What is the core difference between 'emergency management' and 'crisis management'?
The core difference lies in the scope and timeframe of the activities. Emergency management is a broader, ongoing process that encompasses mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery activities to minimize the impact of future disasters. It is proactive and focuses on long-term planning and prevention. Crisis management, on the other hand, is a more immediate and reactive set of actions taken to address a specific, ongoing crisis situation. It focuses on containing the damage, protecting lives and property, and restoring order during an emergency. Emergency management aims to reduce the likelihood and impact of disasters, while crisis management deals with managing the immediate consequences of a disaster as it unfolds. For example, developing a hurricane evacuation plan is emergency management, while coordinating the evacuation of residents during a hurricane is crisis management.