What is the correct order of the four disaster management stages?

• A. prevention, preparedness and planning, response, recovery
• B. prevention, response, preparedness and planning, recovery
• C. preparedness and planning, prevention, response, recovery
• D. recovery, prevention, preparedness and planning, response

Answer: (A)

Disaster management follows a progression from reducing risk to rebuilding after impact. Start with prevention to minimize hazards and their effects before they occur. Then move to preparedness and planning, which involves developing emergency plans, training, coordinating resources, and establishing procedures so everyone knows what to do when a disaster strikes. Next is the response phase, where the focus is on immediate actions to save lives, provide shelter, and protect people and property during the event. Finally comes recovery, which addresses restoring infrastructure, services, and community well-being after the disaster and learning from the experience to reduce future risks.

Why this order fits best: you can’t respond effectively without prior planning and readiness, and you don’t start rebuilding until the immediate danger has passed. The other sequences place response before planning, or put prevention after preparedness, or start with recovery, which doesn’t align with the logical flow from risk reduction through active management to restoration.