Mitigation
One of the most effective means of protection against disaster is to take steps to reduce, or mitigate, the impact of disaster. Mitigation is the cornerstone of Emergency Management. It's the ongoing effort to lessen the impact disasters have on people's lives and property through damage prevention and insurance. 

Engineering buildings and infrastructure to withstand earthquakes, and creating and enforcing building codes to protect against natural disasters are examples of mitigation.

The City of Irvine has a Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan that addresses a variety of ways to lessen the impact of disasters locally. Citizens can also take mitigation steps of their own, such as installing smoke detectors, securing bookcases and water heaters, and safely storing flammables. 

For more information on the City of Irvine's Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, or for other ideas on how you can mitigate for disasters, call the Emergency Management Office at 949-724-7235.