Preparedness
Preparedness consists of preventive and precautionary measures. Its aim is to minimise vulnerability of people and material assets to natural hazards.
The difference between those two measures can be explained as follows:
whilst prevention aims to avoid damage primarily by an appropriate land-use or structural measures, preparation tries to manage and cope with the catastrophe. This includes, for example, training and putting rescue units on stand-by, planning operations or taking out insurances.