Which of the following mission areas focuses on preventing disasters before they occur?

Mitigation is the mission area that focuses on preventing disasters before they occur. This involves implementing strategies and practices designed to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from natural and manmade hazards. This can encompass a wide range of activities, including planning and zoning, building codes, and public education campaigns aimed at raising awareness about potential hazards and how to prepare for them.

The goal of mitigation is to create a resilient community that can withstand the effects of disasters, thereby minimizing the impact on life and property when such events do occur. By addressing the vulnerabilities that contribute to disaster risk, mitigation efforts provide significant benefits not only in terms of human safety but also in financial savings over time, as they can reduce recovery costs and losses.

In contrast, the other mission areas focus on different stages of disaster management:

• Protection involves measures taken to safeguard individuals and communities from the impacts of disasters that are already likely to occur.

• Response focuses on immediate actions taken during and after a disaster to save lives, protect property, and meet basic human needs.

• Recovery deals with the longer-term efforts necessary to restore and improve the affected community's systems and structures after a disaster has occurred.

Understanding the distinct purpose of each mission area is essential for effective emergency