Which planning focuses mainly on response and recovery stages?

The focus of operational planning is primarily on the immediate response and recovery stages during and after an incident. This type of planning involves developing specific procedures, resource allocation, and coordination among various entities to effectively address emergencies as they occur. It emphasizes practical, day-to-day readiness and the execution of tasks that are crucial once a disaster has been declared, aiming to restore normalcy as swiftly as possible.

Operational planning includes considerations such as how to mobilize emergency services, manage resources for shelter and food distribution, and coordinate medical assistance during the response phase. It also looks at how to assess the needs during recovery and what strategies are necessary to begin rebuilding and restoring infrastructure or services affected by the disaster.

In contrast, the other types of planning focus on different aspects: strategic planning typically addresses long-term goals and policies; incident planning may be more specific to individual events; and preventive planning emphasizes measures and actions taken to mitigate risks before a disaster occurs. Each of these plays a critical role in emergency management, but operational planning specifically hones in on the critical moments of response and subsequent recovery processes.