We all hope that an emergency will not take place, but if we do not plan for emergencies we are going to be ill-prepared when one happens. COVID-19 is just one current example of how important preparation really is. We need to be considering 'what if' and identifying the types of risks, hazards and threats we might face and assessing their likelihood and consequences if they actually occur. This is called risk assessment. This should be an important starting point when we are deciding how best to plan and prepare for emergencies. The same approach should be taken for all emergencies, whether or not they are 'natural disasters' such as flooding, or 'man-made' like a terror attack.
The types of activities that we must consider before an emergency occurs include: