is described as Response, and “After” is Recovery and Mitigation (which cycles back into “Before”, except now its before the next time the same or similar thing were to happen). Then its back to Preparedness. And do not forget, you can be Responding to…