Remember that disasters are more than the moment at which they happen. To effectively manage disasters, we must, as communities and individuals, focus on three different times: we must adequately build and retrofit our structures before the event, to minimize damage; we must respond effectively during the event, to save lives; and we must come together as a community after the event, to recover. Recognize that all three periods are important. Expand your definition of preparedness beyond simply preparing to respond.
