What is the main goal of disaster preparedness in public health?

• A. To stockpile vaccines
• B. To minimize harm and save lives
• C. To centralize decision making
• D. To plan only for natural disasters

Answer: (B)

Disaster preparedness in public health is about minimizing harm and saving lives by readying systems to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from emergencies. The best choice captures this overarching aim: reducing mortality and morbidity, protecting the population, and ensuring rapid, coordinated action so essential services continue during crises.

Stockpiling vaccines is a useful tactic within preparedness, but it isn’t the overall purpose. Centralizing decision making describes how responses may be organized, not the goal itself. Planning only for natural disasters ignores other hazards like outbreaks or attacks. In real-world preparedness, the focus is on preventing deaths and injuries, safeguarding vulnerable groups, and enabling an effective response across a range of emergencies.