What is meant by disaster preparedness and mitigation?

Disaster preparedness refers to the coordinated response
in the wake of a natural calamity.  It involves ensuring that the affected people
receive immediate services and assists with the transition to make life as close to pre-
disaster conditions as possible.  In America, the Federal Emergency Management
Association (FEMA) is the structure by which disaster preparedness is evident.  Disaster
preparedness, as seen with FEMA, can take a variety of forms.  One part is to coordinate
ground efforts, making sure victims of natural disasters are eased of their suffering in
as many ways as possible.  Another form is to ensure that small businesses can continue
to operate, through assurances of small business loans that can help see further life
for businesses after  a disaster hits.  At the same time, making sure that relief
organizations are in constant communication with one another to ensure that services are
properly delivered and applied is another part of the equation to disaster preparedness
and mitigation, and something to which FEMA is strongly
committed.