There is a major need for each step of the strategic preparedness cycle.
Planning: This initiates a conversation to fill the needs that can be foreseen in a give disaster. As a result any active plans in place can aid in mitigation of the impact of disasters. This could be anything from building levees to using fire resistant building materials.
Organization and Equipment: Phase offers an opportunity to take inventory of the the resources and established roles within disaster response agencies. There is a need to establish and re-establish protocols in order to best endure up to date practices and well placed resources.
Training: Establishing trainings ensures staff with a plethora of knowledge on a wide variety of emergency response protocols. There is a need to ensure all staff are trained in ways that appropriate teamwork and establish a reporting chain so that these roles do not need to be established in the wake of disaster.
Exercise: While training is important, practice bares just as much importance. There is a need to apply skills in real or simulated scenarios. This gives the opportunity to stimulate on the spot thinking and practices remaining calm and clear headed in times of disaster.
Evaluation and Improvement: Evaluation and Improvement ensures that existing practices are regularly checked for efficacy and effectiveness. This is an assurance that existing policies are up to date and provide the most benefit for the amount of resources and funding they require.
What is most important is that this is looked at as an ongoing cycle. Acting as a living process to keep emergency management on the cutting edge and ensure that all resources being used are effectively doing something to mitigate the impacts of disasters. As resources are often limited, it is important that all resources are applied in a way that benefits as many as possible.