(1) The phase of Comprehensive Emergency Management that encompasses all activities outside of the response phase that reduce or eliminate the probability of a hazard occurrence, or reduce or eliminate the impact from the hazard if it should occur. In comprehensive emergency management, mitigation activities are generally undertaken during the time period prior to an imminent or actual hazard impact. Once an imminent or actual hazard impact is recognized, subsequent actions are considered response actions and are not called mitigation this avoids the confusion that occurs with the HAZMAT discipline's use of mitigation, which applies to response actions that reduce the impact of a hazardous materials spill. (2) Activities taken to eliminate or reduce the probability of the event, or reduce its severity or consequences, either prior to or following a disaster/emergency. (NFPA 1600, 2004). (3) Activities providing a critical foundation in the effort to reduce the loss of life and property from natural and/or manmade disasters by avoiding or lessening the impact of a disaster and providing value to the public by creating safer communities. Mitigation seeks to fix the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. These activities or actions, in most cases, will have a long-term sustained effect. (NIMS 12/08)